With the 2021-22 NHL season coming to an end, the New York Islanders will have to start considering who they want to sign, and re-sign, during the offseason. The Islanders will have two unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this summer at the NHL level and they just so happen to be some of the most controversial players — Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara. Both defensemen bring a veteran presence to the team and are loved by the coaching staff. But, with a struggling team that needs to get younger, re-signing both Greene and Chara may not be in the Islanders’ best interest. 

Andy Greene 

Greene is currently signed to a one-year $750K contract. At 39 years old, he has an average ice-time of 17:25. In 61 games, Greene has scored two goals and registered seven assists. With an expected goals of 1.6 (per MoneyPuck.com), Greene is performing slightly better than expected offensively. 

Greene also played a major role in Noah Dobson’s development as his defensive partner and mentor. Just last year, Dobson had 14 points (3-11—14) in 46 games. This season, the 22-year-old has 42 points (11-31—42) in 72 games and is arguably the Islanders’ best offensive defenseman.  

Next year, the Islanders will have a lot of young defensemen to consider putting into the lineup, including Sebastian Aho, Noah Dobson, Grant Hutton and Robin Salo. It should be a no-brainer for the Isles to bring Greene back in the offseason, if he’s interested in returning. At 39 years old, Greene still offers so much to the Islanders’ organization and its young players. Therefore,  he should be re-signed to another one-year league minimum contract.

Zdeno Chara  

If you say the name “Zdeno Chara” around any Islanders’ fans, it’s likely they will have a very strong reaction. People either love him or they hate him. It’s unfortunate because Chara is a great person and locker-room presence but his on-ice performance is infuriating to say the least. 

At 45 years old, Chara is the oldest player in the NHL — and the four major professional sports in the United States — but still averages 18:39 of ice-time a night. In 65 games, Chara has one goal and 10 assists. Per MoneyPuck.com, Chara has an expected goals of 2.9. With a -1.9 differential, Chara is significantly underperforming — especially because it took him 64 games to score his first and only goal. 

Defensively, it’s the same story. While Chara may be a +9, that is not an accurate representation of how he has been in the defensive end. Chara often plants his feet and just attempts to stop pucks that come within arm’s reach opposed to moving with the puck or covering an open forward. Opposing teams skate into the Islanders’ zone with ease when Chara is on the ice and practically skate circles around him.

Another issue with Chara is physicality. He has 79 penalty minutes — the most on the team. Chara is a part of the Islanders’ penalty kill so when he sits in the box, it hurts the team. Even for a player making league minimum, Chara is spending too much time in the penalty box. Singing Chara was a mistake for the Islanders, and they should make sure they don’t let history repeat itself this offseason. 

Comeback Season 

With eight games remaining in the season, the Islanders have a record of 35-30-9. The team needs to get younger and trade underperforming players to become a Stanley Cup contender once again next season. Keeping both Greene and Chara would inhibit the team from doing such. Greene has been the more consistent of the two, while Chara has been more of a liability on the ice.

Therefore, re-signing Greene and moving on from Chara will give the Islanders a veteran presence for their young defensemen, while still helping the team improve for the 2022-23 NHL season.

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.