Islanders Season Preview: Forwards

The New York Islanders had no problem filling the net last season, finishing seventh in the NHL with 261 goals for, averaging 3.18 per game.
So while Head Coach Barry Trotz has been implementing a new defensive structure throughout training camp, he didn't want to tinker too much with what was a high-scoring offense last season.
Some changes were necessitated by the departure of John Tavares, but the Isles are returning key pieces from last year's group including leading scorer (and Calder Trophy winner) Mathew Barzal (85 points), 40-goal scorer Anders Lee, Josh Bailey (71 points), Anthony Beauvillier (21 goals) and Jordan Eberle (59 points).
Between the gunners up front and the revamped (and reunited) checking lines, there's good reason for optimism surrounding the Islanders forward group.
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MATHEW BARZAL:

Mathew Barzal led the Islanders with 85 points during a terrific rookie year and returns as the team's top offensive threat. Barzal boasts a combination of elite skating ability, vision and creative playmaking, but the secret is out and the 21-year-old will be the focus of tougher defensive matchups as teams key in on him.
That doesn't bother the reigning rookie of the year, who took that into account during his rigorous offseason training. He welcomes the challenge as he begins his second season.
"With John leaving, someone has to step up and help this team win games," Barzal said. "I hope to contribute in that sense, work hard and hopefully become a leader at some point."
Trotz uses words like fearless, dynamic and creative when describing Barzal, but wants him to become more efficient and more responsible without the puck. That'll be an ongoing process, but so far Barzal hasn't missed a beat offensively, racking up a team-high eight points in the preseason.

A REDESIGNED TOP-SIX:

With Tavares gone, the Islanders top two lines were bound to have a somewhat different look. Trotz didn't simply plug Barzal or Brock Nelson into Tavares' spot, but rather rejiggered the top two lines, which have remained largely the same in the latter half of camp:
Anthony Beauvillier - Mathew Barzal - Josh Bailey
Anders Lee - Brock Nelson - Jordan Eberle
Trotz kept Barzal with Anthony Beauvillier, but swapped out Jordan Eberle in favor of Josh Bailey. The new coach said he sees a natural chemistry with Barzal and Beauvillier and it's founded, as Beau scored 17 of his 21 goals playing on Barzal's wing in the second half of last season. Trotz said Bailey's hockey IQ can balance out the line and Beauvillier said it's been an easy transition to a new linemate.
"You guys have no idea how smart he is on the ice," Beauvillier said of Bailey. "It's just so easy to play with him, he's always in the right spot and always puts the puck in the right position… He does everything right and that's exactly what we need, a leader like him taking on more responsibility."
Barzal had a team-high 63 assists last season, while Bailey racked up 53 helpers, so Beauvillier is likely the new triggerman with the two playmakers. Barzal led the Islanders with eight assists in the preseason, while Bailey (2G, 4A) and Beauvillier (3G, 3A) each finished with six points, so the line appeared to have some chemistry in camp.

"Beau has that ability to work with Mathew and I think Bails' hockey IQ and can read off them," Trotz said. "Mathew distributes very well and can skate the way he does and I think it's really good balance."
As for the Lee-Nelson-Eberle line, the Islanders have two of their top goal scorers together on one unit. Trotz said Eberle - who had 25 goals and 34 assists last season - can add some "flash and dash" on the line while Lee - who potted 40 - can continue to ply his trade as one of the top net-front players in the league. Lee netted a team-high four goals in preseason.
Nelson is getting a prime opportunity between Lee and Eberle after spending last season playing behind Tavares and Barzal down the middle.
"He's got a great hockey IQ and this is a great opportunity for him to grasp that role," Trotz said of Nelson. "I think he's got all the tools to do that. To me it's just grabbing the mindset, the tools are there, just that mindset of night in, night out, being in that top six and being a producer."
Nelson scored 19 goals last season after three straight 20-goal seasons. His next tally with be his 100th NHL goal.

MARTIN, CIZIKAS, CLUTTERBUCK REUNITED:

It was more or less expected that when Matt Martin was re-acquired over the summer that he'd be back with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck.
Trotz reunited the trio almost immediately, putting them together for the Islanders preseason debut at NYCB Live, looking to recapture the line's magic from the Coliseum days. Since then, they've been a consistent line throughout camp and will be an important part of the team's identity going forward, as Trotz looks to make the Islanders harder to play against.
"They've been effective because they've been hard to play against physically," Trotz said. "They've been responsible defensively and no one wants to play against them… A lot of people said it was the best fourth line in the NHL for a few years. They had an identity and thrived on that."
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"All of us were excited to get out there and play together," Cizikas said of being reunited. "[Martin] plays a similar style to me and Cal and that's why we work so well together. The way that we play is a body-first mentality."
Between the Martin trade, as well as the signing of free agent Leo Komarov and Ross Johnston, the Islanders appear to have re-gained their physical identity. Between Martin (1194 hits), Clutterbuck (1079) and Komarov (984), the Islanders now have three of the top four hitters in the NHL since the start of the 2014-15 season.
That's fine by Trotz.
"This team has to be hard to play against," Trotz said at media day. "Every player has to find their identity on how they can have an effect on the opposition. Everybody has unique skill sets they bring to the table. We have to be hard to play against, we have to have structure and a work ethic."

LADD'S INJURY BECOMES FRITZ'S OPPORTUNITY:

Andrew Ladd will likely start the season on injured reserve after suffering an injury in an inter-squad scrimmage on Sept. 16 - the third day of training camp. The preseason setback has caused Ladd to miss the start of the season, though the veteran did practice with the team on Wednesday.
Ladd's injury does open up a spot on the depth chart and an opportunity for players like Tanner Fritz, who has impressed Trotz with a hard-working camp. Fritz got an extended look with the Islanders last year after making his NHL debut on Jan. 2 and has a shot to play alongside Komarov and Valtteri Filppula on opening night.

FILPPULA & KUHNHACKL ADDING DEPTH EXPERIENCE, VERSATILITY:

The Islanders wanted to add some character and experience to their lineup while addressing the team's penalty kill over the summer. Enter Valtteri Filppula, who signed a one-year deal and looks to slot into a role of killing penalties and taking faceoffs.
"I always take pride playing well both ways and I think everything starts from playing well defensively, then trying to create offense," Filppula said.
Trotz said he also likes Filppula's versatility to play the wing when needed, but plans to start the veteran at center on Thursday night.
Tom Kuhnhackl also signed a one-year deal over the summer and looks to bring some of the same elements as far as penalty killing and work ethic. Kuhnhackl was placed on waivers on Tuesday morning, but was kept on the team's 23-man roster.