Sansided
Eyes On Isles
Home/Editorials

New York Islanders NFL Style Cut List For 2018-19 Season

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Mathew Barzal #13 and Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders celebrate a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Mathew Barzal #13 and Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders celebrate a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 10
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 18: Chris Wagner #21 of the New York Islanders skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Barclays Center on March 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 18: Chris Wagner #21 of the New York Islanders skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Barclays Center on March 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Chris Wagner | RW

One point, 26-years-old

The New York Islanders worst player this season was Jason Chimera. And he was traded for Chris Wagner straight up. A 1-for-1 swap. Immediately the Islanders became on average younger with the then 38-year-old Chimera being replaced a by a player 12 years his junior. Twelve years his junior.

And Chris Wagner was worse than Chimera. At the trade deadline, Wagner replaced the worst Islander from 2017-18 on the team and in the worst standings.

When Garth added Chris Wagner and Brandon Davidson at the trade deadline he let all Islanders fans know: “I have faith in this group to make the playoffs”. They didn’t. They actually missed the postseason by 17 points.

Wagner added nothing to the team. He scores a goal at least. But that was it in terms of production. He was brought in with some good fourth line and penalty killing pedigree. Ross Johnston usurped him on the fourth line. And the Islanders PK struggled for the remainder of the season. So his contributions were null and void.

Keeping him around doesn’t make any sense. He’s an RFA so I imagine Garth might give him a qualifying offer to keep him around as a scratch pad player. But again, I prefer Alan Quine and Tanner Fritz for that role. Wagner is older and is just as skilled as the two players I just named. So why keep him? Unless Garth can package him in some sort of trade with another team for a big defender or goaltender.

facebooktwitterreddit