Czarnik Making Most of Chance to Contribute

Austin Czarnik has 'come as advertised,' according to Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz.
Though Trotz made that initial assessment following Czarnik's debut with the team on Jan. 31, the Islanders coach was just as complimentary of the feisty forward's play following his second game of the season on Monday night when he was called up from the taxi squad. - as Michael Dal Colle continues to be sidelined as day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained on Feb. 16 - in the Islanders' 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

"He's a really intelligent player," Trotz said postgame on Monday night. "He gives you lots of speed and energy. He's really intelligent and he can kill penalties, if needed. I like the fact that he can play left and right. Knowing that we might have to go forward here with the number of games, I think that's going to be a real useful element for us if I want to move people around or if I want to get a matchup. He can play left, right and center. That's really useful for us. He gives us lots of flexibility."

Czarnik, who the Islanders signed to a two-year deal on Oct. 13, 2020, is proving to be a valuable asset for the team, and especially in a chaotic and irregular season like this year.
The 28-year-old offers a variety of useful attributes, namely his experience and versatility. Prior to joining the Islanders, Czarnik spent the first four years of his NHL career between the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames, where he registered 38 points (13G, 25A) in 123 games between the two clubs. When not on an NHL recall, Czarnik was a point-per-game player in the AHL, with 188 points (67G, 121A) in 189 games.
Throughout his professional career, the natural right-shot center has evolved his game to develop the ability to play comfortably either down the middle, at right wing or even on his off-side, at left wing.
"My first couple of years at Boston and Providence, that's when I was playing center and I moved to right wing and then to left wing," Czarnik said. "I've been able to play all three positions in the past four, five or six years, whatever it's been. I feel comfortable with all of them. Last year I was at right wing, so that was good. Left wing is the same thing just on your off side. All three positions are good for me to be versatile and hopefully, I can get the chance with [any of] them."
Against Buffalo, Czarnik played on the wing of his off-side and alongside fellow right-shots Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom.
While the Islanders consistently utilize a line of all left-shots in the combination of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey, Monday's trio of right-shots was a first for the team under Trotz.
Trotz was able to swap Czarnik and Beauvillier in an attempt to shut down Buffalo's top line with Jack Eichel in the first shift following the Islanders' game-winning, power-play goal, courtesy of Czarnik's linemates, as Pageau buried a rebound on the doorstep off of Wahlstrom's initial one-timer.

For Czarnik, he's comfortable playing alongside whoever he gets the opportunity to skate with, but has enjoyed his time with Pageau, whom he hopes to learn from as a fellow smaller statured player, and with a sharp-shooter like Wahlstrom.
"[Pageau] is a special player, he can do everything," Czarnik said. "He's been doing everything this whole year already. He's a smart guy who can make plays, I think we've done well together. [Wahlstrom] has got the shot on the line. He's got a special shot that he can use, you obviously saw it on the power-play [game-winning] goal [against Buffalo on Monday night]. It was our first game together, the three of us. I think if we stick together, we can build some chemistry and go from there."
Since joining the team and spending the bulk of the season on the taxi squad, Czarnik noted that his transition into the organization has been 'great.' It also helps his case that the Islanders' defensive style of play, fits well to his individual strengths and energetic, checking-style of play.
"Everyone here works hard," Czarnik said. "That's what I try to do every single day, just work hard and have a smile on my face. This team, that's what they do. They're a hard-working team and they get the job done. We focus so much defensively it shows and then, offensively we try and get in and create havoc, cycle the puck and get shots."
While there's already been a multitude of unforeseen obstacles that have surfaced throughout this abbreviated season and every day, every game and every practice are subject to change, Czarnik is making the most of every opportunity he receives whether that's in the nightly lineup or putting in the extra work in the taxi squad.
"The taxi squad is just trying to have fun every single day," Czarnik said. "That's what you need to do. You need to come to the rink ready to work. You never know when you're going to get in. You don't know if someone is going to get hurt, if someone is going to get COVID or something like that. All of us are just trying to have the right mindset every day to come in, do the work, try to have fun and whenever it's our time, be ready to go. We've all done a good job. We're all just trying to get better every single day. That's our main focus."