{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/Kso92L46.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Islanders Select Cole Eiserman", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/Kso92L46-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Kso92L46.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Kso92L46.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Kso92L46-KyKUfvSA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 561648, "filesize": 1895565, "framerate": 60 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Kso92L46-rVxHCS6o.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 268, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 763408, "filesize": 2576505, "framerate": 60 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Kso92L46-XtftnkI5.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114568, "filesize": 386668 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Kso92L46-8wczJJH0.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 358, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 1014045, "filesize": 3422405, "framerate": 60 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The New York Islanders have had their fair share of enforcers throughout their history." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "However, it's a dying breed in the sport, a league now based on speed and skill more than physicality--at least in the regular season." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Matt Martin has been the Islanders' go-to enforcer since making it to the NHL in 2009, minus the two forgettable seasons he played in Toronto." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "However, as of now, Martin is not back with the Islanders, as the 35-year-old is an unrestricted free agent. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Islanders are over the salary cap by $950,000 after Oliver Wahlstrom signed a one-year deal worth $1 million." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "If Martin isn't back, the Islanders could be entering 2024-25 without an enforcer-esque player on their roster." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "How much of an issue is this?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Fighting isn't as prolific an art as it once was, and the instigator penalty has undoubtedly impacted the number of times gloves hit the ice. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Islanders dropped the gloves 13 times last season after 17 in 2022-23. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "However, that doesn't mean there isn't a need for someone on the roster to protect the team's stars. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "We saw last season that Bo Horvat has no issues dropping the gloves, standing up for Mathew Barzal after Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit laid a hard hit on him:" } }, { "id": "b74q2v5m-y1znh9ke", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/SNY_Islanders/status/1754674612158243264", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1754674612158243264", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "If you recall, this was the day when head coach Patrick Roy gave us this stellar quote about the Islanders' top-line center:" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"That's who he is. He's a leader on this team. A leader always takes care of their teammates. In life, you can be an eagle or a duck. He was an eagle there.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Scott Mayfield also isn't afraid to throw 'em down, stepping in to relieve Horvat after Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund hit Barzal, who had his head down:" } }, { "id": "wlzxxqxu-tygk5zfk", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/stefen_rosner/status/1733731300828164419", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1733731300828164419", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Seeing teammates step up is really important. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "However, given Horvat's importance to their 5-on-5 offense and both special teams, the Islanders likely would rather not see it. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Mayfield is coming off a broken ankle that forced him out of the lineup for 41 games last season. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Although not the key to their success in 2024-25, having Mayfield back healthy to eat minutes and help the penalty kill bounce back is critical, and doing extracurricular things on the ice isn't ideal. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rookie Kyle MacLean fought twice last season, once during the regular season and again in the postseason, but he isn't the fighting type. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The same can be said for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who fought Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher in retaliation for his headshot on Adam Pelech when the two teams met at the Bell Centre earlier in the season. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The good news is that the Islanders have players that will hold opponents accountable. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "That accountability was missing from the Islanders a few years ago, as players would take hard hits, leading to injuries, without repercussions." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Roy, who is all about the family environment — much different than a country club environment — won't tolerate a passive approach to being a stand-up teammate. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "But, it will be a unique situation, not having No. 17 on the ice, as of now, to be the go-to glove-dropper. " } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "TOP STORIES", "level": 2 } } ] }

Is Not Having An Enforcer An Issue For Islanders?