Islanders Musing: Who fits where?

[New York Islanders]

Islanders Musing: Who fits where?

As we wait for rookie camp and proper training camp, the evergreen debate is: who makes the team and who plays where?

Some variables include Semyon Varlamov’s health, Mat Barzal’s position (and Jonathan Drouin’s, if the hoped-for chemistry with Bo Horvat doesn’t ignite…and Casey Cizikas’, if his late-last-season shift continues) and Matthew Schaefer’s near future.

THN had a post on this topic and it’s been debated plenty in comments lately here, but you can look at it in a few areas:

Who are the Centers?

Barzal is a candidate to move back to his original position as the Isles discussed a desire for Drouin to setup Horvat at center. But at his signing, the Isles mentioned Drouin’s ability to play center and wing, and of course Barzal is in that same boat.

Meanwhile, Casey Cizikas played his share at wing down the stretch, and the last survivor from the Best Fourth Line in Hockey is getting older.

And then over here you have Kyle MacLean.

Who are the Defensemen?

Tony DeAngelo and Adam Boqvist are the returnees from the crop of mid-season emergency signings/waiver claims. Scott Mayfield was scratched plenty down the stretch so he should not be considered a lock in the regular lineup.

After Alex Romanov, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech and DeAngelo, who are the other regulars? Boqvist and Mayfield will almost certainly be on the NHL roster if not every-night players, and Schaefer will of course get his shot to stick.

Other wild cards are Isaiah George, who started really well last season under emergency conditions before fading, and perhaps former NHL regular Ethan Bear, who’s on a two-way deal.

Who are the Extra Forwards?

Is MacLean here? Does Marc Gatcomb retain that energy/grateful-to-be-here extra forward role? Do Pierre Engvall and/or Anthony Duclair return to the doghouse and create extra openings?

Even if you’re not big on the Isles’ offseason, the additions of Emil Heineman in the Noah Dobson trade and Max Shabanov via KHL import means there are two new should-be regulars who should make the fringes of the forward lineup less depressing.

How is the Goalie Load?

Varlamov is rehabbing and old. What are the odds of him returning healthy? If he does, what’s the over/under on his games played? David Rittich, from Jihlava, Czechia, is ready to be backup at age 32, and he’s coming off career highs and lows in save percentage over the past two seasons. The Islanders cannot afford to run Ilya Sorokin into the ground, so they’ll need Rittich to not be so Hogberg-y (2024-25 save percentages: Rittich, .886, Hogberg, .878).

On this Day ​

In 2020: Having dispatched the Panthers in the pandemic play-in round, the Barry Trotz-led Islanders prepared to meet the Washington Capitals in the first round/round of 16. In the Toronto bubble, the Islanders would win Game 1, 4-2, and finish out the series with a 4-0 win in Game 5.

Source: https://www.lighthousehockey.com/islanders-news-headlines/42722/islanders-musing-who-fits-where