Kelly: You are looking at a center group that could fill a bus, and only four of them are guaranteed to be on the ice when the puck drops. Who makes the cut? Who gets sent down? And why is the goalie situation more complicated than a power-play entry into the offensive zone?
Gary: It’s not just about talent anymore, Kelly. It’s about fit, it’s about defensive reliability, and it’s about whether Mathew Barzal can actually hit that ninety-point mark with this much competition breathing down his neck.
Kelly: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, home of the New York Islanders daily coverage. I’m your host Kelly, joined by our lead analyst Gary. We are three days out from the preseason opener against Toronto, and the roster battles are heating up faster than a neutral-zone trap.
Gary: That’s right. If you missed yesterday’s deep dive into the defensive pairings and David Shuman’s ownership stake, you might want to rewind, because today we are getting tactical. We’re breaking down the three biggest positional battles that will define the Islanders’ opening night lineup.
Kelly: Here is what we have coming up. First, we tackle the most critical battle of camp: the center ice rotations. With nine centers on the roster, who is playing on the first line? Second, we look at the left wing logjam involving Victor Eklund and Emil Heineman. And third, we predict the final roster cuts and discuss if Ilya Sorokin has any real competition for the starting job.
Gary: And remember, last time we talked, we were pretty confident about Barzal hitting ninety points. Today, we see if that center depth supports that prediction or if it becomes a liability. Stick with us, because this one is going to get heated.
Kelly: Let’s jump straight into Segment One. The big question. Nine centers. Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, Kyle Palmieri, Liam Foudy, Kyle MacLean, Calum Ritchie, and Brayden Schenn. That is an embarrassment of riches, but also a logistical nightmare.
Gary: It is a logistical nightmare if you don’t manage the lines correctly. You have to look at this in terms of two-way play versus pure offense. Barzal and Horvat are your top-tier scorers, but they need protection. They need guys who can win faceoffs and kill penalties.
Kelly: So where does Pageau fit in? He’s the veteran presence, the faceoff specialist. But he’s thirty-five years old. Do you trust him to carry heavy minutes alongside Barzal, or do you move him to the second line?
Gary: I think Pageau stays on the second line, anchoring the middle. His faceoff percentage is crucial for stabilizing the neutral zone. But here is the kicker: who plays with him? Do you go with Cizikas for grit, or do you give Liam Foudy more ice time to develop his two-way game?
Kelly: Foudy is interesting. He’s young, he’s fast, but he’s still learning the defensive zone coverage required for this system. Meanwhile, you have Brayden Schenn. He brings size and experience, but is he still the player he was a few years ago?
Gary: Schenn is a puzzle piece. He can play center or wing, which gives the coach flexibility. But if he’s stuck on the fourth line, his impact diminishes. I think the real battle is between MacLean and Ritchie for those bottom-six spots. Ritchie has the upside, but MacLean has the NHL track record.
Kelly: And let’s not forget Kyle Palmieri. He’s listed as a center, but we all know he thrives on the wing. Does keeping him at center clog up the depth chart unnecessarily, or is there a strategic reason to keep him there?
Gary: It’s likely a front-office move to create trade value or flexibility. But on the ice, Palmieri belongs on the wing. If you keep him at center, you’re wasting his forechecking ability. The Islanders need speed up the middle, and Palmieri provides that when he’s moving laterally, not standing still in the slot.
Kelly: So my take is: Barzal-Horvat-Palmieri on one line, Pageau-Cizikas-Foudy on the second, and then a scramble for the third and fourth. Who do you think gets the nod for the third line pivot?
Gary: I’m going with Schenn. He needs to prove he can still contribute offensively, and playing with younger wingers like Alex Jefferies or Victor Eklund could spark something. But if Schenn struggles, Ritchie is knocking on the door hard.
Kelly: Alright, that sets the stage for the top six. But what happens to the guys who don’t make it? This is where the training camp performances matter most. Let’s move to Segment Two.
Kelly: Segment Two. The Left Wing Logjam. We have Anthony Duclair, Victor Eklund, Emil Heineman, and Alex Jefferies. Four players, limited spots. And then you have Ondrej Palat, who is technically a left wing but often shifts around.
Gary: Duclair is the clear number one. When healthy, he’s a twenty-goal scorer. But the injury history is always a concern. Then you have Eklund and Heineman, both high-end prospects. Eklund is Swedish, Heineman is Finnish. Both are skilled, creative wingers.
Kelly: But are they ready for the NHL grind? Eklund has been developing in Sweden, and Heineman is still finding his footing. Where does Alex Jefferies fit in? He’s got size, he’s got skill, but he’s inconsistent.
Gary: Jefferies is the wild card. If he can show consistent gap control and shot selection in camp, he could steal a spot. But right now, Eklund feels like the safer bet for long-term development. The Islanders are investing heavily in youth here.
