The 2021-22 NHL season has just begun and the New York Islanders are already in a lull. In just five games, the Isles have gone 2-2-1, putting them in eighth place in the Metropolitan Division. While New York has faced adversity in more than one way this season, their main problem has been their defense. The Islanders need to alter and improve their defense to climb up the ranks in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division. 

Zdeno Chara and Noah Dobson

This season, Zdeno Chara was paired with youngster Noah Dobson to help mentor him like he did with Charlie McAvoy on the Boston Bruins. However, the Chara-Dobson pairing has probably been the worst defensive pair for the Islanders. At age 44, Chara is not the athlete he used to be. He looks slow and makes sloppy plays. In just five games, he is a -3. In his second game alone, Chara had a plus/minus rating of -4. 

Dobson’s statistics are much better than Chara’s – being that he is a +3. However, Dobson is still a young player and understandably, makes some rookie mistakes. He has made some poor decisions in the defensive zone this season. In that scenario, it is Chara’s role as his partner to help cover for Dobson and prevent the opposing team from capitalizing on any mistakes. However, when both members of this defensive pairing are not strong in their own end, it does not make for a successful d-pair.

Scott Mayfield and Andy Greene

Scott Mayfield has a plus/minus rating of -2 this season. However, that statistic does not represent Mayfield’s overall performance in the past five NHL games. In the season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, Mayfield was a -3. But, in the most recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Mayfield was a +1 and he scored a goal to put the Islanders on the scoreboard. 

Andy Greene is also a -2 for the 2021-22 NHL season so far. And just like in Mayfield’s case, that one statistic does not represent the whole picture for Greene. While Greene may be getting older and nearing the end of his career, he doesn’t look like it. He still makes smart plays and is strong in the defensive zone. 

Both Mayfield and Greene are very talented, well-liked defensemen. However, they do not complement each other. The Dobson-Greene pairing from the 2020-21 NHL season was a better fit for the Islanders. 

Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock

Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL. Referred to by Islanders fans as “P & P Security”, the two defensemen are extremely talented and a huge asset for the Isles. With Pulock being a -1 and Pelech being a +4, the duo has the best net plus/minus rating of any defensive pair on the team. It is also notable that Pelech has not had a minus rating for any game so far this season. 

This defensive pairing is so reliable that for the Islanders’ fourth game against Columbus, head coach Barry Trotz decided to split them up to spread out the talent. The effectiveness of that decision was hard to tell. During that game, the Islanders’ offensive and defensive lines were all mixed up due to special teams being on the ice several times throughout the night. 

How to Fix the Islanders’ Defense

During and after every Islanders game this season, Isles’ fans have jumped on social media to comment on the team’s defense. The majority of fans want Chara out and Sebastian Aho or Robin Salo in. At this point, it wouldn’t hurt to give either of them a try.

If Aho or Salo were to be put in, the Chara-Dobson pairing should be broken up. Chara is not having the mentor effect on Dobson as hoped and he is also not performing at the level needed in the NHL. Breaking up this defensive pairing would also give Dobson and Greene the opportunity to be partnered together again. Plus, this change would present Aho or Salo the opportunity to play alongside Mayfield, who has seven NHL seasons under his belt. It would also keep two of the three defensive pairings the same as the 2020-21 NHL season, when the Islanders’ defense was one of the best in hockey.

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.