New York Islanders: Yankee Swap Christmas Game

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the New York Islanders fans out there. Today, we’re going to have some fun with a Christmas themed article.

Before we get started I just wanted to wish our readers and all New York Islanders fans a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Today’s going to be a little different content on the website, as it is Christmas day and I’m sure people aren’t looking to read a hard-hitting piece.

Instead, we’ll keep it on the lighter side, something fun. We’re going to do an Islanders-themed Yankee Swap.

Yankee Swap, or white elephant, is a Holiday game almost like Secret Santa. The game was played and made famous in the T.V. show “The Office”. The main character Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell explains the game:

I’m assuming in 2017 everybody has seen The Office by now (if not stop reading this and fire up the old Netflix machine). So what we’re doing today is making it into an Isles themed version of Yankee Swap. I’ll give some things from the first half of the year that I’d like to swap out and some things I’d like to keep.

Swap: The Goalies

Unwrapping the Islanders goalie tandem on Christmas day is kind of like the equivalent of Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” opening up the bunny suit. Nobody wants a bunny suit, and nobody wants the worst goalie tandem in the league.

The Islanders goalie tandem has the leagues worst save percentage at .892. You don’t want to be stuck with Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss at the end of Yankee Swap. You’re gonna instead swap with your friend Mr. Buffalo Sabres

You have to give up a little something extra to go along with Halak, but at least your upgrading your present. Your shiny new toy Robin Lehner is rocking a .915 save percentage, .023 higher than either than the Islanders goalies.

Swap: Jason Chimera

Getting Jason Chimera in Yankee Swap is actually a lot like what Jim from “The Office” initially got. He was gifted an old, worn, flannel shirt in a plastic bag from Creed. An old, worn out, flannel shirt is actually a pretty good representation of Jason Chimera’s 2017 season with the New York Islanders.

In 35 games Chimera has just seven points (1 goal, 6 assists). He has poor possession numbers as well with a 45 CF% and a -5.8 CF% rel.

I’m swapping old and worn Jason Chimera for a new exciting toy that has tons of potential. Josh Ho-Sang is currently rotting away on the fourth line in Bridgeport. Through nine games in the AHL Ho-Sang has nine points.

Give me offensive production ten times out of ten, that’s what this team is good at.

Keep: Isles Top Line

Opening up the Islanders top-line is like hitting the jackpot. You better pray nobody wants to swap with you.

Anders Lee, John Tavares and Josh Bailey have combined for 129 points so far. That’s insane. The Islanders are tied for the most goals in the league with 128 and are averaging 3.6 goals per game. A big reason why is due to the production of the top line.

Keep: Mathew Barzal

On the final day before the Christmas break, Mathew Barzal notched his first hattrick.

Through 36 games Barzal has 35 points and is making a strong case in the Calder conversation. Barzal’s the gift that keeps on giving. You keep him forever and ever right along with that top line.

Next: de Haan Opts For Surgery (Report)

Hope you enjoyed the Islanders edition of Yankee Swap. Now enjoy the rest of the day with family and friends and we’ll see you tomorrow.