Is a New York Islanders fourth line overhaul on the horizon? A game-changing shift in strategy could reshape the team’s identity and playoff hopes.
Gil Martin analyzes potential improvements to the Islanders’ bottom six, highlighting playerss like Emil Heineman and Maxim Shabanov. The discussion covers standout performances from Islanders’ draft picks at the World Junior Summer Showcase, including Matthew Schaefer and Kashan Aitchison. Martin also tackles trade deadline strategies for JG Pageau and examines Chris Lamoriello’s role in Bridgeport under new GM Matthew Darche.
Tune in for expert insights on the Islanders’ roster moves and how they could impact the team’s future success.
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. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get $150 in Bonus Bets if your first $5 bet wins!
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
14 Comments
what is the revamped bottom 6? is it 7 44 shab, 16 53, heineman? 10 g scorers at best with shab the unknown probably better suited for top 6. or if 18 is part of this revamped bottom six then forgetaboutit. 11 is too flawed for bottom six. it may be revamped and only slightly better. just gonna have to wait it out for 44, 27 to get moved and hope ritchie, eiserman slot in and can add scoring needed cause bottom six is still doesn't add depth scoring to off set top six lacking big scorers. maybe eiserman goes pro after next season at bu and gets a cup of coffee look with isles at end of season. b'port sucks so no hope for ahl next season.
There's no reason for Mclean to be here meaning to be with the Islanders the New York Islanders hopefully they can throw them into a trade and get a little bit more than not throwing him in a trade you out there's no room like got home McLean would you rather have it a simple choice or evil choice I think your projection is right on 10 to 12 goal hopefully but probably as well McLean had four goals is a minus player and get home hits which should happen on the fourth one but he hits quite a bits here doesn't he makes more and you certainly want it wasn't on an 8 goal 37 game pace. Pierre had eight goals and 62 games and he doesn't have any upside we know what he is he's actually regressed and as you said he doesn't really have a fourth line game, doesn't hit. Gatcomb should play I disagree he shouldn't be 13th or 14th he's a young player and I agree he's not gonna keep up that shooting percentage but he might score 15 and he might have more upside you already know what Pierre is and you already know what McLean is even though McLean is young and he's not very good in the face off circle. Cizikas plays best at Center he's most comfortable at Center he should be the fourth line Center.
There is still a little bit of a glut because hopefully not but Max may have to play on the fourth line from a potency standpoint I kinda like that but hopefully he doesn't have to. And your fourth line is Cizikas, Heineman and Gatcomb, I think. Not that order and Casey's at Center. And also if needed Gatcomb can play center, another reason to keep put him in the lineup has some versatility, he played center in college and in Bridgeport.
And if Heineman plays well he can move up. But there's no reason to have McLean, preferably a throw in in a trade, but if not Bridgeport. If he can't be included in a trade there is some value in having him in Bridgeport as long as we can bury his salary in the AHL but if not he's definitely gotta go somehow. As I think about it now, he doesn't have a two-way contract so maybe he can't I don't know right now, and there's no reason to have Engvall as also, again, he makes $3 million and even if we eat 1 million of(preferably not but maybe the only way) it there's a lot better use of $2 million and certainly the full three. And if we can't or don't use that 2 million this season next year as you said stuff needs to be done down the line Darche is looking down the line not just right now. I agree with you it's going to be a different fourth line hopefully they make up for it by providing more scoring, and I think they will because it's a very low bar from last year, as you said but even taking that out of the equation I'm hopeful that they will add some significant scoring for a fourth line, it looks like they could, as you also alluded to that possibility, I agree. I am 100% on that same page with you and again sorry to bring it up again but Gatcomb allows that line to retain some of its physicality from the past.
Hey Gil..sounds like we have room for some accountability now
I know they're not on the same defensive pairing but I'm thinking and hoping that the coach will put Aitcheson and Schaefer together a little bit would be interesting to see and hear about how they play together preview of the future, things to come.
The problem with firing Chris Lamoriello for ownership I am thinking is you're paying him to go away, in addition to any buyouts of players which I know he said he wasn't gonna do or it does not look like it yet, and any other firings that might happen in the future. He just got re-signed to a three year contract or whatever it is, so it's not like he's even a year or two in. So I believe it's his first year you would probably be paying him for the whole length of his contract to go away. I agree he shouldn't be there or here because I still think, or at least he's listed as an assistant GM for the New York Islanders, people keep skipping over that, it would be terrific if he wasn't and certainly as your questioner said he needs to be sidelined if he is but certainly if not sideline correctly he can still come up the works. If I am the GM and I have to run things by my boss before I do them but I came up with the idea I'm still pretty freaking influential and also maybe the boss isn't gonna want to say no to everything even if it is a bad idea for synergy sake not that I would agree with that but if he's gonna have him there I'm sure he's gonna let him do some things, which can mess things up. Unless he just completely sidelines him. Plus Darche has to focus on the New York Islanders he can't focus on Bridgeport as much as a full-time GM could and if he does that would be taking away New York Islanders GM duties at least a little bit, and since he can't, Lamoriello can still mess things up for him and us in Bridgeport also and most of all.
