Only a few weeks remain until New York Islanders hockey is back.
Training camp is right around the corner, preseason games will be here before you know it, and we’ll soon start getting answers to many of the questions that have defined the offseason.
Until then, Free Friday will continue to be your weekly New York Islanders mailbag, where your questions take center stage.
Let’s get to this week’s questions!
Question 1: Can Mathew Barzal Have A Career Season?
ROSNER: When it comes to point totals for Mathew Barzal, or really any playmaking forward, a lot of it comes down to whether his linemates can bury the chances he creates.
While we don’t know who No. 13 will play with, we do know that he’ll be back at center ice. That should mean having the puck on his stick more instead of waiting for it, which should bode well for his chances of increasing his point total.
And yes, Isles Den, you bring up a great point. Barzal had 72 points last season coming off a major knee injury, and he told me he was still dealing with it and managing it throughout the season.
I think he’s going to play with Cal Ritchie again, and if the youngster can pick up where he left off, I think the two can have a strong campaign together. Matthew Schaefer is only going to get better, too, and one would think head coach Pete DeBoer will have Barzal and Schaefer on the ice together as much as possible.
I won’t say it’s delusional to think Barzal can be a point-per-game player. He can get there. But for that to happen, the power play has to be better. He did have 18 power-play assists last year, but just two goals.
Question 2: Will Darche Address The Lack of Physicality?
ROSNER: I don’t see Darche adding to this roster. The Islanders, who already lacked some physicality, lost a big physical presence in Anders Lee.
However, Alexander Romanov is returning from injury and is arguably the team’s best momentum-shifting physical player. Despite the complaints about Brayden Schenn, he brings a physical presence, too, while Emil Heineman finished last season with 247 hits, leading the Islanders and sitting fifth in the league in hits.
Those are the players the Islanders will rely on to bring that physicality and toughness until Daniil Prokhorov and Kashawn Aitcheson are ready.
Question 3: Whose Contract Was Alexander Romanov’s?
ROSNER: While former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello had the framework done for Kyle Palmieri’s contract before he left his office — the deal wasn’t 100 percent done, but it was very close — the Alexander Romanov deal belongs to Mathieu Darche.
Darche gave the physical blueliner an eight-year deal worth $6.25 million annually shortly after Noah Dobson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
Because of that commitment, there’s a ton of pressure on Romanov to bounce back after a tough start to the 2025-26 season, one that ended in November because of a season-ending shoulder injury.
His full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, 2027, which makes this season an important one for both Romanov and the Islanders.
There are also young left-handed defensemen coming. Isaiah George will be pushing for a full-time NHL role this season, while Kashawn Aitcheson could be doing the same a year from now.
The Islanders need Romanov to bounce back. If he does, great. If he doesn’t, Darche could have a difficult decision to make before that no-trade clause kicks in.
Question 4: How Does Varlamov Impact the Islanders’ Success?
ROSNER: Like most, I didn’t think it was remotely possible that Semyon Varlamov could make an NHL return after undergoing double knee surgery. But I’ve monitored his on-ice work since he first got back on the ice through his rehab starts in Bridgeport, and I have to say, he looks very strong.
He went 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and a .939 SV% in two Bridgeport starts, stopping 46 of 49.
The hope is that he can make 25-30 starts, but I think it will be more of a game-by-game situation to see how he feels and, more importantly, how his body recovers. That’s also why the Islanders signed Vitek Vanecek as insurance.
Since Varlamov went down, the Islanders haven’t been able to trust their backup enough. Whether it was Marcus Hogberg in 2024-25 or David Rittich in 2025-26, their struggles in the second half of their respective seasons prevented Patrick Roy from trusting them enough, ultimately leading to Ilya Sorokin being run into the ground.
So, I’d say if Pete DeBoer can trust Varlamov, especially early in the season, that bodes incredibly well for Sorokin and the team.
And if Varlamov plays well enough to give Sorokin the rest he needs, the Islanders should be a playoff team in what’s still a shaky Metropolitan Division.
Question 5: Why Doesn’t Heineman Get More Appreciation?
ROSNER: I think the reason Emil Heineman gets underappreciated is because of optics. He was thrown on the first line with Bo Horvat right away and played extremely well offensively. But when the offense became harder to come by, it became clear that he’s likely not a first-line player in the NHL and probably not a top-six player.
His bread and butter is his physicality, and those types of players tend to be underappreciated.
I personally think he’s best suited for the Islanders’ fourth line, and that’s not a knock on him. Victor Eklund is likely to make the team. The Islanders added Matias Maccelli. Brayden Schenn will be in the top nine. Kyle Palmieri is returning. There are only so many spots to go around.
The Islanders didn’t have a stable fourth line or a consistent identity there last season, and I think Heineman, alongside Casey Cizikas, can help change that and make this team harder to play against.
Question 6: What’s Happening With The Park?
ROSNER: Because of the construction, there will be something for fans to do pregame, but there’s no information to share on exactly what that will look like at this time.
But don’t worry. The Islanders loved the turnout at The Park and will make sure those same pregame vibes carry over to venues outside UBS Arena.
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Marty Schupak
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