A look at how Islanders stack up now compared to when their season ended
The last time we saw the Islanders, they were retreating off the ice after allowing three third-period goals to seal their first-round playoff ouster with a 6-3 road loss to the Hurricanes in Game 5 on April 30.
President/general manager Lou Lamoriello promised nothing would be “sacred” this offseason in considering moves to improve the team, which hasn’t won a postseason series since 2021. But the Islanders’ moves have been limited thus far: importing Anthony Duclair on a four-year, $14 million deal and Maxim Tsyplakov from the KHL on a one-year, $950,000 contract as well as re-signing fourth-liner Kyle MacLean and third-pair defenseman Mike Reilly.
It leaves Lamoriello with about $1 million in space under the $88 million salary-cap ceiling.
His summer work doesn’t feel complete, but it’s unclear whether other moves can be made.
That said, here’s a projected look at where the Islanders are now compared to where they were when they departed Raleigh, North Carolina.
FORWARDS
Top line
Now: Anthony Duclair-Bo Horvat-Mathew Barzal
Then: Casey Cizikas-Horvat-Barzal
Verdict: Duclair’s speed and scoring ability should be a complementary improvement for Horvat and Barzal and make the trio tougher to defend. Two concerns: Defense and who goes into the corners to muck out the puck?
Second line
Now: Hudson Fasching/Pierre Engvall/Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Then: Fasching-Nelson-Palmieri
Verdict: It feels as if the Islanders still could use another scoring wing to put with Nelson and Palmieri. Lee finished the season and playoffs playing strong hockey but likely is better suited to a third-line role. Engvall still needs to show consistency with his talent. Fasching, too, is better suited for a bottom-six role.
Third line
Now: Lee/Engvall-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Engvall/Maxim Tsyplakov
Then: Lee-Pageau-Engvall
Verdict: Tsyplakov had 31 goals in 65 KHL games for Moscow Spartak and could prove to be a very savvy signing for Lamoriello. But translating his KHL success to the NHL is no given. Lamoriello still might look to trade Pageau and the final two seasons of his six-year, $30 million deal to create cap space.
Fourth line
Now: Cizikas-Kyle MacLean-Simon Holmstrom
Then: Matt Martin/Holmstrom-MacLean-Cal Clutterbuck
Verdict: The assumption is that Lamoriello will not bring back either Martin or Clutterbuck, who first started skating together on the identity line in 2013. If so, it will give the Islanders a decidedly different feel both on the ice and in their room.
What we’re excluding: There are other in-house candidates to earn a spot out of training camp. Julien Gauthier played 17 games last season. The organization likes diminutive Ruslan Iskhakov, if he doesn’t head to the KHL. Oliver Wahlstrom, if he isn’t traded to give the former first-rounder a fresh start, has the best shot in the group. Matthew Maggio is an interesting prospect and William Dufour could provide size to the fourth line.
DEFENSEMEN
Top pair
Now: Alexander Romanov-Noah Dobson
Then: Romanov-Dobson
Verdict: The two 24-year-olds are in line for significant raises after this season. Their ascension into a reliable top pair was one of last season’s real bright spots.
Second pair
Now: Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Then: Pelech-Pulock
Verdict: The question for both is whether they can stay healthy. Each dressed for only 58 games last season and their play seemed compromised at times. The Islanders’ ultimate success or failure still is very much tied to these two.
Third pair
Now: Mike Reilly-Scott Mayfield
Then: Reilly-Robert Bortuzzo
Verdict: Mayfield was never fully healthy last season after an early ankle injury and eventually was shut down after 41 games. Needless to say, the Islanders need much more. Reilly, picked up on waivers from the Panthers last season, transports the puck the best among the Islanders’ top six defensemen.
What we’re excluding: Right now, either Samuel Bolduc or Dennis Cholowski slots in as the seventh defenseman. Neither has proved to be a consistent NHL player yet.
GOALIES
Now: Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov
Then: Varlamov, Sorokin
Verdict: The Islanders need Sorokin to regain his confidence and Vezina Trophy runner-up form after coach Patrick Roy rode Varlamov down the stretch and into the playoffs.
What we’re excluding: Lamoriello signed Swede Marcus Hogberg, 29, who has 42 games of NHL experience with the Senators, as the organization’s third goalie. It’s an upgrade over Jakub Skarek, 24, who has struggled in his four seasons with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
COACHING STAFF
Now: Patrick Roy (head coach), John MacLean (assistant), Benoit Desrosiers (assistant), Tommy Albelin (assistant), Piero Greco (goalies), Chris Terreri (director of goaltending)
Then: Roy, MacLean, Doug Houda (assistant), Desrosiers, Greco, Mitch Korn (director of goaltending)
Verdict: A full season of Roy will be a plus. Albelin will run the defense and, presumably, the faltering penalty kill instead of Houda. Change was needed. Losing Korn, who rejoined Barry Trotz with the Predators, was not part of the plan.
POWER PLAY
Now: PP1 — Dobson, Barzal-Horvat-Nelson, Palmieri; PP2 — Reilly, Duclair-Engvall-Tsyplakov, Lee
Then: PP1 — Reilly, Barzal-Horvat-Nelson, Palmieri; PP2 — Dobson, Pulock-Pageau-Engvall, Lee
Verdict: Dobson was taken off the first power-play unit toward the end of last season. It’s crucial for him to earn that spot back. Roy could balance the units by switching, say, Nelson and Duclair.
PENALTY KILL
Now: Pelech, Pulock, Romanov, Mayfield, Cizikas, Pageau, Holmstrom, Tsyplakov
Then: Pelech, Pulock, Romanov, Bortuzzo, Horvat, Clutterbuck, Pageau, Palmieri
Verdict: Losing Clutterbuck, if he does not return, will be very noticeable on the penalty kill. Mayfield’s health certainly will affect this unit as well. If healthy, he can’t sit in the penalty box as much.