Islanders: Three internal lineup options after Anders Lee injury

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is out of the lineup indefinitely, so how will the Islanders line up without him?

With Anders Lee out indefinitely according to the New York Islanders, the team will have some interesting decisions to make with the lineup. Ideally, they get someone in via trade to replace Lee immediately, but Lou operates on his own timeline and won’t be rushed into anything.

A replacement for Lee is going to have to come internally, at least for the time being. So here’s a look at how the lines might be re-arranged with the Isles captain and top-line LW out.

Beau Next to Barzal

Beauvillier-Barzal-Eberle
Dal Colle-Nelson-Bailey
Czarnik-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

This is how I’d line up the team on Saturday against the Devils. Beauvillier and Barzal have chemistry together and have played well on the same line in the past.

That top line of Beau-Barzal-Eberle has played a total of 10:09 at 5on5 this season already and they carry a 69.99% CF, 82.75 xGF%, 91.08 SCF%, and 100 HDCF%. That’s at 5on5 as well as score and venue adjusted. That trio is #effective when on the ice together.

(Stats from NaturalStatTrick.)

The rest of the lineup shakes up as you’d expect it to. With Lee gone the left-wing depth chart basically shifts up by one except for the fourth line, which is untouchable. Dal Colle has played well enough to retain his spot in the lineup (even if he isn’t scoring).

I’d give the third line left wing spot to Czarnik here. The Islanders don’t trust Bellows so he’s out of the equation, and Leo just doesn’t give the team anything on the ice unless Brad Marchand is playing so Czarnik makes sense. Although I’m sure they still go with Leo.