New York Islanders face roster battles as NHL-caliber talent overflows. Will Pierre Engvall secure his spot or become trade bait?
Gil Martin analyzes the Isles’ surplus of skilled players, focusing on the forward lines and defensive pairings. The host breaks down Engvall’s $3 million contract, Mathew Barzal’s role, and the competition for the third defensive pair. Martin also explores Ruslan Ishkakov’s potential NHL return and celebrates Islanders legend Mike McEwen’s career highlights.
Tune in for expert insights on the Islanders’ depth chart and how it could reshape their upcoming season.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
GametimeToday’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.
FanDuelToday’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.
IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to Indeed.com/LOCKEDON right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOIslanders?sid=YouTube
Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL
And follow the show and Gil Martin on Twitter where he’ll share the latest news on your New York Islanders and will talk with fans like you.
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LockedOnIsles
and https://twitter.com/icewarsnyrvsnyi
#Islanders #NYIslanders #NHL
18 Comments
why didn't isles buy that bum 18 out? cut or waive 18 or send him to europe where he enjoy skating around all game on the big ice there more to 18's liking.18 = useless bum.
and glen 'chico', kaszycki for mcewen gave isles a nice blend on stay at home and more mobile guys on their d pairings as isles won three more cups after 2's acquisition.
I don't get why the Islanders don't buy Pierre out it makes absolutely no sense to me Gil as you said a team's not gonna take that contract we haven't been able to give him away for free given his lack of production and his contract twice last year he was put on waivers no team took him He's not good enough right now for what the Islanders want and really not good enough period, based on what he's shown in the last two seasons and are you said there's no room for him and to make room for him would be to stifle a better and, or better and younger player meaning they would have to sit in his stead paying him 1.85 million to go to Bridgeport instead of 1 million to buy them out again I don't get it I understand that the buyout would be for a longer period of time but still. A $1 million cap hit so about half, and plus late in this year or certainly next year we have to make room for the Cole Eiserman's etc. and I know it's only one spot but it helps. Plus if anybody develops and merits a spot from Bridgeport to the big club this year. if we trade Pierre he's gonna hurt the value of the trade we are going to get back less if he's packaged then we would've if we would've left them out of the trade and we're gonna have to eat some celery likely more than $1 million if a team stupid enough to take him in a package and not hurt what they're gonna give us back meaning our return that's great but I don't see that happening for reasons that we are both brought up.
Gatcomb is easily better and I've said this multiple times than Pierre or Mclean got home had eight goals in 37 ish games I would have to re-look up the exact number and he hits those other two don't do either one and got home didn't even play Center as he played that in Bridgeport and in college so he's got versatility that the other two don't, especially Engvall but again just look at the stats and the fact that he hits, Gatcomb is clearly and by somewhat of his significant margin and again it's not just opinion it's numbers, black and white, goals, hits etc. the better player. Engvall is not a fourth line type player doesn't have that grit he is a third line type player or like when he got here a second line type player but he doesn't have that talent and as you said things are more competitive with the team now.
To your point of Engvall providing more offense than Gatcomb or maybe even someone in the minors or really any offense anywhere near consistently he just hasn't shown that in the last couple of years. I agree with you if he returned to what he was when he first got here and he could certainly outdo McLean in that regard. But if he had been doing that we likely wouldn't be having this conversation or certainly in the terms that we're having it. as far as him being on his game it really hasn't happened in the last one plus maybe two full seasons and what happened at the end of last year is a pretty low bar to be happy with I think plus like you said we need consistency, and can't have a liability.
We need to keep gatcomb especially over mcclean
I remember McEwen, 😊always liked him as a player
Not sure what the background is regarding the Duclair debacle last season, but he either needs to get it together or go to Bridgeport, get traded, waivers…something must change. Mayfield’s +18 is reason to keep him….. for now. May be a good mentor for up & coming defenseman. But he might garner some value on the trade market depending on his NTC as well. Pelech & Pulock need to return to form…. Know age is an issue.
