Scott Mayfield Must Be a Plus for the New York Islanders This Season

New York Islanders blue liner Scott Mayfield isn’t going to win the Norris Trophy any time soon. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be an invaluable member of the club.

Last season, Mayfield saw a promising season cut short due to injury. He suffered a broken ankle during the Isles’ first game of the season. While he tried to power through the injury, his effectiveness was limited.

After season-ending surgery, Mayfield looks to come back to the team, stronger than ever. In particular, fans will be hoping that Mayfield can live up to the seven-year contract extension he signed prior to the start of last season.

But there’s hope that a fully healthy Mayfield can return to form, giving the Isles everything they bargained for.

Scott Mayfield’s Plus-Minus Ranking with the New York Islanders

PLUS

Scott Mayfield is the type of blue liner that old-school hockey minds like Lou Lamoriello love. He’s big, physical, blocks shots, and munches minutes. While he’s a middle-pairing defenseman at best, Mayfield provides hard-nosed, shutdown hockey defensive-minded teams like the Islanders need.

On the offensive side, the New York Islanders shouldn’t expect overwhelming numbers. In 2022-23, Mayfield had his best offensive season, registering 24 points in 82 games. That sort of production is great for a third-pairing defenseman, especially when it comes attached to a solid defensive approach.

This season, the Isles look to have Mayfield on the bottom pair with newly-acquired Mike Reilly. That duo looks to complement the middle pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, one of the best shutdown pairs in the NHL.

If Mayfield can return to form, the Islanders could have the best blue line in the league. With Noah Dobson supplying offense from the back end, the Isles could be in a position to truly compete this upcoming season.

MINUS

The biggest concern has to be Mayfield’s ability to bounce back from injury. While the severity of Mayfield’s season-ending injury was not as significant as it could have been, doubts linger regarding Mayfield’s effectiveness moving forward.

Thus, if Mayfield cannot bounce back as expected, what does the club do then? Do they place him on LTIR? Does he go down to the AHL? Could a trade be in the cards?

The fact that Mayfield has a substantial contract makes trading him complicated. Therefore, the New York Islanders face a considerable risk in Mayfield being unable to perform up to expectations.

The Verdict

Overall, there is little reason to believe that Mayfield would not return to form this upcoming season. If he does play a full, healthy season, Mayfield stands to become one of the most trusted members of the club.

However, fans and media will keep a close eye on Mayfield, especially early on in the season, to see if he can truly return to form. Otherwise, the Isles may be faced with a tough decision moving forward.