Stefen Rosner
In Friday night’s contest, a 4-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes, Austin Czarnik was given a chance alongside Mat Barzal and Anders Lee on the top line. It brought about outrange from the fanbase, not because the 26-year old Czarnik was underserving of the chance, but more because 23-year old Kieffer Bellows was a healthy scratch.
Then to add to that was the fact that Oliver Wahlstrom has still not been given an opportunity to showcase his talents alongside Mat Barzal. Wahlstrom, the Islanders up-and-coming sniper, the potential answer to the offensive prayers, has only seen top-line minutes in Barzal’s absence (COVID-19 protocol).
Early in the season, it was clear that Kyle Palmieri was not the answer on the top line and a lower-body injury has taken him out of the equation completely. Even before his injury, Palmieri was demoted to the second line, as Josh Bailey was placed on the top line, essentially demoted upward in the lineup after the second line failed to produce for a long stretch to start the 2021-22 campaign.
The Islanders top line started to look more effective, as Bailey is someone who could play with Barzal, a shifty forward who had the ability to find Barzal. But Trotz decided to give the second a reunion, and that has paid off.
Trotz was back to cycling players alongside Barzal. Kieffer Bellows got the chance on Jan. 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Barzal’s thinking was too fast for Bellows to handle.
Quickly, Trotz made the switch to veteran Zach Parise the following night, in another game against the Flyers.