Good morning team! Gil, I think a surplus of players is a great thing to have, but in reality, we're only allowed 23 of the best players to be on the active roster. The question is, does it hurt or help the team to have more than an extra amount of players ready to be placed on the active roster, if space becomes available through injury or poor play? I'm all for bringing a player to the active roster, if a player isn't pulling their weight. Just my opinion of course. I like when Darche says, managers manage and coaches coach. I like that he values Roy's opinions about the team. Thank you, again, for another great episode. Everyone, have a wonderful day! See you all again Wednesday. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
You want The one of the best 4 th lines in the NHL? It is really easy as The Islanders already have the pieces Roy just needs the vision to put these players together! Heineman, Ritchie, Gatcomb. There is no need to think hard about this. Roy needs to roll all 4 lines with a more even distribution of ice time and then greater rewards will come. Obviously players on special teams will get more ice time. Far to often players like Barzal are on the ice for way to long leading to tired worn out players that never really recover by not sticking to 40 -50 seconds per shift! Barzal on ice for a minute and a half plus is unacceptable. If Roy does not know how to manage the limits on a players ice time success will always be elusive! Strict adherence to ice times have to be made to keep players fresh over 60 minutes! I see no room for Engvall. If Darche retained 1 million in a trade some team might bite on a 2 mill contract but 5 years is a hard sell. Better to retain 1 million over sending him to the minors holding a 1.85 mill cap on the big team. Kyle McLean has zero space with Richie! Kyle can go through waivers and put in the minors if he can’t be traded or claimed. Even with Engvall and Kyle out of this gut of players…. We still have after at least 1 more forward likely needing a new home. Hopefully the new assistant coaches are able to help Roy manage on ice time better and obviously move the special teams more towards the middle of the pack.
would love to dust off my Bport Iskhakov jersey
Good morning Gil. As an aside, Maybe it's a good thing we move the AHL team up to Hamilton. Does chris lamoriello leave due to the move? He's use to living and working in metropolis' like the NYC/NJ/LongIsland market. Culture shock for him to move up to Hamilton.
By the time we got to the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals, we were decimated by injuries especially on defense. We could have used Mike McEwen in that final stretch run. Bam Bam, Stefan Persson, and Gord Lane were all out with injuries in the finals. Mike McEwen would have helped if had not complained about lack of playing time during the regular season, resulting in him requesting a trad. Oh well. Happy belated birthday Mike McEwen (3 time Stanley Cup Champion).
Gord Lane had a big assist, on Tonelli's late game tying goal, in game 5. Lane transitioned out of the Islanders D zone, and when he crossed the center ice line in the neutral zone, he fired the puck into Dion's left corner, where it bounced over the stick of Randy Carlyle and right to JT who buried the puck to tie the score. An exciting game that, once again, demonstrated the Islanders determination and doggedness. What an exciting time to be an Islanders fan.
Good 🌄, Gil. How are you? The Islanders have more caliber players. Is there room for Pierre Engvall on the roster? He gives you speed and can put the puck in the net. If he stays out of Patrick Roy's 🐕 🏠, he'll be just fine. The 3rd defensive pairings are up in the air. Let's hope they can stay healthy. Ruslan Ishkakov. He never got a chance with the Islanders because of his size, but he wants to come back. He's 25 years old, and the Islanders still hold his rights. HAPPY 🎂, MIKE MCEWEN. A dreaded Ranger turned good guy who can put the puck in the net. He was there for 3 out of 4 Stanley Cup winning teams. He started the comeback against the 🐧in 1982, and had the 1st helper in JT's GW goal that saved the dynasty. Hear from you later, Gil, and you were right about Hoyda he may have dropped his gloves like Dave Schultz, but Schultz could put the puck in the net. Also, on that fight filled 🌙, Garry Howatt was going to go after Hoyda with his stick until #18 held him back basically saying that wouldn't not be a good idea. Also, you know Smitty had to get in his licks that 🌙, too. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS.
What about Tony DeAngelo? Who do you think he will be paired with?
Engvall is a problem child. he will always be less than his talent. a shame. and we all know that Lou really screwed that contract up. i said before but i will say it again. 7 year contracts but no beards or high numbers. 😅
I guess this is a good problem to have. We are stuck with Engvall because of the contract. Hoping for the best. LGI
Engvall bottom line was just a horrendous contract just because how many years it was… 7 YEARS!!! For a guy that is JAG (just another guy). No one special. Put up 15 points in 62 games last year, bottom line stats. It’s just awful what Lou did to this team even with the contracts. Him and Duclair both are guys we’re stuck with and I’m sure if he was able to Darche would just buy them out and dump them. There’s no reason for either of this team to
Gil, trade proposition: Minnesota has $9.4 million available. I would love to send Lee ($7 million one year left) to the Wild, in order to open up cap space and get faster and cheaper in his slot. What say you? Edmonton doesn't have the cap room, and I don't think Utah would want to take on his contract.