Good Morning, Islanders Country.
The time for experimenting is almost over.
The Isles trimmed their training camp roster and practiced for the first time as one group on Sunday. The camp operated with three groups of 57 players rotating during practice. The roster moves led to familiar faces seeing more of each other on the ice for the first time in weeks.
"I was joking with a couple guys this morning that I haven't seen them in over a week, with the groups split up with like that," defenseman Ryan Pulock said on Sunday morning via NewYorkIslanders.com. "It was nice today to all be together, get the whole group on the ice, really focusing in on opening night."
While most of the roster can focus on Oct. 10 vs Utah, head coach Patrick Roy needs to focus on the battle for the final roster spot(s). And to do so, he’ll be rolling out realistic lines in the final two season games as Oliver Wahlstrom, Simon Holmstrom, Hudson Fasching, and Julien Gauthier, among others, make their case to stick with the NHL roster as 13th forward.
Roy has been complimentary of all at different points at camp, leaving the likelihood that roles can be won or lost during the final two preseason games.
"I think these two [next] exhibition games are important in that regard, to see how everybody will fit in and be comfortable with the role that we need them for," Roy said on Sunday. "Not only that, but also see if we could maintain that intensity level using those four lines."
For some, like Gauthier, not making the team would simply mean starting the season in Bridgeport, while for others, like Wahlstrom, it could signal the end of their Islander careers. Meanwhile, Matt Martin is hoping to extend his NHL career. It’s high stakes for a handful of players in otherwise meaningless games.
Let’s dive in.
📰 NEWS: The Isles made all the expected transactions on Sunday with no surprises. Forwards William Dufour, Marc Gatcomb, Alex Jefferies, Eetu Liukas, Matthew Maggio, and Camden Thiesing. On defense, Aidan Fulp, Isaiah George, Travis Mitchell, Calle Odelius, Marshall Warren, and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen were loaned to Bridgeport. Forward Tyce Thompson cleared waivers on Sunday afternoon. Liam Foudy, Fredrik Karlstrom, and Samuel Bolduc remain on the roster (for now), and both Matt Martin and Keith Kinkaid remain on their PTOs (Professional Tryout).
Max Opportunity
Maxim Tsyplakov is earning a promotion, not only from the KHL to the NHL, but also an opportunity to skate on the Islanders’ second line alongside 30-goal scorers Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson. It’s been long understood that the Islanders signed the 26-year-old to a one-year deal to be a contributor at the NHL level, but the thought was that would most likely happen in a bottom-six role.
Now, there’s a chance he will ascend to a top-six role by opening night, thanks to an impressive training camp. "He's got size, he's skating well, he moves the puck well, makes plays, defends pretty well," Patrick Roy said today at training camp. "That's why we took our time with him. We didn't rush him into any role."
It’ll be a steep transition for Tsyplakov, but also for his potentially new linemates to play with a winger they are unfamiliar with and is adapting to life in North America on and off the ice. “Trying to think about yourself in his shoes and how different a transition that would be and how hard that would be,” Nelson said. “He does a pretty good job of asking questions and trying to learn and take as much in as he can.”
⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders take on the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, with a face-off scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT. The team will close out its pre-season schedule on Friday, Oct. 4, against the New York Rangers.
Turning Point
Ten years ago, the National Hockey League's board of governors approved the sale of the Isles to Jon Ledecky and Scott Malkin. Under the terms of the agreement, which was announced the previous month, current owner Charles Wang continued as majority owner until 2016. Their ownership was a turning point for the franchise, leading to the development of UBS Arena at Belmont Park, after the organization's financial stability was questioned for decades.
📚 SOUND SMART: There was plenty of ownership life before the Islanders for Jon Ledecky. He nearly purchased a share of the Cincinnati Reds before getting his bid matched and also bid on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Eventually, he partnered with America Online executive Ted Leonsis to found Lincoln Holdings, which purchased the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and a minor share of the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards.
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On Sept. 30, 1999, Kenny Jonsson was named the eighth captain in team history, taking over the C after the departure of Trevor Linden.
Jonsson held the captaincy until Nov. 18, 2000, with a team record of 30-55-13.
The Swedish defenseman recorded 31 points (2G, 29A) as Islanders captain before relinquishing the role early in the 2000-01 campaign. During his 597 games with the Islanders, Jonsson recorded 232 points (57G, 175A) and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2012.
🎧 Islanders Anxiety: The Cynic’s Guide to Preseason Hockey “Mike and Dan "recap" the Islanders preseason so far including roster spot battles, empty intrigue and the mystery of Ilya Sorokin's status. With about 60% of their exhibition games over (of which Mike has watched zero minutes of, per his standard policy), the Islanders' are shaping up along expected lines.”
🔗 Islanders promote Maxim Tsyplakov to second line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri by Andrew Gross, Newsday “The second-line center saw more of Tsyplakov firsthand during Sunday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow as coach Patrick Roy elevated the Russian import to skate with Nelson and right wing Kyle Palmieri. That trio likely will start together when the Islanders face the Flyers on Monday night at UBS Arena in their fifth of six preseason games.”
🔗 Matt Martin taking things day by day as NY Islanders roster decisions loom via Eyes on Isles “The veteran forward, in training camp on a PTO, is among the players waiting to learn their fate as opening night roster decisions are made in the coming days”
And we leave you with this…the Islanders Wordmark basketball-style black jersey that debuted in 2011-12 is among the sweaters the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast is considering as the WOAT (Worst of All-Time), and we can’t argue with them!
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