Yes! Islanders

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The Islanders have successfully climbed their way out of the NHL basement in recent years, but the next task is much, much harder. If the Isles want to become a perennial Stanley Cup contender, they need to let three promising prospects develop in the NHL.

Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, and Ryan Pulock are all on the cusp of being NHL regulars but the organization must allow them to mature at the game’s highest level. For Barzal and Beauvillier, the AHL is not an option. They either spend this season with the Islanders, or get sent back to Major Juniors where neither of them have anything left to prove.

Barzal, who skated as an extra at practice on Friday morning according to Newsday’s Arthur Staple, should certainly slot in as a middle-six forward this upcoming season. Jack Capuano can easily limit the amount of time Barzal spends in the defensive zone by allowing his line to start predominantly in the offensive zone.

Except for the select few, it’s rare for a rookie to be able to burst onto the NHL scene at such a young age. There will be growing pains, there will be defensive mistakes, but the coaching staff cannot allow Barzal’s confidence to be damaged. He should be able to play the game knowing that if he makes a mistake, he will still be in the lineup the following game.

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NEWARK, NJ – OCTOBER 05: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 5, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

For Beauvillier, the circumstances are a bit different. He has used this preseason to earn the trust of his coaching staff.

“He’s one of the guys that has emerged,” Capuano told the Islanders website. “I put him at center, I put him at left wing, I put him at right wing, I put him in all situations and he does things the right way and that’s what we’re looking for.”

This is not a demand for these promising young players to play top line minutes every night. Capuano still has a job to do, and that’s to lead the Islanders back into the playoffs. However, the development of these former first-round picks can potentially allow the Islanders to play deep into May, and possibly June.

Josh Bailey might be the nicest man in that locker room, but the Islanders cannot allow No. 12 to prevent these kids from playing on a regular basis. Same could be said for Shane Prince, and Alan Quine. They are all ordinary NHL skaters, but New York could have two special players. Both of whom have the potential to be frequent contributors during the 2016-17 season in different capacities.

Injuries always happen over the course of an 82-game season, but those undistinguished NHL players should not start ahead of the young guns. It’s time to put together a roster that can do more than just win one round in the postseason.

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 04: Anthony Beauvillier #72 of the New York Islanders skates against the New York Rangers at the Barclays Center on October 4, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Islanders have seven forwards that will be in the lineup whenever possible. John Tavares, Andrew Ladd, P.A. Parenteau, Nikolay Kulemin, Jason Chimera, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck have all earned that right.

However, the remaining five spots should also be set in stone. Ryan Strome, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Barzal and Beauvillier should all play knowing they will be in the lineup night after night.

The time has come for the Islanders to decide what they have in Strome, Nelson and Lee. All three have had hiccups in their development, but it’s time to find out what type of players they are.

Now, the same can be said for the Islanders defensive unit. In no way, shape or form, should Dennis Seidenberg prevent Ryan Pulock from playing consistently. The only way for Pulock to learn, is by playing.

ESPN’s Scott Burnside wrote in his Islanders season preview, “The New York Islanders fit into that uncomfortable category of ‘Geez, I’m not really sure if they’re a team on the rise or just going in an ever-expanding circle.’”

If the Islanders want to break that trend, it’s time to let their talented youth see the ice on a regular basis.

The post Let Them Play: Barzal, Beauvillier, Pulock Should be in Islanders Lineup appeared first on Islanders Insight.