Jan 29, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with New York Islanders left wing Josh Bailey (12) during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
A team’s top line is generally its best, but can we say that about the New York Islanders top line? But if not, then who? It’s not as if the team is spoiled for choice.
The New York Islanders top line recently has been John Tavares, followed by Josh Bailey, and most recently Brock Nelson. Not exactly a top trio when you think about it.
Go across the league and you’ll see that the top line is the team’s top talent. Unless you’re like the Pittsburgh Penguins and your generational player can only play competently with bottom six talent.
Dallas have Benn-Seguin-Spezza, in Boston it’s Marchand-Bergeron-Backes, and in Colorado, it’s Landeskog-MacKinan-Bourque, which tells you everything you need to know about the Colorado Avalanche.
So for this week’s roundtable we asked the Eyes on Isles writing staff:
Is this (Bailey-Tavares-Nelson) the best top line the Isles have? Or is this something Capuano stumbled on that seems to work?
Then we asked to explain, why, and if not whose a better fit…if the Isles have one. No trades, no firings. Just, based on what the New York Islanders currently have in the system, what is the best top line?
Dec 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) plays the puck against Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jennifer Lapka
The Isles current top line with Nelson on a wing is fit-inducing. At the moment, Josh Bailey is the one who does belong for two reasons:
1. he’s having a really good season and;
2. Tavares wants him there (would have to find the tweet from Staple on that).
Bailey’s got the most experience with Tavares and it shows, game in and game out. The two know each other and have some modicum of chemistry. Bailey has exceeded expectations offensively thus far and he’s been one of the few relentlessly energetic skaters throughout the season. It’s actually a shame that his play thus far has done nothing to hush the Bailey-hating contingent.
Who doesn’t belong is Brock Nelson. And seriously where do I begin with him? He has zero chemistry with either of his linemates and he disappears for too much of the game to add much to the line.
If he’s a goal scorer, it’s astounding to me that he’s only got one since finding himself on that top line. I would also question the confidence both Tavares and Bailey have in him.
Case in point: against the Rangers Tavares and Nelson go in on a two on one. Tavares lays a beautiful pass on Nelson’s stick and Nelson can’t bury it. Later in the game, another odd-man rush with Nelson and Tavares. Tavares looked and HAD Nelson, but took the shot himself and scored.
What boggles my mind is what was actually developing with Tavares, Bailey, and Beauvillier. Chances were coming and the chemistry developing there. Beauvillier looked to be getting more comfortable with the idea of playing with Tavares and he’s noticeable almost every shift.
He’s working and skating and doing something every shift to create chances. We don’t get that with Nelson. We’ve never gotten that with Nelson and Tavares won’t get that with Nelson and it’s a disservice and insult to continue with Nelson on the top line.
Jan 16, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders former player Bryan Trottier is honored before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Farrell Hirsch
Is Bailey/Tavares/Nelson, the best first line the Islanders can muster? The first and most obvious response is, “yes, and we know because Jack has tried every single possible combination.”
But if you wipe the slate clean and try to create a great prototype for a line, you would want a great playmaking center, a sniper on the wing he naturally feeds, (for Tavares, a lefty, that means a right wing) and a talented power forward on the other side. Trottier between Bossy and Gillies is an obvious example.
It’s safe to assume Tavares is the guy centering that first line, so all you need to do is find a Bossy and a Gillies. That’s all.
By history and reputation, Andrew Ladd is the guy in the Clark Gillies mold. He won’t get to the Hall of Fame doing it, but he has been a consistent goal scoring power forward who can outwork you on the boards.
So who is the sniper? Nelson might have the best shot on the team, so I keep in in the mix. But he’s a lefty… soft as warm butter… and usually fades in the second half. Bailey? He’s just a guy. Cal Clutterbuck is a right handed shot. But not a first liner. Anthony Beauvillier needs to grow some man strength.
So you know how I went with Ladd on the left side because, despite everything my eyes tell me, he SHOULD be the guy? Same thing on the right side. I’ll say the ideal first line RW among players the Isles own is Mikhail Grabovski. I’m sorry if that doesn’t really answer the question — but it does. The answer is, the Islanders don’t have any first line wings so any attempts to manipulate the lineup and create a scoring machine is futile.
Apr 27, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) and Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) react after their game against the Washington Capitals in game seven of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 2-1, and won the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Vogel
These are hard questions to answer. For anyone who watches the Islanders enough, the eyeball test screams that John Tavares is the most offensively talented forward on the team by leaps and bounds.
