NY Islanders face tough lineup decisions as forward group gets healthy

The Islanders are set to happily welcome Mathew Barzal to the lineup as he is expected to return from his nagging knee injury this week. Matias Maccelli returned to play in Los Angeles and contributed with an assist in his first game back. Cal Ritchie is in the fourth week of his four- to six-week timeline and progressing. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is day-to-day, but Pete DeBoer isn’t worried about his status long-term at all. So, when these Islanders hopefully have a fully healthy forward group in short time, which regular is going to come out or will the injured need to earn their ice back?

Kyle MacLean is pointless in eight games and has recorded just two shots on goal. MacLean’s linemate, Mitchell Chaffee, has a goal and an assist in his first 10 games donning blue and orange. Both MacLean and Chaffee earned spots in the lineup due to the injuries to Maccelli and Ritchie, so who will sit with the return of those youngsters and Mat Barzal?

Matias Maccelli had two goals and four assists in eight games before getting injured in the Isles’ win in Toronto on Oct. 17, but he will need to find that form again to stay in the lineup considering he is the new guy on the block. 

Victor Eklund got off to a bit of a slow start but has caught fire with more ice time, so it doesn’t seem as if he is going anywhere. Casey Cizikas is a curious case. He is the Islanders’ longest-tenured forward and has played well in his minutes this year, but for an Islanders team starving for goals, Cizikas on the shelf could be the way to go.

Emil Heineman is currently shooting at a 7.4% clip after a 22-goal campaign a year ago. Pete DeBoer likes his speed and penalty-killing ability, but the Swede collecting just a couple of goals playing on a line with Bo Horvat for stretches this year is rather disappointing considering it's nearly Thanksgiving.

A season ago, Anthony Duclair was Patrick Roy’s punching bag, but he has scored four goals on 22 shots to start this year off nicely. Defense has never been Duclair’s forte, and he has struggled this season in his own end. His minus-8 rating is the worst among Islanders forwards, which could place him back in the press box.

Mat Barzal is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit UBS Arena. Ritchie should return not long after that, creating competition for those final forward spots. I would think Anthony Duclair will sit first.

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