It’s been several months into the offseason and the Islanders still have no word on whether Zach Parise will return. With the new season drawing closer, the Islanders may need to brace for the increasingly likely chance that Parise will opt for retirement. If that’s the case, they’ll have the task of trying to find a quality replacement on the third line. Who could be best option to fill in for Parise if he does decide to retire?
The simplest option to replace Parise is to utilize a returning player. That would mean bringing back Simon Holmstrom, who played 50 games with the team last season. The 22-year-old looked relatively comfortable on the ice in his first NHL season. For a player so young he played a very responsible game that allowed him to consistently be in the lineup. He also showed some glimpses of offensive ability, picking up six goals across his 50 games.
Although he’ll be highly unlikely to produce anywhere near Parise’s level in his second season, having Holmstrom in this spot could be a positive development for the Islanders. It’ll give them a great opportunity to develop a first round pick who has shown good flashes at both the AHL and NHL levels. And given his familiarity with the team, his return to the lineup would allow for the smoothest transition from Parise.
Julien Gauthier is one of the few new faces joining the team this year. The 25-year-old winger is a lot like the aforementioned Holmstrom. He’s a former first round pick with great tools who’s also a trustworthy player. The issue with Gauthier is that he’s never quite been able to consistently produce offense. He had only produced five goals and 18 points across 96 games prior to this past season.
However, a large part of his past struggles may be attributed to never really having a steady role with any team. Playing in a career high 57 games this past season, he managed to produce his best offensive performance. If he gets the chance to regularly play in Parise’s spot, the Islanders may find another diamond in the rough like they did with Hudson Fasching last season. His offensive production will be a true dice roll but, at worst, Gauthier will be a reliable third liner to send out there if need be.
If the Islanders decide to go for an outside candidate, Phil Kessel could be a great fit at an affordable price. Like Parise, he’s a highly experienced NHL veteran who can still score at a respectable clip. Additionally, he’ll be a great locker room guy having now been a part of three championship teams in the NHL. However, the biggest upside Kessel offers is his durability. He’s currently on an incredible iron man streak of 1,064 straight games.
Kessel has expressed his willingness to let that streak end to play again this upcoming season, but if he joins the Islanders that won’t be necessary. The Islanders have thrived having a hard working veteran as an everyday player on their third line. Bringing in the 35-year-old Kessel would provide the Islanders with a near replica of what they’ve gotten from Parise over these last two seasons.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
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