Islanders: Andy Greene Expectations For 2021-2022

When the New York Islanders traded for Andy Greene in 2020, the assumption was that he would only be a rental. Well, he played his 10 regular-season games that year and 21 playoff games and then re-signed with the Islanders.

At 38 years old, surely the one-year deal he received for 2020-2021 would be the final go of it too right? Well, once again he played in 55 of 56 regular-season games and then in all 19 playoff games for the Islanders.

Needless to say, we’re onto year three of Andy Greene. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that he’s back, it’s just a tad on the surprising side. At this point in his career, he is a sixth defenseman as displayed by his 17:35 of ice time per night in 2021.

He had five points (1 goal, 4 assists) during the regular season as he was paired with Noah Dobson. More than likely, he will have a new partner this year which we’ll get to in a second. Greene spent the third most amount of time on the penalty kill in 2021 for New York.

With the addition of Zdeno Chara, I find it hard to believe that he’ll be third again but he does provide depth with the ability to play on the PK if needed.

Andy Greene 2021-2022 Expectations

Andy Greene will play roughly 17 minutes of ice time per night and have a new d-partner this year. Instead of being paired with Noah Dobson, Scott Mayfield will move down from the second pair to the third pair.

Greene will be fifth on the Islanders in PK time in 2021 and will be an up and down player at 5v5. Playing in roughly 71 games, Greene will have eight points (2 goals, 6 assists). He is what you would call a stay-at-home defenseman.

It will be his last year with the Islanders (for real this time) and he will retire at the end of the season. Lou Lamoriello will keep Andy Greene around to help mentor young defensemen like Robin Salo in a similar role to what Dennis Seidenberg was in his post-playing career.