It is beneficial for an NHL team to have a few veterans on its roster to add depth and to mentor younger players. However, the key word in that sentence is “few.” The New York Islanders too many veterans and they are inhibiting the team’s ability to win. Barry Trotz is notorious for keeping rookies on a tight leash while being very lenient towards veterans. Let’s take a look at the underperforming veterans and who would be a good option to replace them in the lineup.

Zdeno Chara

In 20 games, Zdeno Chara, the oldest player in the NHL, has only registered 20 shots on goal and two assists. He is a -2 and has had 15 giveaways, the fourth most on the team. Chara also leads the team with 53 penalty minutes. Compared to other defensemen like Adam Pelech and Noah Dobson, Chara looks very slow. There are many times throughout a game where you can look in the defensive zone and see him standing there with his feet planted unaware of opponents who are around him. 

Robin Salo would be a great option to put in the lineup in place of Chara. He was called up from the Bridgeport Islanders for five games and gained the love of fans, and even Trotz. Salo has an average ice time of 20:29, behind only Pelech and Ryan Pulock. While he has yet to register any points, he has recorded six blocks and three takeaways. In just five games, Salo has shown that he has what it takes to be an NHL defenseman.

Josh Bailey

Josh Bailey has recorded nine points (1-8—9) in 18 games. However, he does not perform as well as his statistics make him seem. Bailey has been playing on the first line with Anders Lee and Mathew Barzal but he is a bottom-six forward. Bailey has had eight games this season where he did not record a single shot on goal.

Oliver Wahlstrom is the fans’ number one choice to replace Bailey as Barzal’s winger. In 23 games, Wahlstrom has scored eight goals and registered five assists. He is also a huge asset on the power-play. Wahlstrom leads the team with four power-play goals and six power-play points. Despite the fact that Wahlstrom is an offensive juggernaut, he averages 12:58 of ice time; nearly five minutes less than Bailey, who averages 17:32. 

Trotz does not think that Wahlstrom is ready to play on the first line, yet the young forward has shown time and time again that he is more than capable of it. Wahlstrom just had three multi-point games in a row against the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils. He will be looking to continue that streak on Tuesday when the Islanders play the Detroit Red Wings.

Kyle Palmieri

Kyle Palmieri might be the most underwhelming Islander this season. He has earned seven points (1-6—7) in 23 games. He is also a –11, the worst on the team. Palmieri is just not the goal scorer that he was made out to be. He has a 1.9 shooting percentage.  

Palmieri usually plays on the second or third line, but he should be removed from the lineup and Kieffer Bellows should take his spot. In 10 games, Bellows has scored one goal and recorded three assists. Palmieri has been nearly invisible every time he steps onto the ice, but Bellows stands out — and is a noticeably better hockey player. 

Zach Parise

In 23 games, Zach Parise has only recorded five points. He finally scored his first goal in the 23rd game of the season against the Devils. Parise is a player who gives it his all every time he plays, but unfortunately, he struggles to find the back of the net. In the same game where he scored his first goal, he missed an empty netter. The Islanders have struggled to put pucks in the back of the net all season so they can’t give a lineup spot to someone just because they try their best. The team needs a player that they count on to score night in and night out.

Austin Czarnik would be a great candidate to replace Parise in the lineup. Czarnik recorded three points in four games (1-2—3) when he was brought up from Bridgeport. Czarnik also has great chemistry with Wahlstrom and Bellows, which could partially come from the fact that they play video games together off the ice. When Trotz put these three young forwards on a line together against Nashville, they all registered at least one point. Since Trotz refuses to put Wahlstrom on the first line, he could put these three together and finally solidify the second or third line which has been a different group of guys nearly every single game.

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.