Is it time to break up the Soucy-Mayfield Pairing?

When Alex Romanov ruined his shoulder in November after an illegal check from Stars forward Mikko Rantanen, there was an immediate hole on the left side of the Islanders’ blue line.

Rookie Marshall Warren was the first of four Bridgeport blue liners to get a shot on the Isles’ back end. Travis Mitchell appeared in nine games and scored his first NHL goal in December. Highly touted Isaiah George added an assist to his young NHL stat sheet in his two appearances this season. But general manager Mathieu Darche believed a move was needed as he couldn’t completely count on his youngsters and wanted to take a load off of Matthew Schaefer’s penalty killing time.

Mathieu Darche acquired Carson Soucy from the Rangers for a 3rd round pick marking the first Islander-Ranger trade since 2010. Soucy, a sizeable veteran on an expiring deal, was brought in to fortify the left side.

Through his first 14 games away from Broadway, Soucy has scored twogoals, including one against the Blueshirts but has also been a -4 over that stretch at Belmont.

The Islanders brought in Soucy to defend and take some stress away from Matthew Schaefer. In last night's 3-2 loss to the LA Kings, Soucy spent 2 minutes in the penalty box and was a –1. He played 1:13 on the penalty kill, Matthew Schaefer played a 1:16. If the player was brought in to blockshots, so your 18-year-oldsuperstar doesn't have to, then let him do it.

Skating with Scott Mayfield on Patrick Roy’s 3rd pair, they provide plenty of size, but there is certainly a lack of speed that has cost the Isles one too many times, and it is time for Roy to explore a change.

Of eligible defensive pairs that have played at least 134 minutes together, the Soucy-Mayfield duo is 219th out of 229th in xG%. Now by no means are they expected to be adding to the goal scoring department, but they are not doing enough defensively.

When Trevor Lewis blocked Scott Mayfield’s point wrister tonight and was off to the races the other way, Soucy wasn’t within five strides of his breakaway goal. Flat out simple, the foot speed of a Soucy-Mayfield pair brings plenty of trouble to the speed of the game today.

In the Isles 3-2 comeback win in St. Louis earlier in the week, Soucy and Mayfield were in the minus column again, while Mayfield had three giveaways. Soucy had one of his own, which led to Mayfield and Soucy caught chasing a puck around, which ended in a wide-open Jimmy Snuggerud goal.

For two players that struggle with exiting the zone, while adding their lack of skating speed, their ability as a pair becomes a true nightmare when the puck is dispossessed. When speed takes over, it becomes tough for the Islanders 3rd pair as is to defend.

GM Mathieu Darche has noted that Alexander Romanov is targeting a playoff return but, in the meantime, there is zero reason for Isaiah George to get another taste with his skating abilities or even Travis Mitchell, who has two assists in his last three games. 

Competition within the organization can be beneficial for all and help motivate along the vets in Soucy and Mayfield.