Top 20 on the Islanders: #20 Jay Pandolfo

Islanders #29 Jay Pandolfo defends against Montreal #76 PK Subban (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

          Next up on the Islanders top 20 list is a player who we signed this offseason on a try-out basis.  He has proven to be a critical part of the Islanders penalty killing this year.  I introduce you to the number twenty player on the list, left winger Jay Pandolfo. 
          Pandolfo signed on with the Islanders this year, after spending the last 13 seasons with the New Jersey Devils.  Isles GM Garth Snow saw him as a player who could be a valuable mentor to the young Islanders.  
          In his career so far, Pandolfo has played in 871 games.  In those games Pandolfo has compiled 100 goals and 125 assists, for a total of 225 points.  
          Even though that is not a bad stat line by any means, what Pandolfo really excels in is the penalty kill.  Isles coach Jack Capuano has put Pandolfo out there almost every time their opponent has the man advantage.  
          Pandolfo has shown why the coaches have so much faith in him.  He currently leads all Islanders forwards with 58 blocked shots.  That also places him just out of the top ten, at number eleven, in the league for blocked shots by a forward.  He has shown that he is not going to shy away from anything, and put his body on the line in order to prevent a goal.  
          It is this reason that Pandolfo has ended up on this list.  Not only does he block plenty of shots, which helps prevent goals, but his hockey wisdom as well.  Pandolfo is a key factor in teaching these young kids how to play hockey well.  
          With his insight and his play, Jay Pandolfo could be a major factor in helping this team become contenders, for years to come.