The Islanders project Alexander Romanov and Tony DeAngelo as the top defensive pairing, with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock as the shutdown pairing. The third pairing could pair rookie Matthew Schaefer on the left with veteran Scott Mayfield on the right, positioning Mayfield as a mentor. Mayfield is a stay-at-home defenseman who is dependable when healthy and generally avoids costly mistakes despite limited foot speed. Pairing Schaefer with Mayfield would allow Schaefer to drive play and learn without facing elite opposing scorers. Schaefer could still return to the OHL, but if he remains, Mayfield's presence could ease his transition.
According to Daily Faceoff, the Islanders blue line features Alexander Romanov and Tony DeAngelo on the top pairing. Then, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock will reprise their roles as the shutdown pairing. But the third pairing is where the most interesting situation lies. The Isles could feature top prospect Matthew Schaefer on the left side with Mayfield on the right. As such, the 32-year-old vet could play the most significant role on the team, serving as Schaefer's mentor.
Mayfield is a typical stay-at-home blue liner. He's not flashy, but dependable when healthy. He doesn't make silly gaffes, if slow at times. So, pairing Schaefer with Mayfield allows the Isles' first-overall pick to be himself. He can drive the puck, without having to worry about becoming fodder for other teams' top scorers. It's almost a given that sheltering Schaefer would be the best way to break him into the NHL.
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