The New York Islanders still have an open spot in their defense group, after the departure of Nick Leddy. We can expect the Islanders to look for an external replacement, but what happens if they can’t find one?
As previously discussed, it’s possible that Andy Greene could take on a larger role, but he’s now 38 years old, averaged only a little over 17:30 per game last year and has little to no offensive upside. Obviously, he’s a far more ideal fit on the bottom pairing, but if the Islanders can’t acquire someone, it’s a possibility that Greene’s role is increased.
If that is the case, however, the team would still only have five legitimate NHL defenders and would need someone to take the last spot in the defense group. Should the Islanders fail to bring in another defender, here are the four defensemen that we could expect to compete for the final spot.
SEBASTIAN AHO
Aho has been considered one of the team’s better defensive prospects for a while but has never managed to earn a role with the Islanders. He did play 22 games with the team back in the 2017-18 season, but has played just three NHL games since then, with all of them coming last season.
The defender can produce offensively and scored 30 points in 49 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the 2019-20 season. That said, a potential bottom pairing of Sebastian Aho and Noah Dobson is a little nerve-wracking to think about.
SAMUEL BOLDUC
Bolduc has emerged as one of the organization’s top prospects and projects to be a key future member of the team’s defense group. The defender was selected 57th overall in 2019 and performed well in his AHL rookie season, managing 14 points in 24 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At just 20 years old and after playing just one (shortened) season of professional hockey though, it seems very unlikely that the Islanders would put their trust in Bolduc already. That said, he’s still a wild card and with a strong training camp, you never know.
THOMAS HICKEY
Hickey would maybe be the safest option to put back in the lineup, should no additions be made. He has over 450 games of NHL experience and even drew into the lineup for five games last season.
While Hickey is now 32 years old and hasn’t been a regular member of the team’s lineup in years, it seems likely that he’d be the most trusted of the four defenders. He has a ton of NHL experience and while it would still be far from an ideal option to use Hickey as part of the defense group, it’s a possibility.
ROBIN SALO
Salo was selected by the Islanders 46th overall in 2017, but has yet to make the jump to North America. Despite this, he remains a promising young defender in the organization.
After playing in Finland’s top professional league for many years, Salo made the move to Sweden partway through the 2019-20 season. This past season, he had great production in the SHL, scoring 30 points in 51 games. While it would be a stretch for Salo to jump right from the SHL to the NHL, it’s a possibility if the Islanders don’t add anyone.
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If the Islanders don't trade for a defenseman, who do you think would be most likely to win the final spot in the defense group?
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