The New York Islanders head into the 2024-25 season with an intriguing mixture of certainties and uncertainties. The roster stays largely unchanged from final 12 months, suggesting that important enhancements on the ice may not be anticipated. Nevertheless, administration believes this staff has the potential to compete for the Stanley Cup. Because of this, a number of storylines are rising this preseason, all centered round key parts of the roster.
1. Who Will Play on the Second Line?
With free-agent signing Anthony Duclair taking early shifts on the highest line alongside Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, one notable lineup change is already rising: captain Anders Lee has been bumped from his normal spot. Whereas some anticipated Lee to shift to the second line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, that transfer is way from assured.
Lee is a confirmed goal-scorer, however his skating points contributed to his struggles on the highest line, and related challenges may come up on the second. Furthermore, each Nelson and Palmieri are shoot-first gamers, making Lee a much less superb match for that line.
Simon Holmstrom acquired reps on the second line in the midst of final season and is correct there alongside Nelson and Palmieri once more in coaching camp, signaling an open competitors for the left-wing function. The 23-year-old former first-round choose impressed final season, however his long-term match and potential inside the Islanders’ lineup stay unclear.
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Pierre Engvall, who carried out properly on the second line final season along with his velocity and measurement aiding in transition, was in the end restricted by his offensive manufacturing. Maxim Tsyplakov is an alternative choice, although his lack of NHL expertise makes him a protracted shot for the function, at the least in the beginning of the season.
2. What’s Tsyplakov’s Function?
Tsyplakov has impressed in coaching camp thus far, however his function on the staff is unknown. He scored 30 objectives within the KHL final season, displaying he has a excessive upside. He’s additionally bodily and performs a checking function along with his 6-foot-3, 190-pound body. Heading into the season, he might match anyplace from the second line within the NHL to the second line within the AHL, seemingly falling someplace within the center.
3. Is Sorokin Wholesome?
After a quiet few months, insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell on Islanders followers with a report that he has “heard that Ilya Sorokin has been battling one thing.” Then in the beginning of coaching camp, head coach Patrick Roy and basic supervisor Lou Lamoriello commented on the matter, stating Sorokin acquired again surgical procedure this offseason. The extent of the damage is unknown, however there’s cause for concern.
Sorokin has missed the primary few days of Islanders coaching camp, though he has began skating on his personal. Because the preseason begins, maybe the staff’s largest concern is Sorokin’s well being. It seems administration is taking his rehab with precaution, however that is one thing to watch because the common season nears.
4. Does Martin Obtain a Contract?
After spending 13 seasons with the Islanders, 35-year-old Matt Martin signed knowledgeable tryout this offseason. The veteran has been a key locker room and bodily presence all through his profession, however he has misplaced his spot within the lineup with a crowded ahead core.
5. Who Makes the Remaining Roster?
The Islanders face troublesome selections with a view to grow to be wage cap compliant by the top of the preseason. With restricted cap area, at the least considered one of Tsyplakov, Hudson Fasching, Oliver Wahlstrom, Kyle MacLean, or Samuel Bolduc will should be reassigned.
If Sorokin is positioned on injured reserve, the cap difficulty will be deferred, however along with his standing unsure, proactive planning is required. Since MacLean is the one participant waivers-exempt, Lamoriello might want to get artistic to keep away from dropping gamers to waivers. Presently, sending Wahlstrom to the AHL looks as if the most certainly resolution since that will remedy the difficulty with only one resolution.
Nevertheless, if the Islanders choose to offer Wahlstrom one other NHL alternative, it’s extra possible that MacLean and Fasching will probably be despatched down as a substitute. Sending considered one of them down would nonetheless depart the staff above the wage cap ceiling. Whereas Bolduc is one other choice to be despatched down, his youth and upside make it unlikely he’ll lose his roster spot.
The Islanders start their first preseason sport tonight towards the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Heart in New Jersey. From there, they’ll play 5 extra preseason video games earlier than starting the common season at dwelling on Oct. tenth towards the Utah Hockey Membership.
