Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin have been two of the most beloved Islanders of the last decade. They formed two-thirds of what was known as the team’s “identity line,” a fourth line that, at one point, was considered one of the best in the NHL. However, it now seems like both Clutterbuck and Martin’s time as Islanders players is over. Reports say that Lou Lamoriello is unlikely to bring either free agent back ahead of the 2024-25 season. This development will have several impacts on how the on-ice product looks next season.
Lessening Physicality on the Fourth Line
The strong physical play of the Islanders’ fourth line was one of the most important factors in their success. Clutterbuck and Martin were absolutely prolific hitters throughout their careers and often found themselves in the league’s top ten in that category. Losing two players who have that kind of output is bound to make a difference. But also making a key difference is the matter of what the new fourth line will look like.
Casey Cizikas is a consistently physical player, Kyle MacLean has some aptitude for physicality and none of the candidates for the final fourth line slot play a physical game. That combination makes for a fourth line that can’t replicate the consistently strong physical play that Clutterbuck and Martin had helped establish. Only time will tell if they’ll be able to work around that aspect or wind up missing that once great physical edge.
Losing a True Enforcer
Martin was as good an enforcer as there can be throughout his Islanders’ tenure. He had an aptitude for fighting and was willing to take on anybody to protect his team. Now that he won’t be coming back, the Islanders are without a true enforcer for next season and beyond. This isn’t necessarily a negative impact, as the role of an enforcer isn’t of the highest level of importance in today’s NHL. But it’s going to create a much different dynamic in the lineup as they don’t have a go-to fighter to stand up for the team. Now either someone else will have to step into the role or it’ll have to be a team-wide duty. Anders Lee, Scott Mayfield and Kyle MacLean are three players who could potentially take on more of this responsibility in the coming year.
Fluidity in Final Fourth Line Spot
With Clutterbuck and Martin gone, the fourth line winger positions become in need of replacements. Cizikas is a shoe-in for left wing considering his previous success on the fourth line and his proven capability as a winger. However, the right wing opening is a much more fluid situation. Preemptively, it seems as though Simon Holmstrom will take that spot. Holmstrom was, at worst, an unalarming presence on the third line wing who could play on the penalty kill. However, he’s not necessarily a lock to start with or keep the position throughout the year.
Hudson Fasching is also still under contract and could either play his way into the role or take it from Holmstrom if he fails to impress. Not to mention the arrival of Maxim Tsyplakov this season. He’s expected to slot in somewhere in the middle six, although there’s been no official word in this regard. Tsyplakov also could be a candidate to be in that role at some point throughout the season, depending on how he transitions to the NHL game. As it pertains to the fourth line right winger, there probably won’t be an everyday guy like there was in years past. This is a position that could go through several changes between game one and game eighty-two this season.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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