Can Hudson Fasching find himself back on the plus side of the NY Islanders' lineup?

MINUS

With Fasching's game, what you see i what you get. There's no flare to his game and his ceiling is a fourth line role. While there's nothing wrong with that, there are only so many spots within the lineup he can be deployed and still play an effective game.

At 29 years old, Fasching has only recently caught on as an NHLer. Before catching on with the Islanders, he'd only played 39 career games. Though it's not impossible, finding your game at 27 years old isn't something you typically see. Could the 2022-23 season have just been an anomaly in Fasching's game and his true ceiling is a very good AHL player?

With only a few spots abvailable on this Islanders roster, Patrick Roy will want multi-dimensional players on the ice. As things appear as of now, Cizikas and MacLean will likely be in the opening night lineup, leaving Fasching and Simon Holmstrom as two players battling for the final spot. Last season, Holmstrom finished second in the NHL with five shorthanded goals. Fasching, on the other hand, played only 3:43 while a man down. MacLean is already one fourth liner who doesn't play on the penalty kill, and Roy may not want to have 2/3 of his bottom line unable to play on the PK.

The Verdict

Fasching has plenty of value on this Islanders team, but there are other players capable of playing that same role if not better. It's hard to see the Islanders sitting Holmstrom in favor of Fasching.

I don't see the Islanders waiving him as it still leaves them over the cap, but he could become a cap casualty if space is needed further down the line.

If I had to guess, Fasching will start the season as the Islanders' 13th forward.