INJURY NEWS: Islanders Lose $24 Million Defender to Season-Ending Surgery
The New York Islanders continue to face adversity. In addition to contending with the success of the nearby New York Rangers, who secured a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs as the first team this season, the Islanders received unfortunate news on Tuesday, March 26.
#Isles Injury Update: Scott Mayfield had successful season ending surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery and not have any issues with his summer training regiment.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 26, 2024
Veteran defenseman Scott Mayfield, a key player for the team, will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to surgery. Despite this setback, the franchise remains optimistic, stating in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Mayfield is expected to fully recover and will not encounter any obstacles in his summer training regimen. This announcement comes ahead of their upcoming game against the Florida Panthers scheduled for Thursday, March 28.
The latest developments bring unwelcome news for the Islanders supporters, who have witnessed a rollercoaster season. The situation isn’t entirely unexpected, considering Mayfield’s shift to long-term injured reserve shortly before the March 8 trade deadline.
Mayfield’s journey to the injured reserve began on December 14 and resumed on March 5, marking a setback for the team. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello addressed the issue, stating, “We’re opting to sideline him until he’s fully recovered.” Initially, the Islanders had estimated a recovery period of four to six weeks, implying that Mayfield might remain sidelined until the final stages of the regular season at worst.
Scott Mayfield has Endured a Tough Season
Mayfield has been managing a lower-body injury since the beginning of the season. Initially, the team believed that rest would facilitate recovery in time for the crucial phase of the season, but ultimately, surgery became unavoidable.
Following discussions involving team management, the player, and the Islanders’ medical staff, it was unanimously agreed that surgery offered the best path forward to prevent any further damage, especially given the disappointing nature of the current season for the Islanders.
Prior to being sidelined for the remainder of the season, Mayfield participated in 41 games this year for the Islanders, contributing 5 assists while averaging 18:46 of ice time per game. Defensively, he registered 70 hits and 106 blocked shots.
Mayfield was selected by the Islanders in the second round of the 2011 draft and has since spent his entire 10-year career with the team, playing in a total of 469 games. During this time, he has scored 25 goals and provided 91 assists.
Following his impressive performance in the previous season (6 goals, 18 assists, totaling 24 points, all career-high figures), the Islanders secured Mayfield with a significant seven-year contract extension worth $24.5 million last summer. This contract reflects the team’s confidence in Mayfield, taking into account his age, breakout season in 2023, and his status as a longstanding figure within the Islanders franchise.
The Islanders Fired Their Head Coach Mid-Season, Ran Out of Time
The Islanders have had a turbulent season, and this latest setback adds to their ongoing struggles. Following the dismissal of Lane Lambert last January, Patrick Roy was appointed as the new head coach until the end of the season on January 20.
Under Roy’s leadership, the Islanders have managed a rather average record of 11–11-4 in the 26 games he has overseen from the sidelines.
With 75 points in 71 games, the Islanders currently lag behind the final wild-card spot by a significant margin, trailing the Washington Capitals (81 points in 71 games) by six points as of Tuesday, March 26. Realistically, it seems improbable for New York to mount a comeback and secure a postseason berth.
This can be largely attributed to the team’s initial surge following Roy’s appointment, which was followed by a downturn in performance. Although the Islanders started strong with a victory under Roy’s guidance and a remarkable 6-0 run from the end of February to the beginning of March, they have since struggled, losing seven of their last eight games, including a crucial matchup against the New Jersey Devils on March 24.
Antonio Losada, an experienced sports writer based in Spain, covers the NHL for Heavy.com. With over a decade of experience covering various sports such as the NBA, NFL, and soccer, Losada has contributed to publications like SB Nation, FanSided, Yahoo Sports, FanGraphs, RotoBaller, and more. He has received multiple nominations for FSWA awards, including Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and DFS Writer of the Year.