Scott Mayfield

Mayfield had a strong 2022-23 campaign with six goals, 24 points, 83 PIM, 168 blocks and 107 hits, but he declined sharply last season. However, an ankle injury played a huge role in that -- he suffered a fracture in the season opener, and while he tried to play through it, the issue finally reached a point where he underwent season-ending surgery in February. The end result was that he finished 2023-24 with five assists, 35 PIM, 106 blocks and 70 hits. The good news is he should be healthy going into the new campaign, which makes him a solid candidate for a bounce-back season.

With a new seven-year contract in hand, Mayfield's status as a regular in the Islanders' lineup is secure. That doesn't mean he'll be anywhere near the threshold of fantasy relevance in 2023-24. He set career highs with 24 points and 82 games played as a 30-year-old last season. He added 168 blocked shots, 107 hits and 83 PIM, providing ample toughness in a top-four role after averaging 21:02 of ice time per game. However, given his age and injury history, that's likely his ceiling. The defenseman will have some appeal in deeper formats for his physical numbers, but Mayfield can be left on the board in most fantasy drafts.

Mayfield played in each of New York's first 61 games last season before a lower-body injury ended his year in mid-March. Mayfield posted three goals, 15 assists, 77 hits and 109 blocks, numbers eerily similar to what we saw from him in 56 games a year prior. Set to turn 30 years old right after the 2022-23 campaign begins, Mayfield is a potential trade candidate if things again go south for the Islanders due to the fact he will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023. Mayfield has no fantasy value regardless of which team he is playing for.

Mayfield has emerged as a key stay-at-home rearguard and penalty killer for Barry Trotz's defensive-minded Islanders team. He averaged more than 19 minutes of ice time per game (19:29) while also chipping in 15 points, 79 shots, 76 hits, and 108 blocks through 56 games in 2020-21. As valuable as Mayfield is to the Isles, he has very little value in most fantasy circles. The big man has never posted more than five goals or 19 points in a single season and doesn't have a power-play point in his NHL career. Mayfield's role on the Islanders is secure, but look elsewhere for late-round defensive help.

Mayfield produced 13 points, 117 blocked shots and 93 hits in 67 outings last year, further establishing himself as a regular member of the Islanders' defense corps. While his scoring output was down from 19 points the year before, Mayfield saw his ice time increase by 1:13 per game. The 28-year-old will likely be expected to help offset the departure of Devon Toews, who was traded to the Avalanche in the offseason. Mayfield still shouldn't be expected to record more than 15 points, but he'll be a stable source of blocks, hits and PIM in 2020-21.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a career season in 2018-19, recording four goals and 19 points while posting a plus-18 rating, 68 PIM and 104 shots on net in 79 games. He also chipped in 159 blocks and 118 hits while skating an average of 18:44 per game. All of those numbers were career highs. The question now is, will Mayfield be able to replicate those totals during the upcoming campaign? There isn't a strong argument for why he can't, especially if veterans Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy continue to see their ice time dip. Should that happen, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mayfield log more than 19 minutes of ice time per game in 2019-20, thus giving him the opportunity to match and perhaps even exceed last year's totals, which could include reaching the five-goal and 20-point plateaus.

Once a promising young defenseman, Mayfield is again in danger of finding himself in the press box regularly in 2018-19. But even if he finds consistent playing time, Mayfield's skills aren't parlayed into strong fantasy numbers. A brute at 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, he's best in his own end as a stay-at-home type. Last season, the right-shooting rearguard provided just two goals and 12 points in 47 games. The 25-year-old is mostly useful to owners in need of hits and blocked shots. Over the last two seasons, Mayfield has averaged more than 1.50 hits and blocks per game. As far as standard leagues go, he will consistently contribute only to PIM, as the American has spent 98 minutes in the sin bin over 83 career contests.

Mayfield will be in a training camp battle with Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech to make the team as a bottom pair defenseman. Pulock may have the edge because of his rocket shot and the fact that he was a high draft pick but in the end the Isles may prefer the physical element that Mayfield brings to the ice. Even if Mayfield doesn't break camp with the team it would stand to reason that when injuries hit the defensive corps, he would be one of the first players called up to replace them.

Mayfield impressed the Islanders during their first-round playoff loss to Washington last season, and could be in a fight with Ryan Pulock to be the team’s sixth defenseman to open 2015-16. The 22-year-old profiles as a stay-at-home defender, after providing only 14 points in 69 games at AHL Bridgeport last season. If he doesn’t beat out Pulock in training camp, Mayfield should be the first call-up from Bridgeport when someone on defense ends up on injured reserve.

Mayfield had a short stint with the Islanders last season, appearing in five games, but will spend the bulk of this season in the AHL. He has failed to impress so far in two seasons for Bridgeport and may be starting to lose his place on the depth chart, or at very least, has lost his distinction as a top prospect.

Mayfield is another Islanders prospect on defense but this is his first year out of college and he is ticketed to play with Bridgeport of the AHL. If and when he is ready to play for the Isles, he will give the team some much needed size and attitude on the back end.

Mayfield impressed the Isles at prospect camp this past summer but is still headed to the University of Denver for his sophomore season. The best case scenario is that he turns pro after this year, but that is far from a lock to happen.

Mayfield was chosen 34th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but will be playing at least the next couple of seasons at the University of Denver. The jury is out onto whether or not Mayfield has a future in the NHL.