Scott Mayfield’s situation with the Islanders is starting to look increasingly fragile.
According to The Fourth Period, the veteran defenseman may be nearing the end of his run on Long Island after struggling to earn a regular spot in the lineup early this season. Mayfield has suited up for just two games so far and was not expected to play Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
The 34-year-old, who turned 34 last week, is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $24.5 million contract. He has a full no-trade clause this season, and that protection drops to a 16-team no-trade list next year.
Mayfield has not asked for a trade yet, but there is a growing belief that could change if the healthy scratches keep piling up. Any deal would need his approval, though that may not be a major obstacle given how little he has played.
The report also noted that the Ducks, Kings, Blackhawks and Kraken are among the teams seeking help on defense, while Nashville and Toronto are also looking for support but leaning toward younger options. Mayfield finished last season with 15 points, including two goals and 13 assists, in 80 games for the Islanders.
Elsewhere, Dallas will be without Esa Lindell for at least a week because of a lower-body injury, according to Stars radio analyst Bruce LeVine. Lindell was hurt while blocking a shot in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Chicago and had already been ruled out for Tuesday’s game in Boston.
That absence matters for a Stars team that entered the night allowing the fewest goals in the NHL. Lindell leads Dallas in blocked shots and remains a key piece of one of the league’s strongest penalty kills.
In San Jose, Alexander Wennberg is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and did not play Tuesday against Montreal, per Sharks writer Curtis Pashelka. Wennberg left Monday’s loss in Toronto during the third period and did not return.
The veteran center, who signed a three-year extension earlier this year, has been a steady all-situations player for the Sharks, logging roughly 20 minutes per night. Ty Dellandrea took his spot in the lineup.
In Other News...
Islanders May Have Found A Fourth Line Fans Can Rally Behind
The Islanders 3-2 win over the Ducks had the kind of depth-driven feel that can steady a team looking for reliable contributions beyond its top end. With three different goal scorers and nine players recording points, the night offered a little bit of everything, but one of the more noticeable developments came from the bottom half of the lineup, where fresh faces and grinding shifts helped set the tone.
Mitchell Chaffee, recalled on Monday, made his Islanders debut and left enough of an impression to earn the hardest worker helmet, while Ondej Palt was named player of the game. Afterward, head coach Pete DeBoer pointed to Chaffee and Kyle MacLean as examples of the physical edge and energy that can make a fourth line matter, the kind of detail that can quickly turn a one-off performance into something fans start watching for every night. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Have A Barzal Problem With No Clear End In Sight
Mathew Barzals absence has stretched from the start of training camp into the early part of the season, and the Islanders still do not have a clear answer on when he might get back on the ice. General manager Mathieu Darche said Barzal is dealing with inflammation in his left knee and remains without a timetable to resume practicing or playing, leaving the club to keep navigating life without one of its most important forwards.
The uncertainty around Barzal has only added to the attention around the roster, but Darche also pushed back on another item making the rounds. He said there is no truth to the rumor that defenseman Scott Mayfield is considering waiving his no-trade clause, noting that Mayfields agent was in town for unrelated reasons, which at least quiets one source of speculation while the bigger Barzal question lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Win Showed Something Fans Have Been Waiting To See
A win over the Ducks at UBS Arena did more than add two points to the ledger. The Islanders looked organized, committed and harder to play against in a 3-2 victory that pushed their unbeaten run to 3-0-1, with Ilya Sorokin stopping 15 shots and the lineup finding enough balance to get scoring from different spots even while missing pieces.
Pete DeBoer still pointed to the kind of finishing issues that can turn a comfortable night into a tense one, but there was also a real sign of progress in a special teams area that has drawn plenty of attention. The power play produced, the defense held its shape and, for once, the Islanders gave fans the sort of structured, connected performance they have been waiting to see more often. [Read more 🡒]