New York Islanders Are Their Own Worst Enemy On Saturday night, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-2023-24-2022-23-barzal-horvat-dobson-nelson-sorokin] embark on the second half of the 2023-24 NHL season. So, that means it's time for player grades for the first half of the season: ANDERS LEE: B G: 11 A: 6 P: 17 It was a slow start to the season for Anders Lee, with just one goal through his first 15 games but ever since he was placed on a line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, he's been able to be more effective. While the goals have come, there's certainly been a handful left on the table, especially in front of goal but overall he understands that his job is to get his two linemates the puck and he's done that. MATHEW BARZAL: A G: 12 A: 33 P: 45 For the first time since he won the Calder, Mathew Barzal is averaging over a point per game and has been the offensive weapon the team expected him to be. Alongside Horvat, Barzal is on pace to shatter his career high in shots and has been more effective defensively than he's ever been in his career. He's proving to no longer just be a playmaker, which makes him very dangerous in the offensive zone. BO HORVAT: A G: 17 A: 23 P: 40 Horvat was able to settle in to his new surroundings this summer and focus just on hockey once the puck dropped this season. While he hasn't been the goal scorer he was in Vancouver, he has been elite for New York as their No. 1 center, providing Barzal with the running mate he's longed for and has been a strong voice in the room. His defensive IQ gets overlooked but is an area of his game that benefits Barzal in transition. The Islanders stole him from Vancouver and he's living up to the hype. PIERRE ENGVALL: C+ G: 5 A: 9 P: 14 After signing a seven-year extension this summer, Pierre Engvall and his line got off to a firey start. However, Engvall's play has tailed off as the season has gone on, being a healthy scratch twice and playing a softer brand of hockey than the club would like. His speed always makes him a threat in transition but getting back on the backcheck and winning board battles hasn't been prevalent in his game and it;s hurt his line's ability to be as effective. BROCK NELSON: A G: 19 A: 16 P: 35 Although Brock Nelson is leading the Islanders in goals yet again, he hasn't had to carry the team on his back like the previous few years. With Horvat and Barzal doing their thing, Nelson's continued to execute in the offensive zone and continues to make plays in his own zone to help the cause. His giveaways are down from year's past and his six power-play goals this season matches his total from a year ago. He certainly could pass his career-high (11) in that category this season. He's impressed and has shown no signs of slowing down despite being on the other side of 30. KYLE PALMIERI: B- G: 10 A: 13 P: 23 For Palmieri, he's finally healthy which is the most important thing because the best ability is availability. But he's struggled to be effective as of late, with Lambert saying he has to be quicker with his first few steps. He just snapped a 12-game goal drought and needs to go harder towards goal to bang home rebounds and be a bit quicker with his decision-making after receiving passes in transition. He does have 10 goals and is on pace to score more than he ever has since joining New York in 2021. SIMON HOLMSTROM: B G: 11 A: 5 P: 16 The young Swede has been a catalyst on a struggling penalty kill this season, with five of his 11 goals coming shorthanded. The problem with Holmstrom's game has been his 5-on-5 play as he just doesn't shoot enough to be as effective offensively. And it's clear that he has a wicked release because we have seen it. He plays strong defensively, but too often, he's not noticeable at 5-on-5 and has the ability to be. That being said, his defensive prowess is why he's an NHL regular. JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU: B- G: 4 A: 13 P: 17 Pageau hasn't been the same offensive player he once was since suffering that wrist injury in the bubble. Given his defensive abilities, he's been able to still be effective as a third-line shutdown centerman, using his knowledge and simplicity to play with anyone, as his linemates have shuffled often. The Islanders do need him to step up on the penalty kill and win more timely face-offs in the second half. JULIEN GAUTHIER: A- G: 5 A: 4 P: 9 Despite not being a starter on this team, all Julien Gauthier has done when he gets in the lineup is get in on the forecheck and snipe opposing netminders. He doesn't have