Austin Czarnik Should Remain in Islanders Lineup
Austin Czarnik has made a stronger case than most to be a regular player in the Islanders lineup this season. He does not dazzle with his skill and is by no means a flashy player, so he appears to be a player who appeals to Trotz, right? Not so much. He was one of the later call-ups when the team had their first big COVID-19 outbreak, and in the few games he has suited up, his minutes have been more limited than almost all of his teammates.
Islanders fans have been playing armchair GM and armchair coach a lot this season, so I suppose it is only customary for me to join in. It is obvious to many Isles fans that Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows deserve more ice time, but we rarely hear other names thrown in that discussion. Czarnik should be one of Trotz’s favorite players. He is smart, reliable, and fairly experienced. He played four years of college hockey at Miami University (Ohio) before making his way to the pro circuit as an undrafted free agent. In his first full season with Boston’s AHL affiliate, Czarnik immediately produced at nearly a point-per-game pace and, as a result, spent most of the following season playing for the Boston Bruins. He has over 200 AHL and 131 NHL games under his belt and has proven to be a reliable and productive player while on the ice.
Surprisingly, Czarnik, who turned 29 in December, has one of the more impressive stat lines in the organization. Granted, he has played in only six games, but he leads the team by a wide margin in 5v5 points-per-60 (minutes); the Michigan native has 3.10 5v5 P/60, while the next highest mark sits at 2.37, from Kieffer Bellows. The sample size is small, but his play has been impressive thus far.
What next for Czarnik? He was recently added to the taxi squad and should be ready to go whenever he is called on to don the blue and orange. With more Isles players recently testing positive for COVID-19, including five regular forwards, Czarnik will get another shot at the NHL level and will hopefully, for his sake, prove himself once and for all as a reliable and productive NHL forward.
