Islanders & The Craziness Of The Eastern Conference Playoff Race

New York Islanders forward Pierre Engvall served as a healthy scratch for the third time this season when he watched his team fall 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

It was the first time Patrick Roy had taken him out of the lineup, and he had good reason to do so.

While there were likely a few instances where Roy wasn't getting nearly enough from his six-foot-five transitioner, a failed board battle against New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko in their 5-2 loss on Sunday likely was the icing on the cake:

Following the Islanders' loss on Tuesday, The Hockey News asked Roy what more he needed to see from Engvall.

"I wasn't too happy about his play lately. Sometimes, you just have a night off, watching the game from upstairs, and he'll probably be back in the lineup against Detroit," Roy said. "Sometimes, it's something that someone needs. I saw that with other teams. I mean, Couturier was out, scratched in Philadelphia, and he's the captain of their team.

"I mean, Pierre needs to understand we need him. We need him to play a certain way. I know he's not an overly physical player, but he's capable of giving us a lot more than what he'd been doing."

Engvall, whom the Toronto Maple Leafs traded to the Islanders last February for a 2024 third-round pick, became a focal point in New York's offense.

He built a strong bond with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, a line that carried New York into the playoffs and was by far their best line in the postseason.

Because of his effectiveness, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello decided to ink Engvall to a seven-year extension worth $21 million on July 1.

While points do matter, Engvall sitting with 21 (eight goals, 13 assists) in 61 games, his game is all about his skating, whether he's transitioning the puck, dishing pucks off to his linemates, or using his long reach on the forecheck.

As Roy mentioned, Engvall is not physical -- at all -- but that doesn't mean he can't be effective in all three areas of the ice.

Under Lambert, Engvall's failure to pay attention to the little aspects of the game led to two benchings despite his offensive role on the Islanders, which, at the time, was the most consistent line.

With Roy coming in and trying to establish a new culture where every shift and play matter, whether in a practice or a game, Engvall isn't doing what needs to be done to help move the train forward, given his lack of aggressiveness.

And that's a concern given his contract and the fact that Roy isn't going anywhere.

So, whether fans like it or not, Engvall is likely not going anywhere this summer.

Not only does Engvall have a modified no-trade clause of 16 teams, but a buyout of his contract would result in the Islanders taking a cap penalty of $1 million annually in each of the next 12 seasons.

Let's cross both of those things off the list.

While this season isn't over, with 14 games to go and a playoff spot still within reach, Roy needs to figure out the best way to use Engvall now and in the future.

Roy puts his lines in a blender, trying to do everything to snap what is now a five-game losing streak after a six-game winning streak.

Right now, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat are separated, but that strategy has not worked.

In the short term, Engvall's return to Casey Cizikas' wing alongside Simon Holmstrom—who could soon be out of the lineup given his struggles—may make the most sense, given that the threesome was a solid line during the win streak.

Realistically, it's not the worst idea for Roy to go back to the four lines that allowed the Islanders to play the best hockey we've seen them play in years.

Even if Engvall gets back in, whether that's against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday or at a later date, he will need to earn his playing time, as the Islanders have little room for error.

Holmstrom played in his spot on the second power-play unit Tuesday night, and Engvall has no real reason to be on the power play right now unless he earns it.

The same goes for him being on the ice in big moments, especially late in games.

But let's look ahead to next season, shall we?

With Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck pending unrestricted free agents, there's a strong possibility that both will not be back.

While the Islanders' fourth line had some run with Cizikas down the middle, a threesome that lasted 10 years, Roy has no need for a typical fourth line next season.

The way the NHL works now, at least for the top teams, is that all four offensive lines have speed and skill.

Playing Engvall on Cizikas's or Kyle MacLean's wing next year -- if he wins a starting job -- likely makes the most sense.

Sure, Engvall will be making too much money for a "fourth line" role, but that can't be why he plays a top-six role, especially when the number of the line doesn't ultimately matter.

Engvall never proved to be a top-six player with Toronto, and despite the early return in that role for New York, a bottom-six forward is likely what he can be, especially under Roy.

For those who think that if Engvall plays on the fourth line, he has to play a shutdown role... that's not automatically the case. It ultimately depends on what Lamoriello can do this summer and who Roy chooses to be his shutdown players.

Because, for Roy, the best defense is an offense, and if the Islanders learn how to transition as quickly as some other teams -- some speedy new players would make it easier -- the "need" for one line to be designated the shutdown line becomes more of a want.

Engvall, with speed on his line, is one that can be effective in transition and on the forecheck.

Regardless of where Engvall plays, now and in the future, he needs to be more engaged. If he can't find it in himself to elevate his game and play the way Roy needs him to play, it's very simple: He won't play.

Let's see what the end of the season brings for Engvall and how he looks after a Roy training camp this summer before closing the book on Engvall's time on the island.

As we saw during the win streak, he has it in him to be an effective player, but this league is about results, and players that don't help create positive results don't last.

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