New York Islanders Roundtable: Who Gets the Best out of Tavares

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Oct 16, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders celebrate the game winning goal by right wing Josh Bailey (12) in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks at Barclays Center. New York Islanders won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Islanders home stand continues with a date against the defending Western Conference champions. But with a point in three games is there a better linemate for Tavares than Jason Chimera?

It’s an old cliché that a team fares as well as its best player, and the New York Islanders are certainly no exception to the rule.

The Islanders have started the season going 1-2-0 with two losses against divisional rivals New York Rangers and Washington Capitals before finally getting a win against the hapless Anaheim Ducks.

John Tavares was kept off the score sheet in both road games, before finally opening his account for the season with a goal in the third period of the team’s home opener. A game the Islanders managed to win thank in no small part to the heroics of one Josh Bailey.

In this week’s roundtable discussion Eyes on Isles staff writers were asked if there was a better option at right-wing to get the best out of John Tavares?

We focused on the right-wing position for two reasons: (1) Jason Chimera is a fine player, but a first line player he is not. And (2) it’s not like Andrew Ladd will be separated from Tavares’ left-wing.