The New York Islanders have been a pleasant surprise this year. First overall pick Matthew Schaefer, who barely played last season because on an injury, has wasted no time being a franchise player. Now the Islanders are contending for a playoff spot in what was expected to be a rebuilding season.
That means general manager Mathieu Darche is going to think of what he needs to add to this team. The most glaring need might be protection for their young star defensemen Schaefer. In their 2026 World Junior issue (issue #7905), Ian Kennedy of “The Hockey News” listed a “bodyguard” for Schaefer as something on the Islanders wish list for the holiday season. “The Hockey News” specifically used when Nikita Zadorov of the Boston Bruins took a shot at him as an example.
That wasn’t the only time. When Matt Barzal took matters into his own hands to stand up in retaliation for a hit on Schaefer during Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets it resulted in a game misconduct for one of the Islander’s best offensive threats. That's a game the Islanders surprisingly lost to a\ reeling Blue Jackets team.
That only exemplifies the need for the Islanders to find this type of “bodyguard” sooner rather than later. It’s very important they chose the right player for the role. Adding the wrong player can have negative effects for a pleasantly surprising Islanders squad.
Here's a cautionary tale from within their own division. A few seasons ago the New York Rangers’ Matt Rempe, and his bruising style of play, took the NHL by storm. The New Jersey Devils realized this element was missing from their lineup and hastily traded for Kurtis MacDermid from the Colorado Avalanche. MacDermid later signed a three year extension with New Jersey but was traded to the Ottawa Senators immediately prior to this season.
In the NHL there’s a very fine line between “goon” and enforcer”. The Devils wanted him to be more of the later but he was somewhere in between both, and not in a good way. His poor play and bad penalties became detrimental for the team. To over simplify things, MacDermid didn’t give them a chance to win. In fact he might have made it easier for the team to lose.
Ever since the Barry Trotz tenure in the post John Tavares era on Long Island the Islanders have thrived playing low event hockey. Let’s create a hypothetical situation that they add a player like MacDermid’s tenure with the Devils. That’s the type of player whose miscues and mistakes create opportunities for the other team. Those are mistakes they could capitalize on. The Islanders low event style of style gives them less opportunities to make up for those mistakes so they would be set up for failure. No amount of big hits or dropping the gloves could make up for a player that actively, though unintentionally, helps their team lose.
Guys like MacDermid are a dime a dozen in today’s NHL. “The Hockey News” specifically suggested Hunter Drew, currently with their AHL affiliate, for the role. Whoever they chose they must make sure he fits into, and doesn’t disrupt, head coach Patrick Roy’s system that’s getting the best out of Schaefer and co.