New York Islanders Need to Call Up Devon Toews Soon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Barclays Center on September 20, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: Devon Toews #25 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils during a preseason game at the Barclays Center on September 20, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New York Islanders are off to a solid start, especially considering their schedule to begin the season. One of the area’s the Isles need to improve is to get more offensive production from their blue line. In the near future, the Isles need to call-up, Devon Toews.

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz preached this week to be a successful team you have to get offensive production from the blue line. While one has to keep in mind the Isles blueliners are still learning Trotz’s system, there is no doubt an infusion of offensive prowess from the back end is needed.

When an NHL organization is selecting in the middle rounds of any Draft, they are looking for a diamond in the rough. The Isles found one in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft with Devon Toews.

Toews has emerged as a really good prospect. His skating is a huge asset along with his offensive game. But the kid from Quinnipiac can play a two-way game as well.

Toews was on the verge of making his NHL debut last December before an untimely injury ended his season.

This past training camp, Toews showed he is ready for the NHL. But due to a numbers game, he started this season in the AHL with Bridgeport. There is no doubt both Lou Lamoriello and Trotz would like to get him up with the big club but that’s a tricky situation given the roster.

Need to Make Room

It’s not so much that the Isles have a bunch of Brent Burns on the roster and can’t make room for Toews but they do have depth at the position. So if everyone is healthy, who does Toews bump out of the lineup?

Toews is off to a good start from an offensive standpoint (6 Points in 9 Games) with the Sound Tigers. But his plus-minus (-8) needs a lot of work.

Big picture the Isles need Toews game up here with the big club and they need to find out if the youngster will be a part of the blue and orange’s future core.

So how does Lou free up a spot barring injury? Is it possible the Isles could move Nick Leddy to make room for Toews, add some future assets, as well as free up cap space moving forward?

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The calendar just turned to November so Lou doesn’t have to rush Toews to the Island. Having said that come Thanksgiving. Lamoriello has to figure out a way to get Toews as part of the Isles defensive corps.