SUMMERLIN, Nev. — The participant who’s presently main the Islanders in plus-minus may be the least talked about common on the group.
A few of that’s right down to function and a few is right down to quite a few the Islanders stars having been damage and/or underperforming.
However no one can deny that Scott Mayfield, ever so quietly, is within the midst of a robust bounce-back marketing campaign following an injury-derailed season a yr in the past.
“Really, I think last year was a tough year for me,” Mayfield advised The Publish after the Islanders practiced at Metropolis Nationwide Enviornment exterior Las Vegas on Wednesday. “That’s all I put on that. I had a big summer, like what I did for my rehab. Was able to get into playing shape and all that. … I’m proud of the work I put in.”
Prior to now, Mayfield’s offseason work usually centered on energy coaching, although there was some variance relying on the yr.
Final summer season, partially as a result of rehabbing ankle surgical procedure, was extra about motion work.
“And I feel like I’m skating well, feel like I’m moving well,” Mayfield stated. “Last year was last year. It was tough, but I feel like my body’s in a good place.”
It’s price noting that, a minimum of at five-on-five (sure, the penalty kill is a distinct story), Mayfield is on tempo not simply to rebound from final season however to have arguably the very best yr of his profession by way of numbers.
His 53.3 on-ice anticipated objectives proportion is his greatest since 2018-19, per Pure Stat Trick, and his 58.06 on-ice objectives for proportion is the very best of his profession, interval.
Factors-wise, Mayfield has by no means put up massive numbers, and his two objectives and 5 assists to this point aren’t a lot.
Defensively, although, the Islanders are suppressing probabilities with No. 24 on the ice at one of many higher charges of his profession.
A few of that, little question, is because of Mayfield enjoying on the third pair for a lot of the season, and thus taking quite a lot of simpler matchups.
However you play the function you’re requested, and his adaptability has additionally confirmed very important in enjoying with 5 totally different companions and bringing Isaiah George and Dennis Cholowski alongside.
“Scotty plays his best hockey when he plays simple,” coach Patrick Roy stated. “When he retains issues easy, strikes the puck quick, he’s enjoying some strong hockey. When he tries to overhandle the puck, that is the place the second’s getting a bit of harder for him.
“He’s been doing a good job with Cholo, he did a great job with George. He’s a great vet, he’s a guy that could help the younger guys, and I feel like he’s playing his role really well.”
One of many points on the coronary heart of the Islanders proper now, although, is that no one on both particular groups — which is to say, nearly no one, interval — can really feel nice about their season given the Isles are presently thirty second in each energy play and penalty kill.
That goes for Mayfield, who is barely behind Ryan Pulock in penalty-kill minutes, as a lot as anyone.
There’s consciousness that the Isles, who play the Golden Knights on Thursday after beating the Bruins on Sunday evening, must put collectively a streak — and that particular groups will have to be part of it.
“I do like the way we’ve been practicing,” Roy unhappy. “I feel like we’re very connected. When you watch a PK [and] you say I feel like we’re not connected, there’s holes — but there’s no holes in what we’re doing. We’re tight. I feel like when we need to put pressure, we’re together in it. Doesn’t guarantee anything, but I like the way we’ve been doing this.”