Kelly: And what about Ondrej Palat? He’s experienced, he’s won cups, but he’s aging. Does he start on the second line with Pageau, or does he drop down to provide leadership on the third?
Gary: Palat should start on the second line. He brings a level of composure that Eklund and Heineman haven’t shown yet. He can handle tough matchups. But if Eklund catches fire in camp, Palat might find himself on the third line, mentoring the younger guys.
Kelly: So we have Duclair on the first, Palat on the second, and then a battle between Eklund, Heineman, and Jefferies for the remaining spots. What about the Right Wingers? Mitchell Chaffee, Quinn Finley, Simon Holmstrom, Matt Luff.
Gary: Chaffee is the most proven commodity. He’s gritty, he works hard, he fits the Islanders’ identity. Finley is young, raw, but has potential. Holmstrom is a former first-round pick who hasn’t quite taken the next step. Luff is a depth guy.
Kelly: Finley seems like the guy to watch. He’s got speed, he’s got hands. But can he defend? The Islanders pride themselves on their structure. If Finley can’t backcheck, he’s not going to last long.
Gary: Exactly. Structure is everything here. Finley needs to show he can kill penalties and support the defensemen in the neutral zone. If he can’t, Chaffee holds the spot. Holmstrom is the long shot, unless he turns things around quickly.
Kelly: Alright, so Chaffee is locked in, Finley is the challenger, and Holmstrom is on thin ice. Now, let’s talk about the blue line. We have Ethan Bear, Adam Boqvist, Tony DeAngelo, Isaiah George, Matthew Kessel, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Alexander Romanov, Matthew Schaefer, Carson Soucy.
Gary: That is eleven defensemen. Only six or seven will make the team. Mayfield and Pelech are your anchors. Pulock is your offensive catalyst. Romanov is the volatile piece. And then you have a bunch of players fighting for the last two spots.
Kelly: DeAngelo is the elephant in the room. He has talent, but the off-ice issues never fully disappear. Is he safe? Or is Boqvist pushing him hard?
Gary: Boqvist is playing well, but DeAngelo’s experience is valuable. However, if DeAngelo shows up late or distracted, Boqvist takes the spot. It’s a performance-based decision. Same with Romanov. If he’s disciplined, he stays. If he gets penalized, he goes.
Kelly: So it’s not just about who skates fastest. It’s about who shows up every day, focused and ready. That brings us to Segment Three. The Goalies. Ilya Sorokin, Vitek Vanecek, Semyon Varlamov. Three netminders. Who starts?
Kelly: Segment Three. Roster Cut Predictions. We’ve talked about the forwards and defensemen, but the goalie battle is unique. Sorokin is the starter. No doubt. But who backs him up? Vanecek or Varlamov?
Gary: Varlamov is the veteran backup. He’s been through wars. He knows the system. Vanecek is younger, maybe has more upside, but Varlamov’s consistency is reassuring. If I were the coach, I’d start with Varlamov unless Vanecek dominates camp.
Kelly: But what about the other guys? Who gets sent down to Bridgeport? I’m looking at Matthew Kessel, Isaiah George, and Matthew Schaefer on defense. And maybe Holmstrom or Luff on forward.
Gary: Kessel and George are likely candidates. They’re young, they need development time. Schaefer might stick if he impresses in special teams situations. On forward, Holmstrom is the most likely to go. He’s a former first-rounder, but the window is closing.
Kelly: And what about Brayden Schenn? If he doesn’t make the top six centers, does he get traded? Or does he accept a fourth-line role?
Gary: If he accepts the fourth line, he stays. He’s a professional. But if he demands a trade, the Islanders might listen. They have too many centers. They might package him with a prospect to address another need.
Kelly: So, final predictions. Top line: Barzal, Horvat, Palmieri. Second line: Pageau, Cizikas, Foudy. Third line: Schenn, Eklund, Chaffee. Fourth line: Ritchie, Heineman, Jefferies. Defense: Mayfield-Pelech, Pulock-Romanov, DeAngelo-Bqvist. Goalies: Sorokin, Varlamov.
Gary: I agree with most of that. Maybe I swap Schenn for MacLean on the third line, but otherwise, it’s solid. The key is how Barzal performs. If he hits those ninety points, this team wins ninety-five games, just like we predicted.
Kelly: Ninety-five to ninety-eight wins. That’s the bar. And if they don’t hit it, who takes the blame? The coaching staff? The management? Or is it just bad luck with injuries?
Gary: Bad luck is always a factor, but preparation isn’t. If the center depth isn’t managed correctly, the top line gets exposed. That’s on the coaches. They have to balance offense with defense.
Kelly: Well, there you have it. The Islanders’ roster battles are set, the predictions are made, and the Navy Lighthouse jersey is waiting for the fans to vote. We’ll be back tomorrow to break down the preseason opener against Toronto.
Gary: Make sure you subscribe, rate, and review. Share this episode with your fellow Islander fans. Let’s keep the conversation going.
Kelly: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Isles!