Projections: Goalies

Today, we move on to the netminders:

1) Ilya Sorokin

30 wins

20 loses 

5 OTL

2.60 GAA 

.912 save %

Sorokin is probably the most important guy on the Islanders.  His first 3 seasons with the Islanders were nothing short of extraordinary!  However, his last two he has come back to earth some and been more human.  If the Islanders want to get where they want to be, they need him to return to the play we saw in the first three years and less of the last two.  Can he do it?  Only time will tell.

2) David Rittich

12 wins

8 loses

5 OTL

2.70 GAA

.907 save %

Rittich is a very serviceable back up and should be a great improvement over Marcus Hogberg from last season.  

An obvious omission here is Semyon Varlamov.  Unfortunately for Varlamov, I don't think we will see him in an Islanders sweater again due to injury.  Signing Rittich was very smart giving us insurance for that.  Varlamov has been a terrific Islander and I wish him nothing but the best in his recoveries.

Bailey Clutterbuck To Host Alternate Style Broadcasts This Season

Today, the Islanders announced that former teammates Josh Bailey and Cal Clutterbuck will be hosting an alternate style broadcast for select nationally televised Islanders games this season.  Inspired by the "Manning-Cast" Monday night football broadcasts, this is a great idea for the team to standout in a tremendously crowded sports market.  For more information, you can check out the article on the teams website here.

I have to say, seeing all these changes and creative new ideas from the Islanders is so refreshing as they move into the modern times and out of the stone age they were in under Lou.

Radio Broadcasts Are Back...Well Sorta

Earlier this summer, the Islanders made some not so good headlines when they announced that radio broadcasters Chris King & Greg Picker would not be returning for this upcoming season.  They announced that instead of having a standalone radio broadcast that the TV broadcast would be simulcast on the radio.

Before we continue, the dismissal of King & Picker was a tough pill to swallow for fans who have grown to really enjoy their broadcasts.  Pickers dad Mike Picker was a long time Islanders executive under Charles Wang.  Picker had been partnered with King since 2013 and had really grown into the role in that time and they made a terrific team.  

King had been part of Islanders radio broadcasts since all the way back in 1998.  I remember going to post game shows downstairs at the Coliseum give or take 15 years ago with Chris King & then partner Steve Mears.  Hes been apart of the fabric of the team for so long off the ice.  His enthusiastic calls and the passion he had for the team will be severely missed.

In a surprise, the Islanders announced earlier today that Bridgeport commentator and fill in TV commentator Alan Fuehring would have the radio job this upcoming season.  Well, except if he is filling in on TV, in that instance then the TV broadcast will be simulcast on radio.  Bridgeport will announce a replacement for Fuehring in the next few days, according to Neil Best from Newsday.

While Picker & King will be severely missed, I am glad the Islanders changed their stance on completely doing away with radio alone broadcasts.

Projections: Top 6 Defensemen

Today, we move on to the top 6 defenseman, again, in no particular order.

1) Alexander Romanov

6 goals

18 assists

24 points

The recipient of a new long term deal, Romanov really grew a lot last season.  I expect that to continue this year as his new contract starts as he further cements himself as a top pairing d-man not only for us but around the league.

2) Adam Pelech

2 goals

18 assists

20 points

The most important thing for Pelech this year is staying healthy.  Three seasons in a row now Pelech has dealt with major injuries that have caused him to miss a significant portion of the season.  After we drafted Schafer I saw some saying that Pelech could be a sort of mentor for him since they play the same side.  The way that will be most effective is if Pelech is able to stay healthy.

3) Tony Deangelo

10 goals

30 assists

40 points

A pleasant surprise last season, Deangelo really earned his extension in the 35 games he played here after we signed him.  With Dobson gone, there will be ample time on the power play available for him.  While his play in his own zone may leave some to be desired, I feel like these numbers will be well within reach for him.

4) Ryan Pulock

5 goals

20 assists

25 points

One of the biggest mysteries in recent years is the lack of offense in Pulocks game.  He showed a lot of it early in his career but then it just fell off a cliff.  With the offense falling off a cliff, being a shut down pair with Pelech carried him for a few years.  But as they have gotten older that has started to slide to.  Hopefully, one of those things is able to resurrect itself this year and by these projections im betting on the defensive play.

5) Scott Mayfield

3 goals

10 assists

13 points

It is no secret, I am not a Mayfield fan.  But more times then not he will be in there for us.  Hopefully, the change in play style will cause Mayfield to enter a time machine and become more effective.

6) Matthew Schafer

1 goal *

2 assists *

3 points *

*assuming he gets the 9 game try out and then goes back to Juniors.

It seems generally accepted that Schafer is likely to get a 9 game look for the Islanders to start the season.  I would love for him to impress enough to stay here the entire season.  If he does that he could turn into a real xfactor for us.  However, with him being so young, one of the youngest in the entire draft, I feel like going back to Juniors for a full season is more likely.

