Who Is The Front-Runner For The Islanders' Final Forward Job?
There's a handful of players fighting for the final spot on the Islanders roster. Who's leading the pack after two preseason games?
EAST MEADOW, NY — Because of the New York Islanders’ salary-cap situation, general manager Lou Lamoriello only has room for a 22-man roster, which means there’s one less forward spot available.
With Simon Holmstrom on his way to winning the second-line left-wing job and Maxim Tsyplakov the clear-cut favorite to take home the open spot on the fourth line, here’s our depth forward ranking based on the two preseason games and a week of on-ice activity:
Liam Foudy
Julien Gauthier
Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin (PTO)
Oliver Wahlstrom
This doesn’t mean Foudy will be the last man standing when rosters are due at the NHL office on Oct. 7
Foudy, 24, has speed and a clear understanding of Roy’s system, the latter putting him over players like Gauthier and Wahlstrom. But there’s a past that can’t be ignored here.
Fasching, 29, got off to a rough start when Roy took over, struggling to stick in the lineup before and after dealing with a lower-body injury. But when the games mattered the most, Fasching heard his name called, playing up and down the Roy lineup.
In the first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Fasching played in four of the five games — he didn’t play in Game 2 with Roy trying Simon Holmstrom.
Out of all the players on this list, no one plays a stronger defensive game than Fasching — that’s if he’s healthy.
Photo: Kathryn Howell/New York Islanders
Fasching did get banged up in the preseason game against the New York Rangers but did practice on Wednesday. So, if he can stay healthy, given his compete level, defensive game, Roy’s trust in him, and his ability to tweak his game to fit a top-six role if need be, that makes him the likely candidate for the final job.
“I don't know who's gonna be in the lineup at this moment, but I will say this. Fasching has had a really good camp,” Roy said. “He came in and has been playing well, doing exactly what we've been asking for.
“I'm very pleased with what I've seen from him. I mean, I will say this right now: We have a lot of guys who have been playing very well, and I'm sure we’ll have to make a very tough decision in the end.”
Roy has also praised Gauthier’s performance, but given that his first impression last season led to a demotion on Jan. 25, he likely would need to be the clear-cut best player to get a chance over someone who stuck around.
When final cuts happen, all the players listed above, minus Martin, must pass through waivers before reporting to Bridgeport.
If the Islanders play their cards right and send down four of the five on a day where the waiver wire is heavy, there’s a chance all players clear.
But there’s also a chance that certain players, specifically Wahlstrom, get claimed.
Welcome to the business.
The Islanders have four preseason games remaining for someone to pull away from the pack and leave their mark. But at this moment, Fasching seems like the likely winner.
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Patrick Roy's Ilya Sorokin Injury Concern Level Remains At 'Zero'; Islanders Crease Game Plan To Start NHL Season
EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders star netminder Ilya Sorokin was expected to miss the first "day or two" of training camp.
But, after not joining the team skate on Wednesday, his absence has reached a full week.
"No news on him. He's been skating," Islanders head coach Parick Roy said. "That's all I have right now."
With the NHL season just over two weeks away, the fan base's concern is growing by the minute.
Read the rest at The Hockey News.
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The Islanders completed their home ice build-out on Wednesday, after UBS Arena served as home to the VMA’s last week.
OPENING NIGHT!
Pregame Fan Fest at The Park. Scarf giveaway for all fans presented by UBS. Alumni will make appearances!
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