• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New York Islanders
Islanders Management

Richardson Must Make Isles Tough Again

By Patrick Hickey Jr. June 5th, 2017

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Once upon a time, the New York Islanders were the hardest hitting team in the NHL. Teams were simply scared to play them. First, they hit you with their dynamic fourth line of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin. Then the snarl of Travis Hamonic, Anders Lee and even Thomas Hickey came into play. Simply put, the Isles were a team who weren’t scared to throw the body. With the absence of Martin and injuries to Clutterbuck and Hamonic, the Isles identity changed drastically in 2016-17. One of Islanders new assistant coach Luke Richardson’s first jobs is going to find a way to get it back.

Richardson Has to Preach Team-Wide Physicality

Lee has proven he can be a physical force before. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Richardson is the perfect man for the job. He spent two decades in the NHL instilling fear into the opposition. While he did a lot of it with his fists, he wasn’t scared to throw the body either. In order for the Islanders offensive talents to have more room on the ice, they have to replace the hits they lost last season when Martin went to Toronto via free agency. It’s not going to be easy, but it can be done.

The best way this gets done is a team-wide approach to finishing checks. Guys like Andrew Ladd, Jason Chimera and even the rough and rumble Anders Lee, must play tougher. In the words of Paul Newman in “Slapshot,” they’ve got to let the opposition “know they’re there.” While the chances of getting another player with the ferocity of Martin, inside or outside of the organization are slim, if every player on the team steps up physically, the Islanders will be a much tougher team to play against. That’s definitely something Richardson can help with.

Luckily for the Islanders, they still have one of the most dangerous hitters in the NHL already. A former NHL leader in hits, Clutterbuck must return to 15-goal and 300-hit form. If he does that, things on the ice drastically change.

Richardson’s Defensive IQ Will Pay Dividends

Thomas Hickey is a guy who can deliver big hits on the Islanders. He just needs to do it more often.(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

While getting the team to step up physically will be one of Richardson’s main jobs, playing tough doesn’t just mean hitting. The Islanders goaltending core was hung out to dry throughout the season. Hamonic, Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk were often unable to clear pucks out of the crease and were manhandled in front.

Ironically, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech and Calvin de Haan, three of the team’s younger defensemen were far better in this regard. If nothing else, Richardson will ensure Boychuk gets his nastiness back, while Dennis Seidenberg continues to get big time minutes in crunch time. As well, the Islanders will make the opposition earn every inch of ice they skate on. It’s not going to be sexy, but it’ll get the job done.

Expectations for Richardson

If his experience with the Ottawa Senators is any indication, Richardson is a mentor. A guy that players like to skate for. Luckily for him and the Islanders, they’ve got plenty of players, particularly on defense, that needs to round out their games. From taking the body more and clearing the crease to overall consistency, Richardson’s tough guy, but smart in his own zone approach can work wonders for the Islanders.

  • Tags
  • Luke Richardson
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 20th 6:10 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Protocol, Rasmussen, Howard & More

Jan 20th 6:00 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Forward Depth Leading to Wins

Jan 20th 5:35 PM
Column

Islanders Weekly: Shutouts, Injury Scares & Scoring Concerns

Jan 20th 4:33 PM
Archives

2010 NHL Entry Draft: 5 Forgotten Picks

Jan 20th 4:15 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

3 Pros and 3 Cons to Golden Knights’ Goalie Split

Jan 20th 4:05 PM
Florida Panthers

Panthers Offense Flourishes but Goaltending & Special Teams Need Work

Jan 20th 3:15 PM
Column

Red Wings Wednesday Weekly: Hockey is Back Everyone!

Jan 20th 2:35 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Seeing Hot Starts From Some but Serious Concerns Linger

Jan 20th 2:20 PM
NHL Entry Draft

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Top 75 Rankings

Jan 20th 1:50 PM
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Goaltending & Defense Among Standouts Through Week 1

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information