Kelly: The Islanders have more centers than they know what to do with, and one of them is about to get squeezed out. That's today's big question.
Gary: And it's not just up front. The blue line has a logjam too, and someone's going to be watching from the press box.
Kelly: Welcome back to Beatline, the New York Islanders daily podcast. I'm Kelly, and alongside me is the sharpest hockey mind we know, Gary. We are deep in the dog days of August, but training camp is right around the corner.
Gary: And we're breaking down the biggest roster battles that will define this team's opening night roster.
Kelly: Here's what's coming up: first, the most critical battle of all, the center ice logjam. Then, we'll get into the goaltending and blue line competitions. And finally, we'll make our roster cut predictions and tell you who's trending up and who's trending down.
Gary: Stick around, because we're about to get into it.
Kelly: Alright Gary, let's start with the biggest elephant in the room. The Islanders have a ton of centers. We're talking Barzal, Horvat, Pageau, Cizikas, Schenn, Ritchie, and even MacLean. That's seven guys for maybe four spots. How does that shake out?
Gary: It's a good problem to have, but it's a real problem. You've got your top two locked in with Barzal and Horvat. Pageau is a lock as the third-line center and penalty kill anchor. So the real battle is for the fourth line center spot and whether some of these guys can play the wing.
Kelly: Casey Cizikas has been the heartbeat of that fourth line for years. Is there any chance he gets pushed out?
Gary: Cizikas is a culture guy, but his cap hit is a bit high for a fourth liner. However, he's still effective in that role. The real threat is Calum Ritchie. He's a young guy with offensive upside, and if he has a strong camp, he could force the issue.
Kelly: Ritchie is a name we've been hearing a lot about. What does he need to do to crack the lineup?
Gary: He needs to show he can be responsible defensively and win faceoffs. If he does that, he could be the third-line center and push Pageau to the wing, or he could center the fourth line and Cizikas becomes a scratch. It's a tough call.
Kelly: And what about Brayden Schenn? He's a veteran, he just came over. Does he have a spot?
Gary: Schenn brings grit and leadership, but he's not the player he once was. He might be better suited for the wing, but there's a logjam there too. He's a prime candidate for a depth role or even a trade if the young guys outplay him.
Kelly: So who do you think wins the fourth line center job? Cizikas or Ritchie?
Gary: I'm leaning towards Ritchie, just because the team needs to get younger and faster. But Cizikas isn't going to go down without a fight. This is going to be the most competitive battle in camp.
Kelly: And don't forget Kyle MacLean, he's been a solid energy guy too. It's a real logjam. We'll keep an eye on that one.
Gary: Exactly. It's going to be a fascinating camp.
Kelly: Alright, let's switch gears to the goaltending. We've got three goalies on the roster: Sorokin, Varlamov, and Vanecek. That's a crowded crease. What's the plan there?
Gary: Sorokin is the undisputed number one. The question is who backs him up. Varlamov has been a loyal soldier, but he's getting older. Vanecek is younger and could be the future backup. This is a classic battle between loyalty and upside.
Kelly: We talked about the goalie rotation yesterday, and you mentioned the team might carry three goalies to start the season. Is that realistic?
Gary: You can do that if you're willing to carry a 22-man roster elsewhere, but it's tough. More likely, they'll trade one or send someone to waivers. Varlamov has a modified no-trade clause, so it's not easy to move him.
Kelly: So who do you think ends up as the backup?
Gary: I'd give the edge to Vanecek because he's younger and cheaper. But Varlamov is a proven playoff performer. It's a tough call.
Kelly: Moving to the blue line, we have Pulock, Pelech, Romanov, Mayfield, Dobson, and then guys like Boqvist, DeAngelo, and Soucy. That's a lot of defensemen. Who's on the outside looking in?
Gary: You've got your top four locked in with Pelech, Pulock, Romanov, and Dobson. The bottom pairing is up for grabs. Mayfield is a veteran, but he's been inconsistent. Boqvist and DeAngelo are offensive-minded, but they can be defensive liabilities. Soucy is a steady, physical presence.
Kelly: So what's the ideal third pairing? A shutdown guy and an offensive guy?
Gary: You'd like that balance. If DeAngelo can play with a responsible partner, he could be a power-play weapon. But he needs to show he can be trusted in his own zone. I think Soucy and DeAngelo could be a good pairing, with Mayfield and Boqvist as extras.
Kelly: And don't forget about Matthew Schaefer, the rookie. He's been turning heads.
Gary: Schaefer is the future. He might not be ready for the NHL yet, but he's going to push for a spot. If he has a great camp, he could force the team to make a trade. That's a good problem to have.
Kelly: So the blue line is a real competition. We'll see who steps up.
Kelly: Alright, time for our roster cut predictions. Gary, who's trending up and who's trending down as we head into camp?
Gary: Trending up has to be Calum Ritchie. He's young, hungry, and has the skill to push for a top-nine role. I also like Victor Eklund, the young winger. He could surprise people and earn a bottom-six spot.
Kelly: And trending down? I'd say Brayden Schenn. He's a veteran, but he's lost a step. He might be a healthy scratch more often than not.
Gary: I agree. Also, I think Mayfield is trending down. He's been a steady defenseman, but if the young guys outplay him, he could be the odd man out.
Kelly: So who makes the opening night roster? Give me your bold prediction.
Gary: I think Ritchie forces his way onto the roster, and they move Cizikas to the wing. On defense, they carry eight, with DeAngelo and Soucy as the third pairing, and Mayfield becomes the seventh. And in net, they trade Varlamov to open up a spot for Vanecek.
Kelly: That's bold. I think they might keep three goalies for a while, but I agree that Ritchie makes it. I also think Matias Maccelli has a strong camp and earns a top-six wing spot.
Gary: Maccelli is a sneaky good player. He could be a steal.
Kelly: Alright, let's wrap it up with our final thoughts. Gary, what's the one thing you're watching for when camp opens?
Gary: The chemistry on the top line. With Barzal and Horvat, who plays on the wings? We've got a lot of options, and it's going to be interesting to see who clicks.
Kelly: And I'm watching the goaltending battle. Whoever wins that backup job is going to be important for the team's success.
Kelly: That's our show for today. We talked about the center logjam, the goaltending and blue line battles, and who's making the cut. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review Beatline, and share this episode with a fellow Islanders fan.
Gary: And as always, let's go Islanders!