This waivers candidate should be on Matthew Darche’s radar

The Islanders have some question marks in the bottom six, and it would not hurt Matthew Darche and the rest of the front office to bring in another forward. But they should not be signing one of the available free agents. Instead, they should look to the waivers and grab one of the young players who was sent down to the minors. One player who fits this criteria is Justin Robidas. He appears to be on the outside looking in on the Hurricanes roster and could be put on waivers. But why does he fit the Isles?

Why the Islanders should take a flyer on Justin Robidas 

Robidas recently signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes. While he spent most of last season in the AHL, he produced well. In 58 games with the Chicago Wolves, he racked up 23 goals and 37 assists for 60 points. He finished second on the Wolves in all three categories. He also played a big role in the Wolves' run to the Calder Cup Finals, logging seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 21 games. 

Throughout his time in professional hockey, he has been praised for his speed. His skating ability is a large reason why he generated so much offense last season. He also has a strong hockey IQ. He can anticipate what the defender is going to do and is able to identify the opponent's weak points. These two traits have made up for his undersized frame. While it prevents him from being a top-six forward, he can still be a solid bottom-six player.

While a strong performance in camp and the preseason could land him a spot on the Hurricanes' fourth line, it is more likely they will send him back to the AHL. In order to do this, they will have to place him on waivers, which is where the Isles can pick him up. They can slot him on the bottom six, most likely on the fourth line, and hope his AHL production translates to the NHL. Worst-case scenario, he will be a nice 13th forward to have.

It is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Islanders. With him being only 23 years old, he is still developing. Regular NHL minutes could help him refine his game and become a solid contributor on the bottom line. Getting a solid piece for next to nothing. If he does not work out, the Islanders can always send him to the AHL or cut him, and it will have almost no impact on their cap situation. For such a low cost, it would be stupid not to take a shot

Although there is no guarantee that Robidas will be placed on waivers. If he does, the Islanders should do everything in their power to bring him in.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow