On this version of the New York Islanders Information & Rumors, we’ll have a look at Simon Holmstrom getting a one-year contract extension and what which means for his future. The dearth of Islanders’ prospects getting an invitation to the Canadian World Junior Summer time Showcase (WJSS) staff, and lastly, the Bridgeport Islanders are rebranding.
Holmstrom’s Extension
Surprisingly, the Islanders introduced a contract extension in mid-July. Given common supervisor Lou Lamoriello’s repute, the information doesn’t usually break till the beginning of coaching camp. Nonetheless, they’ve introduced the signing of ahead Simon Holmstrom to a one-year deal. The typical annual worth (AAV) of his new deal is $850,000. Holmstrom agreed to this extension as a substitute of his qualifying provide, which was an AAV of $874,000 and a two-way deal.
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The 23-year-old Swedish native appeared in 75 video games final season, scoring 15 targets and 10 assists for 25 factors. The season prior, he performed in 50 video games and had six targets and three assists for 9 factors. In 125 profession NHL video games, he has a complete of 21 targets and 13 assists for 38 factors.
It seems to be just like the Islanders are lastly transferring on from their well-known checking line consisting of Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck, and Casey Cizikas. Whereas Cizikas remains to be beneath contract, it’s clear that they will permit their youthful forwards an opportunity to make the staff. Holmstrom can have loads of alternatives to work his means up the lineup and produce like an on a regular basis NHL third-liner this season beneath head coach Patrick Roy.
Lack of Islanders’ Illustration at WJSS
Subsequent up, the World Junior Summer time Showcase roster has been launched, and effectively, Islanders’ followers, it’s not trying good. It isn’t to say that the group doesn’t have good prospects, as a result of they do. Nonetheless, plainly the membership is missing Canadian-born prospects. They’ve gamers like Jesse Nurmi (Finnish), Calle Odelius (Swedish), and Jesse Pulkkinen (Finnish), all of whom might characterize their respective international locations on the 2025 World Junior Championship.
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Evidently the Islanders lack a real prime prospect, somebody like Colby Barlow, Easton Cowan, Tij Iginla, and even Sam Dickinson. A lot of these gamers are franchise-altering, and but the Islanders don’t have one of their system. This goes to point out that they’ve been an above-average staff since Noah Dobson was drafted in 2018. Then again, there might be an opportunity that they mismanaged their first-round draft picks and don’t have the top-end prospects to point out for it. Going ahead, the Islanders might want to attempt to handle their draft capital higher to allow them to replenish their top-end expertise pool.
Evidently the Islanders will proceed to push for playoff rivalry reasonably than restocking their prospect pool with prime expertise. Relying on the scouts and their success price, they are able to discover some diamonds within the tough, much like how the Toronto Maple Leafs did with present Islanders’ ahead Pierre Engvall, who was a seventh-round decide and is now an on a regular basis NHLer.
Bridgeport Islanders Rebrand
Lastly, the Islanders’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, and their rebrand. On July 11, the jerseys had been revealed by way of Twitter/X and appear to be they took their common alternate and are making them their full-time jerseys.
The up to date model of the emblem has some distinctive particulars; the Bridgeport portion is now in block letters overtop of the basic Islanders textual content. Their full-time brand has been modified to the Fisherman brand, which pays homage to New York’s mid-90s Fisherman brand. As for the remainder of the jerseys, no modifications are being made. The colours are nonetheless the identical, that are royal blue, orange, and gray, much like their NHL staff’s colour scheme.
