Islanders' Scott Mayfield wrestles with not playing

LOS ANGELES — Scott Mayfield was in limbo on Tuesday, waiting to see if he would be in the Islanders'  lineup that night against the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. And when the  lineup came out, Mayfield wasn't in it.

 It’s pretty much how it’s been for the Islanders defenseman for two-plus weeks since returning from a lower-body injury and perhaps a sneak peak at his future if president/general manager Lou Lamoriello executes his pledge to make changes this offseason.

“It’s hard,” Mayfield said. “You never want to sit out.”

Mayfield was a healthy scratch for the fifth time in eight games, an unfamiliar position for the longtime top-six stalwart. Kyle MacLean felt well enough to return to the lineup after a one-game absence because of a stomach illness.  If MacLean could not play, coach Patrick Roy planned to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen with Mayfield having a chance to draw in. 

Pierre Engvall, like Mayfield in the second season of a seven-year contract, can also be said to have an uncertain future with the organization, though he was elevated from the fourth line to the third against the Kings to skate with Casey Cizikas and Maxim Tsyplakov.

“I’ve been playing on the fourth line with Mac and Marc [Gatcomb],” Engvall said. “I’m going to try to do my best. You obviously want to play up in the lineup but it’s not my show. I’m just going to do my best and see where that takes me.

“It’s not fun when you’re in and out. You want to be playing every night. On the fourth line, you have a special role to take, you’ve got to play easier. I want to play more. Obviously I can do things better and I’m trying to do that.”

Engvall is on a seven-year, $21 million deal that includes a modified no-trade clause (16 teams) and, logically, might be a potential buyout candidate this offseason if Lamoriello cannot find a trade partner. He entered Tuesday with just four goals and four assists in 43 games and had been a healthy scratch in three of four matches before the start of this three-game California trip, which concluded against the Kings.

Mayfield, selected 34th overall by the Islanders in 2011, signed a seven-year, $24.5 million extension that carries a full no-trade clause through 2027.

But Mayfield does not want to remain a part-time player.

“It’s hard to sit and watch but, at the same time, I can’t control that,” Mayfield said. “As players, you control how you play and what you do every day but you don’t control the lineup.

“I think they’re coaches’ decisions. They put the lineup out and it is what it is. I like the rehab I did. I felt like I was ready to play after. I didn’t like my game against Dallas. The penalty kill needed to be better. I was out for those goals.”

Mayfield missed four games with his injury but avoided a longer absence because of the two-week NHL break for the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament and was back in the lineup for a 4-3 loss to the Stars at UBS Arena on Feb. 23. Coincidentally, Engvall had a goal in the defeat, his last point entering Tuesday’s match.

But Roy used Mayfield for just 10:36 against the Stars as he was on the ice for Sam Steel’s opening goal just 2:10 into the first period and for both of Jason Robertson’s second-period power-play goals.

Mayfield was then a healthy scratch for a 5-1 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden two days later, the physical play he brings noticeably absent as the hosts dominated action around the Islanders’ crease.

“I know how I need to play,” Mayfield said. “I can’t go out there and do what isn’t in my game. I go out there and I play my game, which is good defensively. I want to be better on the penalty kill. For me, it’s focusing on the work ethic, playing hard, shutting teams down and playing good hockey.”

Notes & quotes: Goalie Ilya Sorokin started for the 33rd time in 40 matches after Marcus Hogberg returned from a hand injury with 24 saves in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Ducks . . . Defensemen Scott Perunovich and Mike Reilly and forward Matt Martin remained healthy scratches.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.