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The New York Islanders have a hole to fill in their lineup. Regardless of how comfortable they may claim to be with the current group, Mathew Barzal’s loss is a major blow to the team’s forward group and depth.
It shows in the way the power play cannot buy a goal now, though they had been struggling with Barzal. Now, they look almost aimless. Anthony Duclair has not fully recovered from his lower-body injury earlier this season. His skating just doesn’t have that signature burst, which has hampered his usefulness.
Duclair’s game has started to improve, but the fit with Bo Horvat and Anders Lee may not be there. If Barzal’s injury had been short-term, the team might be more comfortable sticking with that combination. Instead, the team may look to utilize the cap space potentially gained by placing Barzal on the Long-Term Injured Reserve.
That would give the Islanders an additional $9.15 million in space to work with ahead of an explosion in cap space this summer. Though the dream acquisition is still Elias Pettersson, with him off the market, another top-six option that could be had on the cheap is out there.
That player is Trevor Zegras.
Zegras???
Zegras, 23, is a former all-star and multi-time 20-goal scorer. However, following major injuries last season, his game has taken a serious step back, while the Anaheim Ducks continue to have a lifeless team.
This year, Zegras has just six goals and 15 points through only 31 games while receiving a career-low 16:49 average time on the ice. The once flashy young superstar has lost a lot of his luster, thanks in large part to not fitting the system of Ducks’ head coach Greg Cronin’s grinding style.
In the prior two seasons before Cronin’s arrival, Zegras scored 23 goals and had over 60 points while playing on some truly miserable Ducks teams. Reports have come out that Anaheim is working to move the young forward, and he makes perfect sense for the Islanders now and in the future.
At just 23 years old, Zegras can fit in well to a retool if the Islanders do not hang onto Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson. What’s more, his position is so versatile. He’s played on the wing and up the middle, but he’s better suited as a winger at this stage.
The cost of acquisition is not going to be a lot, as he has one more year after this at $5.75 per year on the cap, something the Islanders can easily afford with the burgeoning cap.
Let’s Make a Deal:
The rumor is Anaheim wants a defenseman in exchange for Zegras. The Islanders, armed with their smooth-fitting new arrivals, have excess there. Could the Islanders convince one of Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock, or Adam Pelech to waive their NTC? That would be the ideal scenario for the Islanders. Money in, money out. With the news guys looking good defensively, you can afford to take a risk and ship out one of the older veterans.
If not, it may not even take one of those guys. Anaheim surely wouldn’t mind taking on a second-round pick and, say, a rejuvenated Scott Perunovich. Perunovich has potential and has looked solid in a top-four dro
Zegras’ value has cratered, and taking him on would be a risk. There’s no guarantee Zegras ever regains his top-line potential, scoring over 20 goals and 60 points, but his flashy ability and puck mobility make him a fit in the Patrick Roy system.
His shooting percentage is below his career average and has been since his injuries derailed last season. It’s not often a 23-year-old forward with that type of early production shakes free, but if the price is right, the Islanders should absolutely pounce.
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