7) Ethan Bear

2 goals

6 assists

8 points

Assuming Schafer gets the 9 game look and then goes back to Juniors, I feel like Bear will be the guy who gets a lot of playing time.  

Projections: Bottom 6 Fowards

Today, I am going to move on to who I expect the bottom 6 forwards to be when camp breaks for the Islanders.  (in no particular order)

1) JG Pageau

13 goals

26 assists

39 points

Pageau has been a terrific Islander since being acquired by Lou at the deadline in 2020 right before Covid.  He is known more so for his faceoff and PK prowess then his offensive production but is still an extremely useful player.  His PK pairing with Simon Holmstrom is capable of some great things out on the ice.  If things don't go the Islanders way this season, I fully expect him to be moved at the trade deadline as he heads to free agency next summer.

2) Anthony Duclair

18 goals

16 assists

34 points

In what can be best described as a year to forget for Duclair hes looking for a big rebound in year 2 with the Islanders.  He has reportedly mended fences with Patrick Roy after a rocky ending to last season and if he stays healthy I feel like these numbers are well within reach for him.

3) Maxim Shabanov

20 goals

25 assists

45 points

If his game is able to translate from Russia, Shabanov could be a sneaky great pick up for the Islanders.  I feel like the Islanders abundant amount of Russian players could help comfort him as he arrives here which could be beneficial.  With his natural skill plus getting time on the power play I feel like these numbers are realistic for him.

4) Maxim Tsplakov

12 goals 

27 assists

39 points

I would love to see Tsyplakov continue to grow his game this year after an up and down season last year.  A big flaw for him last season was lack of discipline/hockey sense.  With a season under his belt now in North America hopefully we see strides in that area this season.

5) Casey Cizikas

9 goals

11 assists

20 points

Casey has long been part of the heartbeat of the Islanders.  With some new linemates this season and playing a new system it will be interesting to see how it impacts his production levels.

6) Emil Heineman

14 goals

10 assists

24 points

Acquired in the Dobson trade back in June, Heineman will be an interesting guy to watch this year.  Its been reported that the Islanders were adamant about him being included in the Dobson deal so obviously they saw a lot of potential in him.  Seeing how he gels with the guys here will definitely be something to watch as the season rolls on.

Coming next week: Top 6 Defensemen

Projections: Top 6 Forwards

As the season gets closer I am going to start doing some projections for the roster I expect to break training camp for the Islanders.  Today I am going to start with top 6 forwards (in no particular order):

1) Bo Horvat

33 goals

32 assists

65 points

Anyone that watches the Islanders know if they want to have success this season, Horvat needs to be one of the principle guys producing on offense.  Given his salary I would like to see a higher level production out of him but when looking at his career progression this would be a very solid season for him.

2) Mathew Barzal

18 goals

42 assists

60 points

This is of course assuming Barzal can stay healthy.  Two of the last three seasons Barzal has dealt with serious injuries including last season missing over half the season.  With him returning to center this year full time after transitioning to wing once we acquired Horvat it will be interesting to see what that does to his production and overall level of play.

3) Jonathan Drouin

12 goals

33 assists

45 points

The surprise move of the off season, I don't think anyone saw us signing Drouin as a free agent.  Much like Barzal, these stats are assuming hes able to stay healthy because like Barzal he has dealt with injury issues in recent years.  However he has always had a lot of skill and played with pace which is something Patrick Roy & new man in charge Mathieu Darche wanted to emphasize.  Plus he has some history with our announce team already as well.

4) Anders Lee

25 goals

21 assists

46 points

Lee had a tremendous season last year, however, another year older I have skepticism that he will be able to once again reach those numbers.  However, this would still be a solid season in perhaps his last as an Islander as he is set to become a free agent next summer.

5) Kyle Palmieri

23 goals

21 assists

44 points

I am not going to lie, I was disappointed we kept Palmieri.  I think Lou made a mistake not trading him at the deadline last season.  He's been a steady Islander for a few years now after dealing with some injury issues when he first arrived.  However, he is not getting any younger and I thought it was time to free that spot in the lineup up as we transition from the bubble teams to a newer core.

6) Simon Holmstrom

25 goals

25 assists

50 points

Nobody burst on the scene last season more then Simon Holmstrom.  Holmstrom set a career high in goals and assists last season.  Additionally, made a very formidable PK pair with JG Pageau.  I expect Holmstrom to take another step forward this season and build on last years success.

Islanders Sign 2nd Round Pick Prokhorov To 3 Year ELC

The Islanders announced today that they signed 2025 2nd round pick Daniil Prokhorov to a 3 year entry level contract.

In 43 games last year in the MHL in Russia, Prokhorov had 20 goals and 7 assists.  But not only that, he was never afraid to use his body to gain an advantage over the opposition.  As we know, being comfortable doing that isn't always the case for bigger players, see Pierre Engvall.

Prokhorov was one of the standouts at this past July's prospect camp not just because of his size 6'6 but his fun personality.  Most notably, this includes starting chants with fans after coming off the ice.   

It should be fun to see how his game translates now that he will be coming to play in North America and how his career progresses.