Islanders Fall 4-3 in Shootout to Kraken For 7th Straight Loss The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] penalty kill problem is showing no signs of fixing itself. Over the last three games, the shorthanded squad under Doug Houda has allowed eight power-play goals. The structure doesn't seem to be an issue, but the players who have been relied upon to get the job done over the last few years are failing in every facet. What hasn't helped their cause is the players taking the penalties, as Scott Mayfield, who eats minutes shorthanded, leads the Islanders in penalties on the season and has made three trips to the box over the last two games. When the Islanders have had chances to clear the zone, they've failed to make the play, as hesitation is leading to destruction. "I think when things aren't going well, you hesitate and hesitation's death when it comes to that stuff," Islanders Noah Dobson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/noah-dobson-new-york-islanders-defenseman-stan-fischler] said following New York's seventh straight loss on Thursday night. "You're hesitating. You're not being aggressive. You're a second late to the puck. That's kind of the way it is. "I mean, we're a second late to the guy in front of the guy on the half-wall. We got to get the hesitation out, get back to our ways, be aggressive, and go from there." Dobson is one of those players who has had to play on the penalty kill because of penalty killers being in the box. It's a positive that the Islanders are aware of the issue and are aware of what needs to happen, but the inability to make these adjustments night in and night out is causing this season to go into a downward spiral fast. It may be time for some outside help in that regard, and the Islanders next opponent, the Calgary Flames, may be able to help. Calgary's season (6-8-2) hasn't gone as planned, with many players already voicing that they want out, especially if a rebuild is on the horizon. One of those players is left-shot defenseman Nikita Zadorov [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/z/zadorni01.html], who is a pending unrestricted free agent. The 28-year-old defenseman stands at six-foot-six, weighs 248 pounds, and is a left-shot defenseman who, in theory, could slot in alongside Mayfield in Sebastian Aho's place. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyMjgyNjU5MjM2MjkxNjUy/usatsi_21728255.jpg] Although Aho has been better than he was a few years ago, his lack of size and inconsistencies as of late can't be ignored, and Zadorov is a strong penalty killer. Zadorov is currently on the Flames top penalty-kill unit and has been on the ice for three power-play goals in 24:03 shorthanded minutes. The Flames have the sixth-best penalty kill in the league at 86.8 percent. Right now, Zadorov is also providing offense with one goal and three assists over his last five games. Let's discuss cap space. The Islanders, at this very moment, have just $665,810 to work with, but obviously, if they are making a trade for Zadorov, assets are going back the other way. The Flames will likely retain 50 percent of Zadorov's $3.75 million cap hit, meaning that the Islanders just need to make enough room for $1.875 M to come off the books. In theory, the Islanders could waive Julien Gauthier ($787,500) and Sebastian Aho ($825,000), which would clear $1.612 million. The cost for Zadorov could be a couple of second-round picks, and if the Islanders did need to add another piece, I'm sure general manager Lou Laoriello could find a minor-league player to send back to clear the remaining $263,000. Another option for the Islanders is a bigger name from Calgary's blue line is left defenseman Noah Hanifin [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/hanifno01.html], who is also a pending unrestricted free agent. Hanifin, 26, would cost more than Zadorov and complicates the cap situation given that he carries a $4.95 million cap hit and has an eight-team no-trade clause. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyMjgzMTE4MjYwOTIxNDEy/usatsi_21728226.jpg] The Islanders would have to start that deal with a first-round pick and then some, which would mean the Islanders would not have a first-round selection for a fifth-straight season. Hanafin has three goals and four assists in 16 games this season, and although he's not on the penalty-kill unit at this very moment, he's played 35:02 minutes shorthanded. He's been on the ice for two power-play goals against. The latest 32 Thoughts Podcast hinted that Lamoriello had inquired about Calgary's backend members, which shouldn't be a shock given that it's clear as day they are on the market. With how strong the Islanders power play has looked thus far and New York's ability to keep the puck out of their net at five-on-five (third-fewest in NHL), the penalty kill could be the final piece in turning the season around. It's also quite obvious that Adam Pelech [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/new-york-islanders-bolduc-dobson-pelech-mayfield-pulock-romanov], who has been in and out of the lineup as of late, isn't completely healthy. The same can be said for Mayfield, who missed seven straight games after the season opener due to a lower-body injury and still seems to be ailing a bit. Support is needed, and if there are outside options that can help, the Islanders may want to jump on that before it's too late.
