Andrew Gross: The Islanders' defense corps is depleted, but there's a silver lining
Tony DeAngelo of the Islanders skates during the first period against Chicago at UBS Arena on Tuesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Expect more changes to the Islanders’ defense corps necessitated by injuries when they face the Stars on Thursday night at UBS Arena.
And, yes, this in a way circles all the way back to Nov. 18 when the Stars’ Mikko Rantanen ended defenseman Alexander Romanov’s regular season with a dangerous boarding hit that left coach Patrick Roy shouting at his former player in Colorado, “You’re not going to [expletive] finish that game,” meaning Thursday’s match.
Revenge violence specifically against Rantanen will have to wait as he’s expected to remain sidelined with a lower-body injury. That will be of small consolation to the Islanders, who spent two months rotating AHL call-ups to try and fill the left-handed Romanov’s spot until acquiring lefty Carson Soucy from the Rangers on Jan. 26.
But Tony DeAngelo exited Tuesday’s brutal 4-3 loss to Chicago that bumped the Islanders out of a wild-card spot with a lower-body injury, and top-pair defenseman Ryan Pulock missed his second game with a lower-body issue. That would leave the Islanders short two righthanders against the Stars if they can’t play and with just two righties (Adam Boqvist and Scott Mayfield) available.
It’s not ideal against one of the Western Conference’s top Stanley Cup contenders and, along with the Avalanche, one of two teams to already have clinched a playoff spot.
But from rubble comes opportunity, and the Islanders now have a chance to preview a potential long-term makeup for their defensemen.
“Injuries are part of our season, it’s part of the game,” Roy said. “You don’t like seeing players like this get hurt. But it gives a chance to others to take over. I know Schaef played over 30 minutes but he’s a beast out there.”
Left-handed rookie Matthew Schaefer has looked uber-comfortable playing on the right the last two games — including an NHL record for time on ice for a teenaged defenseman with an astounding 31:59 against Chicago — as he’s gone back to his youth hockey roots of skating on his off-side.
Having Schaefer playing consistently on the right side would give the Islanders so much more flexibility in finding suitable top-pair partners for his unique talents. Pulock has been steady with him this season, but skating with fellow lefty Pelech may be a better fit.
Down the road, general manager Mathieu Darche could look to sign an elite, left-shot defenseman as a free agent. The ideal scenario would be somehow creating a top pair with Schaefer like the Avalanche have with Cale Makar and Devon Toews, both elite skaters and playmakers who are consistently in the conversation for the Norris Trophy.
“I don’t think there’s much of a difference,” Schaefer said of moving to the right. “In the offensive zone, it’s nice for me because I can get [the puck] and then attack on my forehand and I can go downhill more because then I’m kind of showing shot the whole time.”
Schaefer smoothly transitioning to playing on the right would also allow Darche leeway to potentially move Mayfield in the offseason.
“Honestly, for me, whatever they need me to play,” Schaefer said. “If I have to play on my right, I’ll play on my right. If they want me on my left, I’m on my left. I’m really easygoing that way.”
Meanwhile, Thursday could also mark the start of lefthander Isaiah George’s permanent residence among the Islanders’ top six after he was recalled from AHL Bridgeport before Tuesday’s game.
The fourth-round pick in 2022, who played 33 games for the Islanders last season and two this season as part of the carousel of Romanov replacements, is definitely in the team’s plans for coming seasons. He shows the requisite poise with the puck and ability to skate it out of trouble in the defensive zone.
Mostly, it’s been about finding the right time and spot to integrate George into the lineup.
That would seem to be now, even if Romanov is able to return at some point in the playoffs since Schaefer has proved he can effectively be used on his off-side.
How it works out against the Stars in terms of defensive pairings past Pelech-Schaefer (unless Pulock returns) is guesswork right now with the Islanders not practicing on Wednesday. Soucy could be reunited with Mayfield after skating with DeAngelo, leaving George to work with Boqvist.
Changes are expected. Results cannot be guaranteed.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