What’s worse is that anyone who watched his time with Vanek knows that most of what has followed since he left has been just a shadow of what could be possible. The story of John Tavares and “Who’s on the top line?” is an epic tragedy, on par with the works of Homer, about wasted talent and potential and it all falls in the lap of Garth Snow.
Is it the best line? Possibly. Right now, I see most of the forwards on this team as interchangeable parts around Tavares. They are all middle six talents that Capuano rotates around the elite level talent of the captain.
Occasionally something works here or there, but we’ve never had a line together for the better part of a season. This is 100% because none of these forwards deserve to be there. Instead, they just fall into the roll for as long as they can handle it and then fall out again.
I have to bring this back to Garth again because as bad as Capuano is at chess, he’s worse as a result of Snow setting up his board with one king and fifteen pawns. Of course, Garth can never admit that all of these signings and prospects are his fault so if they don’t pan out it will be on him. Clearly, something has got to give.
Dec 10, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) passes the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) defends during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Lewis
Last night Brock Nelson showed why he had the potential to be a top line winger. He has a wicked shot and used it to beat the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Braden Holtby.
That being said Nelson’s game isn’t consistent enough at this point. The first line the last few games has been Bailey-Tavares-Nelson and it has done pretty well. It seems like Josh Bailey has cemented himself on John Tavares’ wing and his having a career year with that.
Truthfully I would still like to see Andrew Ladd on the other wing. When he was there the first eight or so games of the year they were generating chances, unfortunately, Ladd just had no finish to his game.
Ladd was the big money acquisition of the offseason and he does have the offensive talent to be on the line. Let’s not forget that Ladd and Tavares didn’t have much time to practice together because of the World Cup of Hockey.
That being said I would keep the top line the way it is. That’s not because it is necessarily the best option, but I want to see the lines kept the same and let chemistry develop.
Jack Capuano has a habit of shuffling his lines more than a blackjack dealer shuffles cards. The way to let all your lines evolve is to let them play together and develop that chemistry.
The last couple years we had the best fourth line in hockey with Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck. I feel one of the biggest reasons for this was the fact that every game they knew they were on the same line every game.
Dec 11, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) and New Jersey Devils right wing PA Parenteau (11) battle for a loose puck during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Matt O’Leary
Going into the season it seemed to be a lock that the top line would be Andrew Ladd – John Tavares – P.A. Parenteau. Well, the Isles cut Parenteau on the eve of the season, and Andrew Ladd has been a disaster.
So after the usual revolving door that is the Islanders top line, Jack Capuano stumbled across the Brock Nelson – John Tavares – Josh Bailey combination. This has definitely been the best combination that the Islanders have.
Besides Tavares the most consistent forward has been Josh Bailey. He’s got 17 points through 27 games which would put him on pace for 52 points. Granted, I’m a realist I don’t believe Bailey will put up 50 points on the season, but they have to ride this out for as long as possible.
As for Brock Nelson, he’ll score his 20+ goals all while going completely M.I.A. for the games he doesn’t score in. So for now, this combo makes the most sense, but not for a long term solution.
Ultimately the Islanders should trade for a RW for Tavares and put Ladd back on the top line with whoever you bring in. That would be the Islanders best option going forward but for now, ride out Nelson – Tavares – Bailey until it stops working.
Feb 14, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Josh Bailey (12) celebrates his second goal with center John Tavares (91) during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Michel Anderson
I think we need to stop looking at these lines as dead set trios. As though three names must be named in unison as some sort of cohesive hegemonic unit. Rather that duos with interchangeable elements tailored to any given situation.
I don’t have an issue with John Tavares and Josh Bailey being the top line, with a third element being added depending on the opponent they face. At the moment it’s Bailey. Tomorrow it could be Anders Lee.
The top line is supposed to reflect our best. The top talent in the Islanders organization. And that’s where fans like me get hung-up. Are Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson the best representation of the Islanders talent?
No. Two former first round selections, bailey at 5 and nelson at 15, that haven’t proven their high draft status. These two aren’t what you’d consider as glowing examples of success.
Are they the best the New York Islanders got right now? Yeah, probably. So in a way that’s putting our best foot forward. But don’t make any mistakes about this organization with those two on the top line.
This isn’t the team that’s going to make much noise in the league, as we had hoped they would. It’s a shame what one bad free-agency window can do to a franchise and how far back it has set this organization.
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