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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our choices for most underrated player on the New York Islanders.
Todd Cordell
Devon Toews.
The New York Islanders have drastically improved defensively over the last few years. The hiring of Barry Trotz – and the structured system he implemented – is probably the biggest reason for that. Toews’ emergence might be a close second.
Since Toews entered the league in 2018-19, the Islanders have given up 7.64 more 5v5 shot attempts/60 without him on the ice. Of the league’s 194 most utilized defensemen, only three have helped their teams suppress shots at a more drastic rate.
He also ranks top-25 in relative expected goals against/60. It’s not as if he’s just helping cut volume. The quality of shots New York gives up with Toews is much lower.
His defense alone makes him a very valuable player. When you consider what he brings offensively – he’s averaged nearly 33 points per 82 games and can play on the PP – he is an easy choice considering how little attention he garners.
Sean Maloughney
Jordan Eberle remains a skilled player and despite having his lowest goal scoring season of his career, there were still a number of positives. Averaging just under 18 minutes a game, Eberle finished third in P/60 at 2.323 only behind Matt Barzal and Brock Nelson. At 5 on 5 Eberle still produced solid numbers, posting 12 of his 16 goals at even strength.
In Edmonton, Eberle was wrongly accused of being lazy defensively and while he had lapses, overall he helped move possession forward for his team. For the Islanders this season, no player posted a higher CF% than Jordan Eberle (51.53%) nor did anyone post a better xGF% 54.40 nor a better SCF% (53.89).
The goals and points may not have come to the forward as plentiful this season but Eberle remains a strong offensively gifted forward and certainly helped his team.
James Tanner
There are a couple guys on the Islanders who I think are pretty good, but who actually get kind of overrated by those know about them. Like, I think that Devon Toews has had a couple of excellent years, but at the same time, I wonder if the fact that the Islanders goalies were on such hot streak for so long plays into the current feeling that he's a legitimate Team Canada candidate.
As a 4th rounder who is 26 already, I'd like to see a bigger sample size before I declare players like Toews to be foundational pieces - but I do agree he is underrated in the sense that most fans probably don't know him or that he's good. The player I like on the Islanders is Anthony Beauvillier.
He is 23, his even strength goal scoring has been solid, and before the season was canceled he was set to at least flirt with 25 goals.
He can play both special teams and was worth 2.5 wins this year. I think a 30 goal 60 point average through his prime is attainable, and I think he could become a household name.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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