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.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.