New York Islanders Jason Chimera No Longer Serving Purpose

The New York Islanders brought in Jason Chimera as someone who could put up goals at a cost-effective price. Now, he’s not scoring and serving little purpose to the Islanders.

On July 1, 2016, the New York Islanders lost Matt Martin in free agency. Matt was a solid Islander, but he became too costly as he signed a $10 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A $2.5 million AAV for a player who gives you little to no offensive production is unpractical.

So, the Islanders were in a position where they needed to replace him. They did that with an older, cheaper and more offensive minded forward, Jason Chimera. In year one Chimera gave you pretty solid production.

Despite a slow start, he ended up putting up 20 goals for the second year in a row while Martin only had nine points with the Leafs. A clear win for the Islanders.

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Year two hasn’t been so kind to Jason Chimera. In 13 games Chimera has just two assists. No goals, a minus two and very little impact on the ice for the Islanders. Yet, he was chosen to be in the lineup on a nightly basis and Josh Ho-Sang was sent to Bridgeport.

At age 38-years old Chimera isn’t a long-term answer for the Islanders. In the last year of his deal, it’s extremely unlikely he returns to the Isles in 2018-2019. So why does he get preferential treatment when he isn’t performing in the one area you brought him in here for?

He doesn’t give you much defensively, he’s a forward who is quick for his age who has scoring potential. A solid bottom-six player for the majority of his career, although at this point in his career he’s ineffective.

His experience and leadership in the room can only get you so far. Plus is that knowledge worth $2.5 million dollars? Before the season I predicted Chimera would be traded. It wasn’t because I thought he would be off to this slow of a start, instead it was due to the depth at the forward position.

By the deadline, I figured Ho-Sang, Barzal, and Beauvillier would establish themselves as nightly regulars leaving Chimera and Kulemin fighting for the final spot on the fourth line. Due to Kulemin’s $4 million cap hit it makes it impossible to move him.

Chimera becomes the expendable one. Unfortunately, Chimera’s slow start exponentially brings down his value. Regardless, having Chimera in the lineup over Ho-Sang is a crime at this point. Ho-Sang has double Chimera’s point playing in only six games.

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Give me the point production over past their prime veterans any day of the week. Clear him out of the way for Ho-Sang and let the kid go to work.

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