Islanders don’t need a blockbuster—just one more smart addition
August 6, 2025
Islanders don’t need a blockbuster—just one more smart addition
4 comments
We could have a smart addition by an even smarter subtraction of Brent Thompson
I would say the best addition would be subtraction. It’s time to jettison some dead weight into the sun. The old guards days are over. This is a new era.
Matt Grzelcyk stinks. He had a good year offensively by playing power play time with Crosby. He was beneath the replacement level just about everywhere else and would get paid for point production. He’s not worth considering at all.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic didn’t scratch 400 minutes last year due to injuries and the Sharks prioritizing youth. He’s almost certainly an improvement and would likely be the team’s third best defenseman, but that’s more of a statement on the quality of this blue line than it is of his individual talent level.
T.J. Brodie is an intriguing option. His offense has fallen off, but he’s still great defensively and would be a nice boon. He would likely be the team’s second best defenceman.
Another potential option would be Calvin de Haan who I have right up there with Brodie as the best available. If you’re just looking to fill out the blue line with bodies, you can go the route of a Brendan Smith or Robert Bortuzzo. If you want to get someone that maybe can bounce back and become a useful player, Oliver Kylington is available.
I agree defencemen are needed, I just don’t love the options given in the article.
I don’t think you need to add another defenseman unless they know Schaefer won’t be here for the full season and they think George needs more time. As far as forwards are concerned, Roy and Darche have both said they plan on playing Barzal at center, so that answers the other question.
4 comments
We could have a smart addition by an even smarter subtraction of Brent Thompson
I would say the best addition would be subtraction. It’s time to jettison some dead weight into the sun. The old guards days are over. This is a new era.
Matt Grzelcyk stinks. He had a good year offensively by playing power play time with Crosby. He was beneath the replacement level just about everywhere else and would get paid for point production. He’s not worth considering at all.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic didn’t scratch 400 minutes last year due to injuries and the Sharks prioritizing youth. He’s almost certainly an improvement and would likely be the team’s third best defenseman, but that’s more of a statement on the quality of this blue line than it is of his individual talent level.
T.J. Brodie is an intriguing option. His offense has fallen off, but he’s still great defensively and would be a nice boon. He would likely be the team’s second best defenceman.
Another potential option would be Calvin de Haan who I have right up there with Brodie as the best available. If you’re just looking to fill out the blue line with bodies, you can go the route of a Brendan Smith or Robert Bortuzzo. If you want to get someone that maybe can bounce back and become a useful player, Oliver Kylington is available.
I agree defencemen are needed, I just don’t love the options given in the article.
I don’t think you need to add another defenseman unless they know Schaefer won’t be here for the full season and they think George needs more time. As far as forwards are concerned, Roy and Darche have both said they plan on playing Barzal at center, so that answers the other question.