Islanders Depth Chart: Is the Defense Good Enough?

Since Lou Lamoriello took the reins of the Islanders in the summer of 2018, the Islanders defensive depth chart has featured three of the same names- Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and Scott Mayfield.

Now, six full years later, those three are still here. They’re all going to be here for a while, too. That same summer, Lamoriello drafted Noah Dobson with the 12th overall pick, and he’s sprouted into the team’s best defenseman and one of the best in the NHL today.

Those four are the core of the Islanders defensive corps, something not likely to change any time soon. Add in the 24-year-old Alexander Romanov, and you’ve got five NHL defensemen locked and loaded. Mike Reilly, who the Islanders claimed off waivers during last season, completes the unit. Samuel Bolduc, a second-round pick in 2019, is the seventh man.

When healthy, it’s a very steady unit with a lot of chemistry from playing together over the years. But the bigger issue is those first two words.

When. Healthy.

During the 2019-20 season, Pelech suffered a season-ending injury. Then, the world quite literally shut down, and hockey stopped until the end of August, allowing Pelech to return for the bubble run to the Conference Finals. Then, in 2020-21, for the only time, all three of Pulock, Pelech, and Mayfield remained healthy for the entire season, though it was an abbreviated 56-game season.

Since then, all three have missed huge chunks of time due to injury. In the missed playoffs season of 21-22, Pelech played 78 of 82 games. Pulock only played 56, while Mayfield logged just 61.

In 2022-23, Pulock and Mayfield played all 82, but Pelech missed 21 games.

Then, this past season, Mayfield got injured in game number one and played through it but ultimately underwent season-ending surgery and only played 41 games. Pelech and Pulock both missed 24 games, logging just 58 games played.

It left the team scrambling to add Reilly and Robert Bortuzzo, especially as Bolduc floundered. Clearly, insurance policies are needed. While it’s unlikely that all three miss long stretches, they’re equally older, and recovery takes longer.

The Depth Chart

Look, we all know who the pairs will be in October. There will be no debates unless Bolduc has the best training camp of his life. Then maybe he nudges Reilly out, but it feels incredibly unlikely.

Day one will look like this:

Romanov-Dobson

Pelech-Pulock

Reilly-Mayfield

Bolduc

With quite literally $0 in cap space, it’s all decided. But what happens when an injury occurs? Does anyone really still believe Bolduc will turn that corner? It’s possible, albeit unlikely. He’s still young, and defensemen can take a while to mature, but the clock is beginning to tick.

Depth? Depth!

Regardless, the Islanders need more depth. After Bolduc, Dennis Cholowski and Grant Hutton are in the AHL—not exactly the most enticing options. So, the question then turns to the defenseman still available in free agency, with a huge caveat being that those players have to be willing to start the season in the AHL or on a PTO.

Last year, the Bruins started off Danton Heinen on a PTO that lasted until October 30th. Then, when multiple Bruins forwards went down injured, the Bruins signed him. Heinen parlayed that into a two-year, $4.5 million contract with his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks.

A year later, the Islanders could attempt to go that route with a defenseman. Bortuzzo remains unsigned, and he may not mind being a part of the mix while waiting for his turn.

Then there’s also the option of going after a guy like Oliver Kylington, a true buy-low player who wouldn’t hold much leverage. Other UFAs include Calen Addison and Travis Dermott.

Clearly, there are depth options. The Islanders need to add at least one if not two. The trick is the money or convincing one to start in Bridgeport as a leader while waiting for the call-up if or when an injury inevitably occurs.

So, is the Defense Good Enough?

However, this doesn’t answer the question posed in this article’s title. The Islanders need to win and win at all costs. To do that, the defense has to be better. The bet the Islanders are making is that all three of Pelech, Pulock, and Mayfield suffered longer-term injuries and struggled to recover, and as a result, their play suffered.

It’s the only bet the team could make with their contracts. Will it work out? I think so. Pelech and Pulock seemed rejuvenated under Patrick Roy and his new system. Mayfield should be significantly better after a long recovery period.

The defense is good enough to get the Islanders to the playoffs, full-stop. They could use depth underneath in case of emergency instead of scrambling in season again.