the hands to match the speed but he's a big body whose finished at a higher rate than ever before in his career. The one area of his game -- the one -- that could improve would just be his passing as sometimes he misses the tap, leading to icings or a slowdown in transition. He's been a great depth addition. MATT MARTIN: B- G: 2 A: 1 P: 3 Matt Martin missed a lot of time this season, 21 games to be exact, and there's no question his ability to be as effective as in years past has decreased. However, he's looked much stronger than he did early on this season, showcasing the physicality again. He's been undiscplined a bit too much this season and the game's speed has seemed overwhelming at times. We shall see if he remains a starter as the season progresses. CASEY CIZIKAS: B G: 5 A: 6 P: 11 Still an energizer bunny for New York, Casey Cizikas has continued to be the glue that holds the fourth line together. However, he's been a major part of the penalty kill problem and that's an area of his game that needs to improve for the Islanders to play to the best of their ability. That being said, Cizikas is week-to-week with a lower-body injury so who knows when he will be back in the lineup. CAL CLUTTERBUCK: B- G: 4 A: 8 P: 12 Cal Clutterbuck -- despite leaving last game and returning -- has avoided any injuries this season which is something he couldn't have said over the last few seasons. When on the ice, he's been able to do his job, but it does seem like the NHL speed is making his life a tad-bit harder. He's made a few questionable decisions that have led to pucks in the back of his net. If he can stay healthy, he is on pace to get to over 200 hits, which is rather impressive. HUDSON FASCHING: B G: 2 A: 4 P: 6 Hudson Fasching knew that a starting job wasn't a guarantee after a breakout season in 2022-23. Early on this season, he struggled to be as effective as he was, becoming an extra. He hasn't played much, especially since Martin has returned from injury. To be fair, he's been put in situations, like a second-line right winger, which isn't the kind of game he plays. His energy and drive is back, but that slow start definitely affected his ability to mimick the role he played a season ago. Lambert trusts him so when he does get in the lineup, the club knows what they are going to get. His game is mistake free for the most part, which is critical for a fringe starter. OLIVER WAHLSTROM: C G: 2 A: 3 P: 5 Oliver Wahlstrom entered this season trying to work his way back from a torn ACL. But he never really caught back up to game speed and has continued to make rookie mistakes on the ice when he's been given the opportunity. Now, many people think he's played scared to make a mistake because his leash has been so short, but that's the NHL. You either make the most of you minutes (I.E. Julien Gauthier) or you don't get minutes and that's the battle Wahlstrom is dealing with right now. He did get shifts on the top line Thursday night, registering five shots in limited minutes but Lambert thought he was just okay and at this point, Wahlstrom is running out of time to prove himself to the organization. NOAH DOBSON: A+ G: 6 A: 36 P: 42 Noah Dobson had a tough 2022-23 season and he went into the summer knowing he had to improve areas of his game. He's done that and more, shoring up his play in front of his own goal and behind his net. Because of his above-average defense this season, Dobson has been able to flourish offensively, atop the defense leaderboards in assists and sits second behind Los Angeles Kings Drew Doughty for the highest ATOI per game. He's impressed in every facet and is on his way to getting an eight-year extension that, at the minimum, begins with an 8. ALEXANDER ROMANOV: A- G: 4 A: 6 P: 10 Like Dobson, Alexander Romanov struggled last season, but this season, he's been ultra effective. A lot of that has to do with him playing alongside Dobson this season. Sure, at times, Romanov needs to do a stronger job in front of goal, but his continued attention to staying in position rather than chasing hits has been a positive. Also, his ability to make outlet passes at a higher rate and jump in on the offense has been an added bonus. He's already set a career-high in goals this season and has emerged as a legitimate No. 2 defenseman for New York. ADAM PELECH: B- G: 0 A: 3 P: 3 Adam Pelech has missed a lot of time this season, skating in just 18 of the Islanders 41 games this season. Early in the year, when healthy, he struggled to be the Pelech we had come to know, failing to clear the zones and shut down the