With CapFriendly officially going dark, NHL fans have been forced to analyze their favorite team's depth chart in a different place. New York Islanders fans are accustomed to the mysterious ways of general manager Lou Lamoriello, so with the removal of CapFriendly, it's becoming increasingly difficult to assess the team's roster. That being said, pending more moves, what do the team's depth charts look like for the 2024-25 season?
Institution
The New York Islanders are one of the deepest teams in the NHL down the middle. They have six players expected to be on the NHL roster this coming season who are experienced centers. This list includes Bo Horvat, Mat Barzal, Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle MacLean. It is not yet known how head coach Patrick Roy will use these six forwards, but he is likely to use a similar system to last season when Barzal spent time on the right wing and MacLean was a mix between left wing and center. However, all six are able to face each other when called upon, giving the team a better advantage in the circle they face.
In the American Hockey League (AHL), the Bridgeport Islanders will be strengthening their center depth. Centers currently signed to NHL contracts include Fredrik Karlstrom, Liam Foudy, and Marc Gatcomb. Brian Pihno and Justin Gill signed American Hockey League contracts, and Gill is still tied to the New York Islanders organization as he was selected by the team in 2023. Cam Thiesling is also signed to an NHL contract but could be a depth piece in Bridgeport.
Missing from this list is Ruslan Iskhakov, who recently signed a contract with CSKA Moscow of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. The Islanders will retain his rights until he turns 27 years old after being offered a qualifying offer, although a return to North America is far from guaranteed.
Right Wing
The Islanders are stronger on the right wing than on the left wing. Assuming Barzal stays on the right side, he'll stay at the top of the depth chart. From there, the Islanders have Kyle Palmieri and Hudson Fasching both expected to start the season on the NHL roster.
Also, the Islanders have two free agents who can play right wing. The first is Simon Holmstrom, who has spent most of his NHL career on the right wing, although he has experience on both wings. Oliver Wahlstrom is a natural right wing, but his status with the Islanders is currently unknown. Given Lamoriello's comments about the 2024 NHL Draft and Wahlstrom's decision to settle his contract through arbitration, there's a good chance he'll be on a new team heading into the season.
Related: Islanders Signing Maxim Tsyplakov Shows Organizational Change
Like Holmstrom, recent signing Maxim Tsyplakov is left-handed and primarily plays on the right wing. The 25-year-old has never played in North America, so it's hard to say where he'll fit on the roster. Of course he will start the season in the middle of the sixth, but which side of the ice is still unknown.
In the AHL, Bridgeport will include Julien Gauthier, William Dufour, Matthew Maggio, and Tyce Thompson on the right wing. All four players spent time in the AHL last season, and three of them have played in the NHL, providing valuable depth at the position. Maggio is the only player among them who has yet to make his NHL debut.
Left Wing
The Islanders' left wing has two clear things and a lot of uncertainty. Newly signed Anthony Duclair will slot in as the starting linebacker, on the left side of Horvat and Barzal, with no changes. From there, captain Anders Lee will continue on the left wing, somewhere in the middle of the six. From here, it gets dicey.
Pierre Engvall was left on the right wing, perhaps because of his success on the left flank alongside Nelson and Palmieri. Separating Engvall's game from his teammates, he looks better on the right side, but his most successful line-up has been with Nelson and Palmieri when he plays on the left wing. Given the Islanders' depth at right wing, Engvall is likely to move back to left, barring any further trades or signings.
The fourth member of the left wing is likely to be a player who has already been named. The most likely candidate will be Holmstrom, who will be returning to his natural position. If Tsyplakov struggles in the middle six, the Islanders could use him there in a Cal Clutterbuck-esc role. MacLean could also return to the left wing, although it would make more sense to make him the club's Swiss army knife, 13th forward.
The Islanders also have Jesse Nurmi, Eetu Liukas, and Daylan Kueffler as options at left wing, though they will likely spend the rest of the season in the AHL. Alex Jefferies made his AHL debut last season and is expected to play in the top six for Bridgeport.
Left Defense
While the previous core was more complex, the defense was more cut and dry. The left side of the defense will see Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, and Mike Reilly as regulars in the lineup. Samuel Bolduc is likely to start the season as the team's seventh defenseman, either at center back or back or injured defender.
In the AHL, left defenseman Dennis Cholowski will be the first defenseman called up to the NHL should he suffer an injury. Isaiah George and Marshall Warren will be starting their professional careers in Bridgeport. It is uncertain whether Calle Odelius will return to Sweden or join Bridgeport this season, but he may not be part of the NHL next season. Travis Mitchell will also be on the left side as a deep defender for Bridgeport.
Right Defense
The right side of the defense will include Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock, and Scott Mayfield in the NHL. In the AHL, Grant Hutton and Aidan Fulp will be the only right defensemen to sign NHL contracts. Wyatt Newpower recently signed an AHL contract with Bridgeport and makes sense to be the team's third defenseman.
Setting goals for yourself
The goal depth chart is very clear. Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov will be NHL forwards. Marcus Hogberg with 42 games of NHL experience will be the first goaltender to be called upon in case of injury. Henrik Tikkanen and Jakub Skarek are expected to fight for ice time in Bridgeport, while Tristan Lennox will begin the season in the ECHL with the Worcester Railers.
From top to bottom, the Islanders' depth chart, including AHL signees and restricted free agents, looks like this:
Leaders:
Anthony Duclair* – Bo Horvat – Mat Barzal
Pierre Engvall* – Brock Nelson – Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Maxim Tysplakov*
Simon Holmstrom* – Casey Cizikas – Hudson Fasching
Alex Jefferies* – Kyle MacLean* – Oliver Wahlstrom
Tyce Thompson* – Liam Foudy- Matthew Maggio
Justin Gill* – Fredrik Karlstrom – William Dufour
Eetu Liukas – Brian Pihno – Marc Gatcomb*
EX: Cole Bardreau, Sam Asselin, Daylan Kueffler, Jesse Nurmi, Cam Thiesling
Defense:
Alexander Romanov ** – Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly** – Scott Mayfield
Samuel Bolduc – Grant Hutton
Calle Odelius – Dennis Cholowski**
Marshall Warren – Aidan Fulp
Plus: Isaiah George, Seth Helgeson**, Wyatt Newpower, Travis Mitchell
Benefit:
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
Marcus Hogberg
Henrik Tikkanen
Jakub Skarek
Tristan Lennox
Star players have time to split between the two forward positions. Two-star players have time to distinguish between the left and right sides of defensive pairings.
With Robin Salo, Otto Koivula, Karson Kuhlman, Reece Newkirk, Jackson Cates, and Tanner Fritz leaving Bridgeport, the Islanders have lost some depth. With much of the offseason remaining, there remains a need to bolster depth at left wing and right guard. However, there appears to be little improvement in depth from last season's lineup.
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