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New York Islanders: 25 Bold Predictions For 2018-2019 Season

By Matt O'Leary
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of the arena during the game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: A general view of the arena during the game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 04: Casey Cizikas #53 and Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders escourt Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders off the ice following a second period injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Barclays Center on April 4, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

11 The Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck reunion is effective

Once donned the best fourth line in hockey, the Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck line is returning in 2018-2019. As much as I hate how much cap space this line eats up I can’t help but think of the effectiveness this line had.

At their best, they were flying around the Coliseum ice beating folks into the boards and making the crowd erupt with every last hit. They were the ultimate momentum changer.

Now, four years later from their prime, they can still be the same thing. All three of these guys were at their best when they played together. In the final year they played together, 2016, each one had a career year.

In order for the line to be productive, they have to be physical, defensively responsible and provide enough offense. They will never be worth the price tag, but Barry Trotz can squeeze some juice out of them in order to make the fourth line great again.

The way that Lou Lamoriello has shied away from analytics makes me think that they will ride this line out for as long as they can. The team might not be very talented, but they won’t be fun to play against that’s for sure.

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