I agree it's not a good situation at all and also Chris Lamoriello is probably getting paid a good amount certainly more than just a regular AHL GM because he was or is the NHL assistant GM also i'm sure he doesn't have that job for free.
Good 🌄, Gil. How are you? The Islanders' 4th line for nearly 10 years was a force to be reckoned with because they set the tone for the rest of the team the game. Matthew Martin and Cal Clutteruck are no longer with the team. We'll 👀 what Patrick Roy does when it comes to the identity line. The Islanders have some players in the junior summer showcase. Prokorov signed a PTO with the KHL, no big loss, just don't rush the kid. It's a 50/50 chance that the Islanders might invite a player from the PTO. If someone makes Matheiu Darche an offer he can't refuse for JG Pageou, HE'LL TAKE IT. Chris Lamoriellio's getting one last shot, but the old man's not there. If he messes up again, HE'S OUT. HAPPY 🎂, GARTH SNOW. He was a player and GM for the Islanders. He had a nice respectable career as a goalie, and he was a good GM. They were out shot 45-14 sounds like a 🏈 score, and Snow stopped 44 of them in win over the 🌀. Hear from you later, Gil. I was 👀 The 🌙 Before 🎄 Eve game, and even though it Trots' 🌙 I've got to say that Boss had 5 points that night, and Jethro had 4 points, all helpers. Boss put a move on dreaded Ranger turned good guy Mike McEwen that turned him every which way but loose to score his 2nd goal of the 🌙 IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. Now, LET'S GO, ISLANDERS.
Islanders have a glut of underperforming forwards that should see 2 of the 16 forwards traded or waived. Gatcomb with 8 goals in 39 games deserves the 4 line right wing spot! Heineman easily will be the 3 rd or 4 th line left wing. Palms should be 3 rd line RW not in top 6 but you will see him on the 2nd line. Duclair has never been a top 6 player as much as coaches have tried to make him something he is not. Duclair is lucky to be a 3 rd line LW as he Has no Defense in his game and certainly doesn’t hit anything but the ice after he is hit. Engvall and Duclair should be traded or waived but likely we will be stuck with Lou’s mistakes. The 2 Russians should be the pillars of the 3 rd line with JGP providing JGP is not traded but he likely will to insert Ritchie on line 3 center. However I think Richie with Heineman and Gatcomb would be a killer line. Moving Zeeks to line 3 centering the 2 Russians. Whatever the outcome of the lineup facts remain we have 2 forwards 2 many and will that be resolved before camp or after camp when final player decisions will be made. Us fans can only wait and see. However Engvall and Kyle Mac appear to be the 2 weakest links. Time will tell what players will rise and who will fall. Hopefully players are not given positions on the team because of their name and contract instead of their ability.
Czikas, Martin, Clutter was one of my favorite Islanders line of all time. I think we will have a much better bottom six this year. LGI
not seeing any revamped upgrade here….
Perhaps we could bring back Bob Bassen, Mick Vukota, and Mats Hallin to play on the fourth line. I was also a huge fan of Alan Kerr, one of the toughest men to ever wear an Islanders uniform. Don't believe me? Watch all of his NHL fight videos. He takes on heavyweights and does more than hold his own, even winning many. Watch him handle don jackson, beukeboom, tocchet , tim kerr, al secor, and many others. The kid had brass b**ls. High energy and could score. Unvortunately, he didn't have longevity on the Islanders or in the NHL.
What are some realistic teams that might want Pageau, aside from injuries that come up during the year?
I've seen some people say Boston, but that doesn't make sense to me. I don't think Boston is in the window of going for the cup right now, but I could be wrong.
I could see Winnipeg. I could see Ottawa or Montreal, perhaps Toronto given an injury.
Any other teams pop into your mind?
Jg cizikas,engval and Lee must go.
Good morning team! Gil, it's just my opinion, as all my comments are, I believe the fourth line, going forward, is only going to be out on the ice for lines 1 and 2 to rest up. Or, if the fourth line is our enforcer line, they will be put out to bring some order back to the game. Any scoring the fourth line can bring us is a bonus to what their actual job is, and that is to enforce some law and order on the ice. Like I said, just my opinion. I would love the Islanders to rebuild the team to where we have a 1st line, two 2nd lines, one 3rd line, and a killer defensive core. Make my words, the day is coming. Everyone, have a great day! See you all again Friday. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
Today is July 31st. Whenever I see or hear the number 31, I hearken back to days of Yore (Mighty Led Zeppelin reference try to keep up would ya?) and my weary mind conjures up images of theeeeeeeee greatest "money goalie" EVAH! Mr. Billy Smith. I don't even think Battlin Billy understands the gravity of which his goaltending acumen has had on Islanders fans. When he shut down the oilers, in game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, in Edmonton, and without Mike Bossy, he demonstrated to the hockey world how instrumental he was in the success of the Dynasty Era Isles. Therefore, I raise my cup of Metamucil, in honor of Billy Smith, #31, and say thank you for all of the memories. Prost!