New York Islanders Daily: Komarov – Cizikas – Clutterbuck Line Ranked Worst In NHL

The New York Islanders could potentially use Leo Komarov, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck as their fourth line. In one model that’s the worst line in the league.

On July 1, the New York Islanders gave Leo Komarov a four-year $12 million dollar deal. It’s assumed that he was brought in to replace Nikolai Kulemin, who was a fourth line penalty killer for the Islanders the last two years.

The kind of money Komarov got is excessive but on the surface, his PK skill seemed to at least justify the idea of bringing him in. According to a model from Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, it might actually be disastrous.

Luszczyszyn sites that Komarov lost a step on defense last year, which would affect him in five on five situations. He goes on to add that if Komarov, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck play on the fourth line that it is the worst-ranked line in the league according to his model.

A fourth line that combines to cost $9.75 million shouldn’t be the worst line in the NHL. Cizikas is signed for the next three years while Cal and Leo are signed through the next four. Nobody is going anywhere any time soon.

Even if the Isles decide to reunite the Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck line instead I’m not sold on them being as effective as they were a five years ago. All the bottom six forwards that were brought in might end up backfiring for the Isles in 2018-2019.

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