The question of who is worthy to play on John Tavares’ wing continues, and the newest prospect is Jordan Eberle.
Having come to the Islanders in an offseason trade with the Oilers, it was assumed that the offensively gifted Eberle would slot into the right side of Tavares’ top line. That has been the case thus far during the preseason, but it won’t be until the games start to matter when everyone finds out if it’s a combination that’s going to work.
“I think it takes a little bit,” head coach Doug Weight said before he played the two together again in the Islanders’ 3-0 preseason win over the Devils at Barclays Center on Monday night. “I think every day they get out there and they’re on the same line, it helps.”
With big-bodied Anders Lee on the left and Tavares as the playmaker in the middle, Eberle will have the distinct role as a goal scorer. He showed his knack for finding the net in Edmonton, coming off four straight seasons with more than 20 goals, along with his breakout year in 2011-12 when he scored 34. At 27 years old and carrying an annual salary-cap hit of $6 million over the next two seasons, there is hope that Eberle can find a home on Tavares’ flank.
“He’s got great hockey sense and he’s quicker than people think,” said Tavares, who played with Eberle in the World Junior Championships back in 2009. “A little bit of deceptive speed.”
Goalie Thomas Greiss was terrific in posting a 25-save shutout, but how Weight was going to juggle playing time between Greiss and Jaroslav Halak during the season is still to be determined.
“I’m planning on playing somebody on the 6th,” Weight said, referring to the regular-season opener Oct. 6 against the Blue Jackets in Columbus, “and the other one on the 7th.”
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Greiss emerged as the starter last year in the midst of an untenable three-goalie situation that ended with Halak demoted to AHL Bridgeport for three months. Greiss also got himself a three-year, $10 million contract extension.
So far Weight has been excited about his goaltending, saying: “They’ve been one of the best things in camp.” But he’s trying not to think too far ahead as to how the starts are going to be divided.
“I’m [not] going to get too far ahead of myself worrying about how I’m going to play these guys,” Weight said. “It’s going to play itself out.”
Because of the presumed increase in penalties for slashing and faceoff violations once the season starts, Weight was focused on figuring out penalty-kill tandems and power-play groups before deciding exactly how he wants to set up his opening-night roster.
“I do believe they’ll be important early in the season with the rules,” Weight said.
The Islanders sat veterans Josh Bailey, Dennis Seidenberg and Andrew Ladd — along with young forward Anthony Beauvillier — with what Weight called general “tightness.” Despite having already cut his team down to 25 players — and with Shane Prince and Alan Quine out with injuries — Weight said there are still some opening-night jobs being fought over.
“There are still jobs to be had here,” Weight said. “Just because we made some cuts and have an idea what our team looks like, every practice and every game we’re still working with guys to make statements.”