One in all Mathieu Darche’s most essential choices this summer time isn’t a call in any respect, however a query that would immediate a number of: When the Islanders’ basic supervisor pulls up his workforce’s depth chart, is Mat Barzal slotted without any consideration wing or a centerman?
Absolutely, it doesn’t matter what the reply is, Barzal seemingly will play each positions at varied factors through the season relying on want.
That’s not the purpose.
The purpose is that the place the Islanders need Barzal taking part in has a cascading impact on their offseason.
It’s the hinge level as to whether or not they view themselves as having sufficient depth to commerce a middle, or have to go get one as a substitute.
If the perfect-world situation for Darche is to maintain Barzal on Bo Horvat’s proper wing — out of his pure place however a spot the place the attention check and superior numbers alike present each gamers accessing one of the best variations of themselves over the previous two seasons — then the Islanders discover themselves with 4 bottom-six facilities, and needing somebody who can play on their second line.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who stepped into the 2C spot out of want after the Islanders dealt away Brock Nelson on the commerce deadline, by no means appeared like a match there.
Granted, by that time within the season, the Islanders had been banged-up and almost everybody was taking part in up a line greater than would have been splendid, so you possibly can put a caveat on the info.
Nonetheless, Pageau was rolling alongside pre-trade deadline with an excellent 55.76 anticipated targets proportion, 54.51 corsi for proportion and 56.01 targets for proportion at five-on-five, per Evolving Hockey.
Publish-deadline, his numbers fell off a cliff: 50.15 anticipated targets proportion, 49.83 targets for proportion, 46.29 corsi for proportion.
While you go additional down the depth chart, related points abound.
Casey Cizikas, Kyle MacLean and Calum Ritchie — assuming the 20-year-old Ritchie begins subsequent season within the NHL and never the AHL — would all be well-suited to middle the fourth line.
Cizikas’ numbers improved post-deadline final yr when he turned the 3C, however that had as a lot to do with lastly attending to play down the center as anything — needing to play wing for many of the yr was a misadventure the Islanders would do nicely to not repeat
And, whether or not Barzal is at middle or not, not less than a type of three would must be moved out of place as issues stand proper now.
Cizikas’ 2024-25 season exhibits the chance inherent there.
It’s true, and a cliché that it’s simpler to maneuver a middle to wing than vice versa.
Nonetheless, the Islanders have simultaneous issues right here: too many facilities and no means of slotting everybody of their splendid positions.
One potential shortcut might be buying and selling Pageau, whose identify has biannually popped up within the rumor mill for the previous few years.
With one yr left on his deal at $5 million and a 16-team no-trade clause, Pageau — who proved final season he nonetheless has rather a lot left in his tank and might help a workforce immensely in the fitting function — would have some worth if made obtainable.
Darche has appeared reluctant to bear an enormous roster makeover in his first summer time within the job, however whether or not or not dealing a 32-year-old participant on an expiring deal who could be a main candidate to get moved on the commerce deadline anyway constitutes a significant swing is within the eye of the beholder.
It’s a secure guess, nevertheless, that the Islanders usually are not snug taking part in any of Cizikas, Ritchie or MacLean on the second line to begin the season.
So in the event that they’re shifting Pageau, it means there’s a stage of consolation splitting up Horvat and Barzal to begin the season, even with the success they’ve achieved collectively.
That, or Darche believes an additional $5 million may purchase him somebody to resolve the issue on July 1.
