The New York Islanders have an incomplete forward group, an issue that plagued them the entirety of the season and in the playoffs.
The New York Islanders have an incomplete forward group, an issue that plagued them the entirety of the season and in the playoffs.
While having a top-heavy team isn't always the best way to win Stanley Cups -- just look at the Toronto Maple Leafs -- the need for a bonafide top line is integral in winning consistently at the NHL level.
Unlike the Maple Leafs, the Islanders have the goaltending, with the expectation that Ilya Sorokin, who begins an eight-year extension worth $8.25 million annually in 2024-25, bounces back after a tough season.
With a healthy Scott Mayfield back manning the blue line -- who played through a fractured ankle for 41 games -- the Islanders have a solid defense corps.
Whether they bring back Mike Reilly, who joined the team via waivers in late November, or they upgrade that side, the defense should be much better with Roy here and his defensive side-kick Benoit Desrosiers.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello would not commit to saying that any member of the assistant coaching staff would be back. It is our belief that Desrosiers will definitely be back while the jury is still out on Joh MacLean. It would be a shock if Doug Houda was back.
Due to a lack of two bonafide top-six forwards, former head coach Lane Lambert and then Roy had to plug bottom-six players into higher-level roles.
Anders Lee failed to play strong enough alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal early on in the season, finding a home and playing much better in a third-line role.
Second-year NHLer Simon Holmstrom struggled to show off his shot enough alongside those two.
Brock Nelson, a center, moved to the wing as Roy elected to stack his top line. While that threesome carried the Islanders over their six-game winning streak in early April, it was a move that didn't remain consistent, with the rest of the forwards struggling to play their roles.
Roy settled on Casey Cizikas, his fourth-line center, on the top line for the final 10 games of the season. His ability to win races to loose pucks, win board battles, and get to the front of the net quickly was the kind of player that Horvat and Barzal needed.
But Cizikas, while a short-term fit, is certainly not a long-term option on that top line.
Horvat knows it. Cizikas knows it. There's no question the Islanders know it.
"It was kind of a revolving door, a little bit, at times," Horvat said during his exit interview this past Friday. "We really liked playing with Cizikas. He's obviously a little bit more comfortable playing center, I'm sure, but he was great. He works really hard and got a lot of pucks back for us.
"But, I think adding somebody else would be great, just in general, to our roster. He doesn't have to play with Barzal and me. We're always trying to find ways to get better.
When that line, who played 94 minutes as a threesome, was on the ice, the Islanders outscored their opponents 6-3, per MoneyPuck.com.
"It was fun playing with those two guys (Barzal and Horvat)," Cizikas said. "I got to play with everybody. I was all over the place, but it was fun. It was definitely different, the aspects of the game, as a centerman you feel like you're in it a lot more. As a winger, you have to be very patient and wait for your opportunities, and that's something that I definitely learned as it went on."
Cizikas isn't going into the offseason preparing to be a winger.
"I'm just gonna do what I always do," Cizikas said. "I'm gonna train extremely hard. I'm gonna get myself ready for the season, and whatever happens in camp, happens in camp.
"That's out of my control, and I'm going to just prepare myself to be the best that I can be.”
Moves are out of all the players' control, but Horvat is hoping Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello can help fill this clear need.
"Obviously, it's not up to me. You leave it up to management with stuff like that to get that job done," Horvat said. "And it's only up to me and Barzal to go and perform on the ice. That's all we can control, and that's all I'll be focused on."
When we spoke with Lamoriello on Friday, he was asked if the core was good enough to get the team to the next level.
“I don't know if I can answer that question. First of all, change is inevitable. It's obvious. We do look at the roster," Lamoriello said. "There are some younger players coming in. They’re going to demand more ice time, and we will make whatever changes are necessary to get better.
"Are we satisfied where we are? Absolutely not. We will make whatever changes that we're able to make to make this a better team.”
Horvat and Barzal both inked eight-year extensions that began this past season, a written message that said they were committed to winning with this franchise.
That's all a team and a fan base want to retain their most valuable players.
But if the Islanders don't go all in for those guys and others, does it make those long-term deals worthless?
This past season, Horvat was a part of 13 different line combinations with nine different players.
Eight of them were with Barzal and him together, while seven of them were with Horvat and Barzal, split due to the coaching staff trying to balance out their offense.
Having to split those two for whatever reason should raise every red flag possible.
Of course, injuries and inconsistencies may see top players end up paying with others throughout the course of the season.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played on 14 different line combinations, as did Tampa Bay Lightning's captain Steven Stamkos.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid played on 13 different line combinations.
The difference is that those three teams and 21 other teams averaged more goals per game than the Islanders this past regular season, finding ways to be productive.
Outside of the top line, the second line never found an answer alongside Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
Engvall ended up struggling to play consistently there, finding a home, like Lee on the third line.
Holmstrom and Hudson Fasching battled for that spot toward the end of the season, with both alternating in it in the playoffs.
Unless the Islanders are going to allow a youngster, like Ruslan Iskhakov, Alex Jefferies, or Matthew Maggio, chances in a top-six role -- if they are even ready for that opportunity -- they have no choice but to find pieces to fill those holes.
Horvat and Barzal both had exceptional seasons, with the former Canucks captain potting 33 goals, while Barzal set a new career-high with 23.
Those numbers came without a bonafide linemate.
Imagine the possibilities if they had another prime scorer on that line.
Imagine how that would allow certain players to remain within their roles, making the forward lines even deeper.
The Islanders, as of now, have $6.34 million to play with before re-signing or trading anyone and should look to get their dynamic duo a final piece this summer.