New York Islanders Can Survive Losing Two Defenseman

With trades and the expansion draft, it seems like the New York Islanders could lose two defenseman. Don’t worry they’ll survive though.

We predicted that the New York Islanders will lose Calvin de Haan in the expansion draft and many believe that Travis Hamonic will be traded. So that leaves the Isles down two defenseman who are considered regulars. I’m here to tell you why the Islanders will be just fine if that happens.

We will start with Travis Hamonic. The Isles nearly played half their games without him in 2016-2017. Plus in the 49 games he played with the team he was just flat out bad.

Granted, I’m not nieve, I know that Hamonic’s a very solid second pairing defenseman. But, if the blue and orange are looking to acquire a star forward it’s going to cost something significant to get something significant.

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As for de Haan it seems likely that he’ll either be traded or taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft. de Haan is coming off his best season with the team.  He put up a career high of 25 points offensively and he was one of the teams more consistent defenseman in 2016-2017.

It comes down to this, the Islanders are more capable of bouncing back from losing a defenseman then they are forwards. If Josh Bailey is lost for nothing that’s much worse than losing the likes of Calvin de Haan in the expansion draft.

So, if Hamonic and de Haan are out of the picture, I figure the pairings would look something like this

Leddy – Boychuk

Seidenberg – Pulock

Hickey – Mayfield/Pelech

Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk are two veterans who know what they’re doing at this point in their career. You know what you’re getting from the two of them.

The addition of Dennis Seidenberg was a good one for the team last year. His solid play in 2016-2017 yielded him a raise for this year. If both Hamonic and de Haan are out of the picture the vet Seidenberg will have to have a much bigger role.

Related Story: Hamonic Needs to be Traded Before the Expansion Draft

At this point you know what Hickey is as well. He’s going to be fine for the most part, with minor hiccups every now and again, plus he’ll give you some clutch goals particularly in overtime.

This also gives the Islanders a definite chance to get Ryan Pulock in the lineup. Part of the frustration from last year was the lack of Ryan Pulock slapper’s in our lives. So now at least there’s no reason to worry about Pulock being passed over again.

The Scott Mayfield/Adam Pelech slot would definitely be the weakest link but I think both could fit in that role as the sixth/seventh d-man. Doug Weight could use it as a revolving door of sorts if he wishes and I’d be okay with it. I prefer Mayfield slightly over Pelech but they both virtually play the same role.

Oh yeah and if neither Mayfield or Pelech work out rumor has it there’s someone by the name of Devon Towes who is pretty good in Bridgeport. If we don’t see him in 2017-2018 we will definetely

Next: Expansion Draft Theory

So if Travis Hamonic is moved for Matt Duchene and Calvin de Haan is the Islander lost in expansion the Isles will be just fine.