New York Islanders: Stanley Cup Playoffs Profile, Jordan Eberle

For Jordan Eberle and the New York Islanders, it has always been a rather interesting relationship. While his role has always been clear, hopefully he can help the Isles in the playoffs. Here is his profile.

One of the last moves the New York Islanders made in the last offseason under the old regime was trade for forward Jordan Eberle. Initially a ploy to help keep a certain player who shall still not be named happy, it ended up being Mathew Barzal who has gotten to work with Eberle. Once again this season, Eberle finds himself on the top line after spending much of the season lost.

While Eberle failed to light the lamp in the team’s most recent game down in Florida against the Panthers, he was solid for a span of four goals in three game helping the Islanders clinch. This is the same Eberle who once went from February 10th to March16th without scoring a goal, a span of 17 games. He also once went 10 straight games without scoring this year, so we have seen him get ice-cold.

All of that is null and void if he can help the Islanders in the playoffs, he already helped them clinch with some impressive play the last few games. In his career, Eberle has played in the playoffs. Unluckily for him, was with a team that has more recently had even darker days than the Islanders.

In the 2016-2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eberle was good for 13 games, no goals, two assists, and -6 rating. What is helpful to know is that the Oilers did win a playoff series that year and he did notch a power play point, which if history repeats itself this playoffs, that would be rare and helpful to the Isles if he can notch a point on the power play.

Really, much about Eberle is underwhelming. It is really just a lot of waiting for him to breakthrough and go on a consistent run of goal scoring. While his NHL playoff experience is not ideal on paper, he has mostly played for some horrible teams, maybe this can be a fresh start for him and he can show he belongs on an NHL team. After all, he is in a contract year, general managers love a player who can play in the playoffs/has. His own general manager, Lou Lamoriello is exactly one of them.

Jordan Eberle has solidified his spot on the time line for the Islanders at a very important time of the season. However, much like all lines, all season long under Barry Trotz, they will be on a thin-leash. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see the Isles fourth line start in the playoffs and do a lot of the dirty work, that is perhaps their best line, but there is still no doubt that Eberle needs to keep finding the back of the net, or at least be constantly a pressure if he wants to stay on the top line.