opponents' best. Since returning from injury for the last two games, he's struggled but that's to be expected after missing so much time. Even when he isn't on his game, he still is the glue that holds the structure together, but the Islanders need him to get back to being that shutdown player, as the Islanders' defensive woes are still a major issue holding this team back. RYAN PULOCK: B- G: 2 A: 4 P: 6 Like Pelech, Ryan Pulock has missed significant time this season and is still out of the lineup after suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 7. He is still not skating on his own, and the assumption is that he will be out at least through the All-Star break. When in the lineup, he's struggled to be an effective defenseman, but his return is needed, given what he showed last season, especially in the playoffs. SCOTT MAYFIELD: C G: 0 A: 4 P: 4 Scott Mayfield signed a seven-year extension this summer and after just one game, fell victim to a lower-body injury, forcing him to miss seven games. Then he returned, but soon was back out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury. Since returning, Mayfield has struggled to do the little things, a tad too slow in all facets of his game, especially with the puck on his stick. He's declined and has struggled to make key plays in front of goal. Now, alongside Pelech, that should help him settle down, but New York really needs him to figure things out now that he is healthy. MIKE REILLY: A G: 3 A: 5 P: 8 From a waiver wire pickup to fill a hole to becoming a staple, Mike Reilly has been one of the best defensemen for New York since he arrived. Not only do his wheels allow him to be an effective transitioner, but his ability to evade the opponents is something this team hasn't seen since Nick Leddy was on the island. He's clearly confident in his game, and mixed with a strong IQ, may earn him a contract extension this summer. He's been that impressive. SEBASTIAN AHO: B- G: 1 A: 4 P: 5 It's been an up-and-down season for Sebastian Aho. He started off strong but then struggled, and it's been that seesaw-like battle for him as the season has progressed. Since Reilly arrived, Aho has been more consistent but still struggles to win puck battles and did serve as a healthy scratch, with Samuel Bolduc getting opportunities over him. When everyone gets healthy, Aho is likely the odd man out, but right now, he needs to just continue to do the basics alongside Reilly. SAMUEL BOLDUC: C+ G: 1 A: 2 P: 3 This may look like a harsh grade for the second-year defenseman, but Samuel Bolduc is still struggling with the speed of the NHL game. He had opportunities early in the season to run away with a starting gig, yet didn't seem ready when the puck dropped, which is something that Lambert shared with us. He's shown better over his last handful of outings, but confidence still seems to be an issue, and the Islanders don't have much wiggle room, given the standings, to not have a player ready to go night in and night out. With Pelech back, Bolduc is back to being a regular and needs to be mentally ready when his name is called again. ILYA SOROKIN: B+ W: 13 GAA: 2.19 SV%: 909 Ilya Sorokin has not been as sharp as he was a season ago. He's been under siege, facing around 30 shots per game, and hasn't had that clutch gene this year that he showcased during his Vezina-caliber 2022-23 campaign. He's allowed, so it seems, a weak goal in too many of his starts and it's certainly impacted the Islanders ability to hold onto leads. But, again, he has had zero help, and any other goalie in his position would likely be doing much worse. He's been a trooper, especially with Semyon Varlamov out injured. This is a pivotal stretch for Sorokin, as playing every day should allow him to refine that game that earned him an eight-year extension. SEMYON VARLAMOV: A W: 6 GAA: 2.78 SV%: .918 Semyon Varlamov has been rather consistent this season, despite the team's play in front of him. He very rarely has allowed a weak goal and although he hasn;t played a lot this seaosn, he's given the Islanders a fighting chance in most if not all of his starts. He's allowed Lambert to give Sorokin rest. Now, out injured, there's no timetable for his return, but he's just as important to the success of New York as Sorokin, especially since Sorokin hasn't been himself this season. *Robert Bortuzzo only played 11 games for New York and filled his role before suffering a lower-body injury that will keep him out long-term. He struggled with the speed at times but served as a mentor to Bolduc. We will give him a B.
