Islanders' Kyle MacLean Leads New Era of 4th Line Hockey – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

The big news for the New York Islanders was the three-year contract they gave to Kyle MacLean (the big news came on a day when all the big news was happening, making this deal a small story). He has been a pleasant surprise this season and adds depth to the forward unit. Now, he is being prized by general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello, who is showing confidence in the young forward as an important part of the fourth line.

Related: Islanders Need to Make a Big Splash Soon to Break Out of Mediocrity

MacLean is leading a new era of fourth line hockey for the Islanders. Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin were the staples of “Identity Line,” but it looks like they're on their way out as aging skaters destined to become free agents. Meanwhile, MacLean emerges as the new leader of the fourth line, giving it a different look.

How MacLean Is Changing the Islanders' Fourth Line

The obvious things that MacLean adds to the Islanders are speed and freshness. He's not as strong a hitter as the older bowlers, but his defense is right up there with them. Instead of forcing turnovers with hard hits in the offensive zone, he'll do so with speed, covering opposing skaters and playing passing lanes. In a limited role, MacLean proved to be more valuable on the other end of the ice, with 0.5 defensive points compared to his 0.4 offensive points.

The Islanders needed youth on their roster, with many regulars in their 30s, and he provided that as a young pitcher. He's 25 years old, and his explosiveness gives the forward unit life when it's slow and behind the puck. While it doesn't change the dynamic of the roster, it is one step forward for a team that needs to improve in many areas.

Where MacLean Should Improve

MacLean has looked promising through 32 games, but needs to step up on the offensive end. He scored just four goals and five assists during the regular season and failed to pressure opposing forwards. He often looked for a skater on his line to find the back of the net rather than taking a shot himself.

The Islanders need scorers, and the hope is that MacLean could be a key player at the end of the ice. One of the biggest problems this past season was that Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Brock Nelson accounted for most, if not all, of the offense while other skaters struggled.

If MacLean and a handful of other forwards fail to become regular scorers, the team is in trouble. The worst offense will be the worst, and the Islanders as a whole will fall apart, possibly finishing next season near the bottom of the standings.

Outlook for the Islanders' New Fourth Line

MacLean is now a staple of the program. He was a great two-way player with the Bridgeport Islanders in the American Hockey League (AHL), and when called up, he never looked back. He is an important part of the fourth line, but the question is, who else will be?

Casey Cizikas is the first player that comes to mind. The thing is that he moves to the forward team, playing at the top level and sometimes filling in with other skaters who were not playing due to injuries. It wouldn't surprise us if Cizikas focuses on the third line next season, especially if the Islanders trade Jean-Gabriel Pageau to free up some salary cap space.

Otherwise, the skaters who could round out the fourth line are Hudson Fasching and Julien Gauthier, two skaters who were in and out of the lineup throughout last season. They have a chance to play on the fourth line, but so do the hopes of moving up. William Dufour and Matthew Maggio are not skaters on the fourth line, but they may start there.

Ultimately, MacLean is Small Potatoes in the Big Picture

The three-year deal is good and improves the Islanders. It's nothing that moves the needle, and this team remains in the same place it has been for the past few seasons. They made the playoffs in the 2022–23 season only to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in the First Round. In the 2023-24 season, they made the playoffs and were beaten in five games by the Hurricanes.

This team still has a low ceiling, and many fans are concerned as they head into an important season. So, the signing of MacLean is a good step in the right direction, but only a small step. The Islanders still have to make a big move this summer to change their approach to next season.