One in all Mathieu Darche’s most vital selections this summer time isn’t a call in any respect, however a query that might immediate a number of: When the Islanders’ basic supervisor pulls up his group’s depth chart, is Mat Barzal slotted for granted wing or a centerman?
Absolutely, it doesn’t matter what the reply is, Barzal possible will play each positions at varied factors in the course of 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 must go get one as an alternative.
If the perfect-world state of affairs 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 the most effective 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 regarded like a match there.
Granted, by that time within the season, the Islanders have been banged-up and almost everybody was taking part in up a line increased than would have been preferrred, so you possibly can put a caveat on the information.
Nonetheless, Pageau was rolling alongside pre-trade deadline with an outstanding 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.
Whenever you go additional down the depth chart, comparable 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 12 months when he grew to become the 3C, however that had as a lot to do with lastly attending to play down the center as the rest — needing to play wing for a lot of the 12 months was a misadventure the Islanders would do properly to not repeat
And, whether or not Barzal is at middle or not, not less than a kind of three would should be moved out of place as issues stand proper now.
Cizikas’ 2024-25 season reveals 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 approach of slotting everybody of their preferrred positions.
One potential shortcut may very well be buying and selling Pageau, whose identify has biannually popped up within the rumor mill for the previous few years.
With one 12 months left on his deal at $5 million and a 16-team no-trade clause, Pageau — who proved final season he nonetheless has lots left in his tank and may also help a group immensely in the best position — would have some worth if made accessible.
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 primary candidate to get moved on the commerce deadline anyway constitutes a significant swing is within the eye of the beholder.
It’s a protected guess, nevertheless, that the Islanders should not comfy taking part in any of Cizikas, Ritchie or MacLean on the second line to start out the season.
So in the event that they’re transferring Pageau, it means there’s a degree of consolation splitting up Horvat and Barzal to start out the season, even with the success they’ve achieved collectively.
That, or Darche believes an additional $5 million might purchase him somebody to resolve the issue on July 1.
