New York Islanders & Detroit Red Wings Add Depth in Unique Ways to Be Rivals – Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

The New York Islanders played the Detroit Red Wings on November 25 for the third and final time this season. The game wrapped up the season series with the Red Wings winning 4-2 to sweep the three-game set and this matchup could make the difference for two borderline playoff teams.

Related: Islanders Give Fans Reason to Cheer During Recent Play

The games showed the amount of depth with the lower line forwards and middle pairings stepping up and taking over. It will determine whether the Islanders or Red Wings will make the playoffs. Both Islanders general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello and Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman have their teams set to be in the playoff conversation this season and small details will put them in the playoffs eventually.

Lamoriello's Youth Movement Versus Yzerman's

Isaiah George is a sweet surprise and a huge asset to the Islanders. Since being called up to the American Hockey League (AHL), he has established himself as a second defenseman and often plays with Noah Dobson in the top. Assisted Kyle Palmieri's goal in the latest game and is gaining confidence with each game.

Lamoriello's only problem is George. Yes, Kyle MacLean is a reliable pitcher while Simon Holmstrom has become a reliable middle-six pitcher at the age of 23. However, the Islanders do not have a youth organization that can carry them into a big team. Instead they are still the best veterans.

Yzerman, on the other hand, added depth with the pipe. Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are the star young players who lead the Red Wings but they also have a number of young skaters that make up the roster. Simon Edvinsson is playing his first full season with the team and is one of their best defenders while Marco Kasper, Michael Rasmussen, and Jonathan Berggren – three skaters 25 or under – play in the bottom six lines.

Last season, the Red Wings came up just short of a playoff spot and fell apart late in the campaign. They remain out of the playoff picture heading into this season but the youth organization gives them a chance, especially over older teams like the Islanders.

Lamoriello and Yzerman Have Rising Veteran Depth

One of the few reasons the Islanders are in the middle of the Metropolitan Division is because veteran skaters, who are used to deep roles, are stepping up and leading the way. Anders Lee is 34 years old and has regressed in recent seasons, making him a third-line skater and not an elite forward who can score at will. He rebounded this season with eight goals and six assists. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has also struggled on that end of the ice in recent seasons but has stepped up to the plate and added five goals and five assists to the offense.

It's not just the forward unit where Lamoriello is betting on veterans playing at a high level. He signed Scott Mayfield to a seven-year contract in the 2023 offseason and the contract looked set to expire after the 2023-24 season. He rebounded this season with 3.0 points on defense, making him one of the standouts on defense due to injury.

Yzerman took an aggressive approach to adding veteran depth. With the team struggling, he signed Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Erik Gustafsson to take them to the next level. The trio isn't the reason the Red Wings are in the playoff conversation, but they add depth to a team that entered the season looking like a top-heavy team.

It is worth noting that the Islanders and Red Wings also got experienced goalies as backups. While Yzerman went crazy for reliable goaltending, adding Jack Campbell and Cam Talbot early in the season when Alex Lyon and Ville Husso were already on the roster, Lamoriello rolled with 36-year-old Semyon Varlamov. Stability at the net will make or break a playoff push.

Where Islanders Have Small Borders

The goal is where the Islanders win. The Red Wings have plenty of options but no clear-cut starter to lean on. The Islanders have Ilya Sorokin, who has proven once again that he is one of the few elite forwards in the NHL. He has a .917 save percentage (SV%) and 2.52 goals against average (GAA) on 399 shots and 6.2 goals against average.

The Islanders split between their two forwards earlier this season as Sorokin started 13 games and Varlamov started nine. However, to push for the playoffs, they can roll with Sorokin to get in. It's how they pushed for the 2022-23 season and what they might do again.

The Islanders also have an edge considering that they played well despite a lot of injuries. They are without Anthony Duclair or Mathew Barzal in the forward group while Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly, who is out permanently, are absent in defense. If they add a few of those skaters back, they'll run and look like a different team.

Yzerman's profit

At the end of the day, Yzerman will push all the chips to get his team into the playoffs. The Red Wings don't have a lot of cap space ($3.1 million projected per PuckPedia) but they will make a move or any move necessary to get over the hump. David Jiricek is a young defenseman in the trade zone that everyone wants to add but Yzerman may look to add another Columbus Blue Jacket defenseman like Ivan Provorov to get the team to the playoffs.

Lamoriello is not on the hot seat but there is pressure for the Islanders to reach the postseason. His actions do not reflect that. He rarely – if ever – makes a big move and by the trade deadline this season, he's unlikely to make a deal. He will trust the existing roster and hope head coach Patrick Roy can get the most out of it.

With the way this season is progressing, there will be a number of teams fighting for the two Eastern wild card spots. The difference between sneaking and coming up short can be the depth forward or defenseman the team is willing to add. Yzerman will agree to do that and it will give the Red Wings a little chance to get past the Islanders and all the teams in the middle of the Eastern Conference.