Team: 2024-25 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 26, 2024

Published: Feb. 10, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Forwards:

Bo Horvat - exactly as advertised and built great chemistry with Barzal. These two are a great duo that will continue to play together for years to come.

Mathew Barzal - Horvat has helped Barzal return to his Calder season, point per game self. I think Patrick Roy can get him to the next level too.

Anders Lee - he had a very slow start to the season on the third line. Being brought back to the top line definitely helped, but Lee’s skating is becoming a problem. He can’t keep up with Horvat and Barzal. Also taking a lot of penalties this year. If there is a shake up in the next 6-8 months I could see Anders being one of the guys headed out.

Brock Nelson - possibly the best 2C in hockey and the most consistent goal scorer on the Islanders over the past 5+ years. Brock has another year left before becoming a UFA and I expect him to be kept. He has nice chemistry with Kyle Palmieri and Pierre Engvall. The only way he is shipped out is if the Islanders go through a massive rebuild.

Kyle Palmieri - not the flashiest hockey player but Palms seems to find a way to 20 goals every season. I think he is a fine 2nd line player but when his contract expires he would probably need to take a pay cut to stay on Long Island. Dobson and Romanov (not to mention Nelson) all expire simultaneously with Palmieri.

Pierre Engvall - he needs to step up. His transition game is what will keep him in the lineup but we need him to produce more points offensively and focus on not turning over the puck. If the Isles can find a way to upgrade this summer I could see Engvall bumped down to the third line. He is also a sneaky candidate to shift inside to center if the Isles make a move down the middle. He played the position in Toronto and seems to be pretty solid at faceoffs

JG Pageau - another guy who had a slower start to the year but is starting to pick it up. His dynamic PK chemistry with Simon Holmstrom really saved him from being crucified. Probably paid $1m too much but nothing outrageous. I could see Pageau being traded in order for the Islanders to make an upgrade somewhere else though

Simon Holmstrom - Elite PKer but needs to work on his 5v5 game. I think Holmstrom will be a consistent NHL player for years to come because of how defensively responsible he is. 15 goals at minimum should be doable.

Julien Gauthier - speed is fantastic and needed. Struggles some defensively but a fine bottom-6 for how little he is paid.

Oliver Wahlstrom - his time on Long Island is almost certainly up. He hasn’t been able to reclaim a regular spot in the lineup but still has an elite release. A change of scenery is needed but I don’t think Wahlstrom’s career is remotely close to over

Casey Cizikas - good soldier but taking too many penalties the past two years. Still plays a responsible 200ft game and drives the fourth line. With some new linemates beginning in 2024 (Martin/Clutterbuck should be gone) Cizikas will benefit

Hudson Fasching - he had an unbelievable season for a no name call up two years ago but the magic is wearing off. Fasching would be much better in a regular fourth line role with Cizikas as opposed to playing on the second line

Matt Martin / Cal Clutterbuck - contracts expire at the end of 2023 and neither should be brought back. It is time to move on from ‘the best fourth line in hockey’

Defense:

Noah Dobson - he has arrived. Dobson is having a Norris trophy caliber season and an 8 year extension will be coming. He is a true #1 RD. Patrick Roy will help him round out his defensive game but the offense has not been a problem.

Alex Romanov - having an outstanding second year on Long Island. He has clearly settled in and finally developed chemistry with Dobson. They are the top pair for years to come

Ryan Pulock - he was having a fine year before the injury. He will probably be one of the better #3 defensemen in the entire NHL playing behind Dobson/Romanov. Pulock won’t be asked to do as much either which should in theory extend his career/leave tread on the tires

Adam Pelech - starting to get concerned with him. His injury history is no joke. Even aside from the two concussions he has been absolutely fragile the past few years. Pelech hasn’t been the shut down defenseman of the past. Hoping that he can stay healthy and reunited with Pulock on a second pair (Pelech was playing with Dobson for a while this year) should benefit him greatly

Mike Reilly - I think he is the clear cut LD3 on this team and should be kept on the cheap. Reilly can skate, run a second PP unit, and will put the puck on net any chance he can

Scott Mayfield - he was hurt in the first game of the year and hasn’t looked like himself at all. Losing guys in the defensive zone/getting pulled out of coverage, turnover machine, and taking too many penalties. Mayfield really needs to figure it out. If there is a team out there who would trade for him (and Scott would waive his NTC for) I would really consider it.

Sam Bolduc - a work in progress and probably is a 7D at best for now. Has nice size but gets overpowered all the time. Makes bad reads and turns over the puck too frequently. He could be LD3 in another 2 years.

Sebastian Aho - not a fan of his. He can’t stay on his feet, makes bad turnovers, and is undersized/gets manhandled. Mike Reilly made him instantly replaceable as LD3

Goalies:

Ilya Sorokin - has not been himself this year but Ilya set the bar so high his first two seasons. Needs to work on not letting in the bad/back breaking goals. Also he is pretty bad in shootouts which is laughable to me. Guy can make some of the most ridiculous, acrobatic saves but 1v1 he struggles. Ilya can steal a playoff series. We go as far as he can take us

Semyon Varlamov - the better goalie of this season so far for sure. Varly is a calm and steady presence in goal. His angles are great. Always in position. Need him to continue to help Sorokin with this. Just need Varly to stay healthy and provide 30ish starts per year

Staff:

Lou Lamoriello - I can’t see how Lou isn’t safe through next year if he was allowed to fire coaches and hire Patrick Roy without an interim tag. They will work together to build a roster who can play Roy’s system. Lou definitely needs to find a way to improve this summer. That may mean moving on from a core guy. I don’t expect Lou to sell. He is 81 years old. The team’s future is quite literally not going to be his problem

Patrick Roy - I love this guy. He is a more relatable Trotz. I believe he will get the room to buy in to his system and correct the mistakes we have been making. It will take time, but I’m glad he is here this season and can see them play up close. He will have an informed opinion to share with Lou over the summer about who is a fit and who is not

Doug Houda - needs to go. PK unit has been dreadful and there were some reports the players don’t like him. Hoping Patrick Roy gets some of his guys behind the bench next year

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Roster changes in this ACGM:

A Beauvillier return could be possible. He loved Long Island and Barzal is still his best friend. He hasn’t had any success since being traded (twice). Beau could come back to zero pressure on a prove it type deal and is able to bounce up/down the lineup (for example LW2 if Iskhakov isn’t ready or somewhere on the 3rd line) If he proves himself, he can get a long term contract the following season. Toffoli is a nice two way player who would bring a scoring touch to the top-6. Henrique is a Lou connection I could see being of interest on a longer term deal than he should probably get in order to keep the AAV down. Duclair was formerly coached by Roy and would inject some speed into the lineup. Vatrano is an addition from the previous deadline.

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