When Islanders’ rookie Oliver Wahlstrom was injured in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Barry Trotz chose Travis Zajac to fill his spot in the lineup. Zajac not only brings depth to the team with his veteran presence, but he is also extremely versatile which fits the Islanders’ “next man up” mentality. Travis Zajac has played outstanding in the playoffs this year and deserves to remain in the lineup when Wahlstrom returns.

Zajac’s Playoff Performance

Zajac has played in four postseason games and he has been great in all of them. Zajac has recorded one point, six shots on goal and is a +2. He also plays a physical game, recording six hits throughout the 2021 postseason.

Zajac had his best performance in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was also the first playoff game that Zajac had ever played in as an Islander. He had a breakaway which he did not score on. However, he did get on the scoresheet with an assist, and he was on the ice for two of the five goals that the Isles scored. Zajac also had a huge save on a chance by Kasperi Kapanen.

Zajac with the clutch save 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/OtyUzrh1rT

— Isles on MSGSN (@IslesMSGN) May 26, 2021

Leo Komarov’s Playoff Performance

Although I believe that Zajac should remain in the lineup when Wahlstrom returns, I do not think that he should remain in Wahlstrom’s spot. I think that Leo Komarov should be removed from the lineup to open a permanent spot for Zajac.

Komarov has been exceeding expectations when it comes to his performance. In nine games, he has earned two assists and has five shots on goal.

However, the first line is just not working out, and the Islanders will never be able to win the Stanley Cup if their top line can’t score. Komarov has a negative plus/minus rating in four of his nine games, and he only has a positive rating in two of them. At this point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, every single team remaining is extremely talented. The Islanders need their offense now more than ever and Komarov is not putting up the numbers they need.

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My Ideal Lineup

To give Zajac a permanent spot on the Islanders’ lineup, some of the lines would need to be changed. I would not mess with the second or fourth line because both have been outstanding this postseason. The first line is arguably the Islanders’ weakest line right now and is in desperate need of a goal-scoring winger. I would take Komarov out and then move Kyle Palmieri up from the third line.

Palmieri, along with two other players, has scored four goals in the playoffs, which is the most on the team. He was also on the ice with Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal in Game 3 against the Boston Bruins when Barzal scored his first goal in the 2021 Playoffs. Palmieri even got an assist on the play. He is the goal-scorer that Barzal and Eberle need on their line.

With Palmieri moved up to the first line, I would put Zajac in his spot to play on the third line alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom. Both Pageau and Wahlstrom are extremely talented and adaptable players. They had a variety of different left wingers on their line throughout the regular season, yet they were still able to remain some of the Islanders’ top players.

Therefore, getting a different linemate, even in the playoffs, should not affect their ability to generate offense and score. Pageau and Wahlstrom are also very physical players and adding Zajac to their line would just intensify the line’s physicality.

Zajac Should Be in the Lineup

Travis Zajac has played extremely well in the playoffs thus far and is deserving of a permanent spot in the lineup. Taking Komarov off the first line and promoting Palmieri would give the top line everything it needs to become an offensive powerhouse. Zajac would also fit in very well on the third line given Pageau and Wahlstrom’s style and abilities. Giving Zajac a spot in the lineup over Komarov would not just benefit Zajac individually, but it would benefit the whole team. Every line would finally have the right combination of players needed to score goals so that the Islanders could make a deep playoff run.

Maisy Healy

I am a huge Islanders fan and love spreading my passion for the team here at Drive4Five.  Along with writing, I also co-manage the Drive4Five TikTok and Facebook accounts.