Kelly: Gary, I've got one word for you: competition. The Islanders are heading into camp with more battles than a heavyweight title fight, and I'm not talking about the goalie crease, even though that's a mess too.
Gary: You're not wrong. This roster is stacked with depth, especially down the middle and on the back end. It's going to be a fascinating few weeks.
Kelly: Welcome back to Beatline, I'm Kelly, and as always, Gary's here with the sharpest takes in the game. Today we're breaking down the biggest roster battles, who's on the bubble, and what it all means for opening night.
Gary: We've talked about the goaltending and the center logjam in past mailbags, but this is the deep dive. We're going position by position.
Kelly: Three things coming at you: first, the center ice traffic jam. Then, the blue line puzzle. And finally, our predictions for who makes the cut and who's heading to Bridgeport.
Gary: Let's do it.
Kelly: Alright, let's start with the biggest logjam: center ice. The Isles have Barzal, Horvat, Pageau, Cizikas, Schenn, and rookie Calum Ritchie all listed as centers. That's six guys for four spots, maybe five if someone shifts to the wing.
Gary: Exactly. And that's not even counting guys like Kyle Palmieri who can play down the middle in a pinch. This is the most competitive group I've seen in years.
Kelly: So who's locked in? Barzal and Horvat are obvious, right? They're your top two.
Gary: No doubt. Barzal is coming off a monster season, and we've predicted he hits 90 points. Horvat is the ultimate two-way center. Those two are set.
Kelly: Then you've got Pageau and Cizikas. Pageau is your defensive zone start guy, penalty kill specialist. Cizikas is the heart and soul, energy line leader. Both are veterans who know the system.
Gary: Right, but here's the rub: Brayden Schenn came over in a trade, and he's used to playing top-six minutes. Is he going to accept a fourth-line role? And Calum Ritchie is knocking on the door hard.
Kelly: Ritchie is the wildcard. We predicted he makes the opening night roster, and I'm sticking with that. But where does he play? He's a natural center, but maybe he starts on the wing to get his feet wet.
Gary: That's the smart move. You don't want to rush a kid into the middle against NHL defensemen. Put him on the wing, let him use his speed and skill, and he can shift to center later.
Kelly: So what happens to Schenn? He's not going to be a healthy scratch. That would be a disaster for morale.
Gary: I think you have to trade him or move him to wing. He's still a productive player, but if Ritchie is ready, you can't block him. This is a good problem to have, but it's a problem nonetheless.
Kelly: And what about Kyle MacLean and Liam Foudy? They're both listed as centers too.
Gary: They're depth pieces. They'll be fighting for the 13th forward spot or a job in Bridgeport. It's a numbers game, and someone's going to be odd man out.
Kelly: So bottom line, the center battle is really about Schenn vs. Ritchie for that third-line spot, with Pageau and Cizikas locked in.
Gary: Exactly. And it's going to be the most watched storyline of camp. Stick with us, because next we're breaking down the blue line, and it's just as messy.
Kelly: Welcome back. The defensive corps is stacked. You've got Pelech, Pulock, Romanov, Mayfield, and then a bunch of new faces: Boqvist, DeAngelo, Bear, Kessel, George, Schaefer, Soucy. That's a lot of names.
Gary: It's a nice mix of veterans and youth, but there are only six or seven spots. Let's start with the locks: Pelech and Pulock are your top pairing. Romanov and Mayfield are also safe.
Kelly: That's four. Then you've got Soucy, who's a solid veteran, and DeAngelo who can run a power play. Boqvist is another offensive-minded guy. And don't forget about Matthew Schaefer, the rookie.
Gary: Schaefer is the future, but is he ready? He's young, and you don't want to rush him. Maybe he gets a nine-game trial and then goes back to junior or whatever.
Kelly: Isaiah George is another young guy who impressed last year. He's a smooth skater, good puck mover. He might push for a spot.
Gary: The battle here is really about the bottom pairing and the seventh defenseman. You've got Soucy, DeAngelo, Boqvist, George, Kessel, and Bear all fighting for maybe three spots.
