After being activated off IR yesterday, Michael Grabner is set to return to the Islanders lineup tonight in Ottawa. What should fans expect from Grabner this season, and where does he fit in the lineup?
#Isles Injury Update: @grabs40 has been activated off the team’s injured reserve list.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 3, 2014
Where Does he Fit?
To best utilize his skill set, I feel as though Grabner needs to be a top 9 forward with this team plus of course getting penalty kill time. While he does struggle on breakaways, it can’t be denied that Grabner has offensive skill that will be hindered playing on the fourth line. However, my THW colleague Anthony Tartamella provides a compelling case as to why the fourth line is the perfect spot for Grabner. While I don’t disagree with Anthony’s reasoning as to why the fourth line is the right spot for him, my difference of opinion shows that what he said early on in his post about everyone having a different view of Grabner is 100% correct. Ultimately, I think he will end up being on the third line. However, if he begins to struggle he might find himself on the fourth line like Anthony talks about. Although, if he goes into one of his tailspins that we saw last season, he could find himself in the press box due to the teams new-found depth courtesy of the summer acquisitions.
What Should Fans Expect?
If he manages to stay in the lineup for a majority of the rest of the season, expectations for Grabner are tough to come up with. The only given with him is that he will help the penalty kill ten fold. An Islanders penalty kill that has struggled for mostly the entire year will get a huge boost with the addition of Grabner. Expectations for Grabner beyond that though are a mystery. He has the ability to be a solid third line player in this league. However, he also has the ability to go through a tailspin like we saw last season which really hurt his value, especially now with the Islanders increased competition for forward spots. I want to believe in Grabner and think that he will be able to figure it out this year. However, given that his stats have been in decline since his rookie season in 10/11 and that he will be fighting for ice time more than ever this season, I have hard time expecting him to suddenly figure everything out and break out into the player everyone hoped he would be following his 34 goal rookie season.
Players on the Bubble
With Grabner returning, and the Islanders new-found depth up front, some players are going to have to fight to stay in the lineup. None more so than Matt Martin though. As I said last month, although he brings a physical element to the lineup, most of what he says is replicated both other players on the team. While he has stepped up his game a little bit recently I think he is potentially the number one target to hit the press box. The only player that could potentially see the press box sooner is Islander fan whipping boy Josh Bailey. After a hot start to the season seemed to change some fans thoughts on him, Bailey has began to fall back into fans dog houses with his struggles since returning from a broken hand a few weeks ago. If he can’t figure stuff out soon, Bailey will likely find himself in the press box as the criticisms mount.
I don’t think ppl are down on M. Martin Space is @ a premium on this team … He’s going to have to step up his gm ..
He brings more speed … An speed kills .
I’m not trying to be a jerk here, but I can’t understand your lack of love for Matt Martin. When the post season comes, he will be heavily relied on for the intangibles he brings. Maybe you misunderstand his role? He’s a fourth line banger. His job is not to be a goal scorer. Any time a 4th liner pots a goal, it should be viewed as a bonus. The guy hustles and the 4th line has been outstanding this season. They have been shutting down many of the oppositions first lines and providing the physical play needed to wear down opponents. granted the 4th line was not all that effective last season, you have to consider the fact that the whole team was playing sub-par with the exception of a few bright spots.
By intangibles you mean, slow, ineffective, bad penalties. I will give it to Martin he has picked up his play in the last 2 weeks because i believe he knows his job could be on the line.
He would still honestly be my first pick to sit. The reason i say this is so you can go with as many skilled forwards as you possibly can. This is no longer a fighting league and martin is basically a poor mans Cal Clutterbuck who fights. Yes they could miss that aspect because i don’t know who would take that role over certinally not clutter buck he’s an agitator not a fighter.