Joined by Pitchfork managing editor and Islanders fan Matthew Strauss, we remember the short and unmemorable but indicative tenure of Austin Czarnik. Joining the Islanders after productive stints in Boston and Calgary, Czarnik looked like he would be a fine depth piece or perhaps more for a roster that would be hit hard by injuries, Covid and bad luck. Even after he was lost on waivers to the NHL's (now second) newest team, he would find his way back to Long Island in a rare move by Lou Lamoriello. And although his final totals aren't much to write home about, Czarnik would come to personify a very weird brief time period in recent Islanders history. Matthew tells us why Czarnik still fascinates and haunts him, how rare he is among current former Islanders and how Billy Joel helped change the sound of heavy metal (yes, for real).

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