Kelly: That's intense. And with the defenseman market resetting, as we talked about yesterday, teams are valuing offensive d-men more. DeAngelo and Boqvist bring that.
Gary: But can they defend? That's the question. You need guys who can kill penalties and handle the forecheck. Soucy and Mayfield are better in that regard.
Kelly: So what's the ideal opening night lineup? Pelech-Pulock, Romanov-Mayfield, and then Soucy-DeAngelo, with maybe Boqvist as the seventh?
Gary: That's plausible. But if Schaefer has a monster camp, he could force his way in. The coaching staff loves his upside. It's going to be a tough call.
Kelly: And the goaltending battle? We've talked about it before, but it's still unresolved. Sorokin, Varlamov, and Vanecek all on the roster.
Gary: Sorokin is the starter, no question. Varlamov is a great mentor, but he's aging. Vanecek is the wildcard. We've predicted Varlamov gets traded, and I still think that's the move.
Kelly: It's a tough business, but you need cap space and you have to give Vanecek a chance. That's a storyline to watch.
Gary: Right. Now let's talk about the forward group beyond the centers. You've got a ton of wingers: Duclair, Palat, Holmstrom, Maccelli, Eklund, Heineman, Jefferies, Finley, Chaffee, Luff. That's a lot of bodies.
Kelly: Paul, what's the hierarchy there? The top six seems set with Barzal, Horvat, and maybe Palmieri, plus Duclair and Palat as veterans.
Gary: I think Duclair and Palat are locks. They bring speed and experience. Then you have Holmstrom and Maccelli competing for top-nine roles. Eklund is an intriguing rookie from Sweden, he could surprise.
Kelly: What about Alex Jefferies? He's been in the system for a while. Is this his year?
Gary: He's trending up, but he's going to have to beat out some established guys. It's going to be a tough camp for him.
Kelly: So really, the forward battles are about the bottom six and the 13th forward. That's where you'll see some tough cuts.
Kelly: Alright, time for our predictions. We're going to call the roster cuts and who's trending up or down. Gary, you start.
Gary: I'll go with the biggest surprise: I think Calum Ritchie makes the team, but not as a center. He plays wing on the third line. That's my bold take.
Kelly: I like that. And I think Brayden Schenn gets traded before opening night. There's just no room for him.
Gary: I'll double down on that. Schenn is a good player, but he's a square peg in a round hole here. A contending team will give up assets for him.
Kelly: Now, who's trending up? I'd say Victor Eklund. He's a young winger with a lot of hype, and he could earn a top-nine role out of camp.
Gary: I'll go with Matthew Schaefer on defense. Even if he doesn't make the team, he's going to be the talk of camp. His skating is elite.
Kelly: And who's trending down? Maybe Semyon Varlamov. He's a legend, but with Vanecek pushing and the trade rumors, his days might be numbered.
Gary: I hate to say it, but yes. It's a business. And I think Ethan Bear might be the odd man out on defense. He's a solid pro, but the numbers game is brutal.
Kelly: So final roster prediction: 14 forwards, 7 defensemen, 2 goalies. Who are the extra guys?
Gary: I think Kyle MacLean and Matt Luff start in Bridgeport. They're good depth, but they're not going to crack the lineup unless there's an injury.
Kelly: And on defense, I think Adam Boqvist gets traded or sent down. He's too good to sit in the press box, but there's just no room.
Gary: One more prediction: I think the Islanders make a splash in the trade market before the season starts. They have too many assets, and they need to consolidate.
Kelly: I like that. And I'll predict that the Islanders finish top three in the Metro, like we said before. This roster is deep enough to make a run.
Kelly: Alright, that's our show. To recap: the center logjam is real, the blue line is crowded, and the goalie situation is a ticking time bomb. But this is a good problem to have.
Gary: If you enjoyed this, subscribe, rate, and review the show. Share it with your fellow Isles fans. We appreciate it.
Kelly: And remember, the season is almost here. Let's go Islanders!