nypost
With the NHL preseason quickly winding down, the New York Islanders are facing imminent roster decisions. The team has only a 13-day window remaining before the regular season begins, and Friday's home matchup against the rival Rangers served as a critical evaluation for several players on the bubble, especially defenseman Isaiah George.
The competition for the sixth and seventh defensive slots has been one of the most wide-open battles in training camp. George, who initially seemed the frontrunner to partner with Tony DeAngelo, has seen his stock dip following a subpar rookie camp and a slow start to main camp. Although head coach Pete DeBoer declined to reveal his plans for the third pairing on Friday morning, his comments hinted at a preference for Scott Mayfield.
DeBoer Stresses Stability and Trust
"I think you're looking for stability," DeBoer explained. "Just like a young forward trying to make a team or a line, you want to gain the coach's trust. The coach wants to feel good about putting those guys out there. Let's be honest, we're starting on the road in Toronto. We don't control the matchups. You have to feel OK that [Auston] Matthews' line is gonna jump over the boards, those guys are gonna be OK. I think that's what we're looking for, both with the forwards and defensemen."
George did little to bolster his case for earning that trust on Friday night, as a veteran-laden Rangers squad dominated a mostly inexperienced Islanders lineup by a 6-1 margin. George finished the game with a minus-1 rating and was frequently caught puck-watching, mirroring the struggles of many of his teammates.
"I don't know if I'm playing tomorrow, but just try to put my best foot forward every day," George said when reflecting on his camp. "I think I did a good job of that. I thought each day I got better and I was a good player out there. So at the end of the day, I did my best and whatever happens, happens."
Several veterans, including DeAngelo, Pierre Engvall, Kyle MacLean, and Mitchell Chaffee, all appeared in their second preseason game on Friday. Because they have each played over 100 NHL games, they are ineligible to suit up on Saturday. As a result, the fourth line for Saturday's dress rehearsal is expected to feature Anthony Duclair and Ondrej Palat flanking Casey Cizikas. Meanwhile, Duclair, Emil Heineman, Ryan Pulock, and Alexander Romanov are all likely to play in both ends of the Friday-Saturday back-to-back set.
Originally reported by nypost.