Kelly: If you have nine centers and only six spots on the ice, how do you actually win hockey? That is the question echoing through Nassau right now.
Gary: It’s a roster construction puzzle that has coaches up at night and fans debating line combinations before the puck even drops. Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network.
Kelly: I’m Kelly, and I’m joined by Gary, who is ready to dissect this unprecedented lineup. Hello, Islanders faithful! We are your daily source for everything blue and orange.
Gary: Hey everyone. It’s great to be back. We’ve spent the last few days looking at the big picture, but today we’re going straight into the trenches with your mailbag questions.
Kelly: Today we’re tackling three things: first, how Barry Trotz or whoever is in the chair is managing this crowded center group; second, the battle for those wing spots with guys like Cole Eiserman and Victor Eklund pushing hard; and third, our look ahead to that preseason clash against the Devils on September 20th.
Gary: And yes, we’re still standing by our prediction from earlier this week that Mathew Barzal hits 90 points and the Isles grab between 95 and 98 wins, provided this depth translates to regular-season consistency.
Kelly: Let’s dive in. First question comes from Sarah in Uniondale. She asks: 'With Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Liam Foudy, Kyle MacLean, Calum Ritchie, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, Brayden Schenn, and Gleb Veremyev all vying for minutes, which two centers get cut?' This is the headline-grabbing issue.
Gary: Okay, so Sarah wants the hard truth. You have nine centers. That is not a typo. In a normal NHL season, you carry four or five. Having nine means eight of them are fighting for roles, and one is likely riding pine or playing in the AHL if they need seasoning.
Kelly: Nine centers, Gary. It feels like a video game cheat code gone wrong. Who gets the nod?
Gary: Let’s look at the hierarchy. Barzal and Horvat are your top-two starters. They’re locked in. Then you have Pageau and Cizikas as your defensive-minded anchors. Those four are safe. The competition is for the third-line and fourth-line spots among Foudy, MacLean, Ritchie, Schenn, and Veremyev.
Kelly: So Schenn and Veremyev are the odd men out here? Brayden Schenn brings experience, though.
Gary: Schenn is a veteran presence, but he’s coming off a contract year mindset perhaps? No, wait, let's stick to the facts. He’s on the roster. But Veremyev is young. If he doesn’t show in camp, he might be the one to go. Or maybe Schenn plays wing? We talked about this yesterday.
Kelly: Right, shifting players around positions is key. Let’s move to another question. This one is from @IslesFan88 who asks: 'How does this affect the power play? Do we see more versatility from the wings?'
Gary: Great question. If you have excess centers, you can afford to put skilled wingers on the PP without worrying about sacrificing two-way play. Look at Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair. They’re natural wingers but have center roots. With the surplus of centers, you can keep your best shooters on the perimeter.
Kelly: That makes sense. It frees up the middle. Now, onto Segment 2. We’re talking roster battles. Marcus from Brooklyn asks: 'Cole Eiserman and Victor Eklund are both young, high-upside wingers. Who has the edge to make the opening night roster?'
Gary: Eiserman vs. Eklund. This is a classic comparison. Eiserman is bigger, more physical, plays a heavy game. Eklund is smaller, faster, more skilled. Given the Islanders' identity under their current system, they often prefer size and grit in the bottom six.
Kelly: So Eiserman gets the nod? He’s got that power-forward mold.
Gary: Likely. But don’t count out Eklund. If he shows he can handle the speed of the NHL in pregame drills, he could sneak in. But generally, the Isles lean toward the heavier forecheckers. Think Mitchell Chaffee or Simon Holmstrom—those are the comps.
Kelly: Interesting. What about the defense corps? Isaiah George and Matthew Kessel are young defensemen on the roster. Are they bubble players?
Gary: George and Kessel are definitely on the fringe. You have Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Tony DeAngelo, Alexander Romanov, Ethan Bear, Calle Odelius, Jesse Pulkkinen, Marshall Warren, and Kashawn Aitcheson. That’s ten defensemen already. George and Kessel are likely training camp invites or AHL assignments unless someone gets injured.
Kelly: Wow, ten defensemen. And Josh Kotai is the goalie? Just him? Where are the other netminders?
Gary: Kotai is listed as the sole goalie in the brief. Usually, teams carry two or three. This might mean he’s the clear starter or the others are out on loan or in development contracts. It’s unusual to see just one name, but we work with what we have.
Kelly: Alright, moving to Segment 3. Let’s do a fun hypothetical. David from Wantagh asks: 'If the Islanders had to trade one of their nine centers to clear cap space, who goes?'
Gary: Ouch. Trade one away? If I had to pick, it might be Gleb Veremyev. He’s young, unproven at this level, and probably has the most trade value right now compared to veterans like Pageau or Cizikas who are entrenched.
Kelly: Veremyev on the block. Okay, lightning round! First topic: David Shuman joining the ownership group. How does that impact the team culture?
Gary: Stability. New limited partners usually mean long-term investment. It signals confidence in the front office. It shouldn’t change the locker room directly, but it helps with resource allocation.
Kelly: Second topic: The Navy Lighthouse jersey. Fans voted for it. Does it look good?
Gary: Navy is a classic color for the Isles. It fits the maritime theme perfectly. I think it’ll sell well.
Kelly: Last topic: Preseason game against the Devils. Who wins?
Gary: Devils have home ice advantage. But the Isles are hungry. I’ll take a tie or a narrow Islanders win based on special teams execution.
Kelly: Before we wrap up, I want to ask something personal. If you enjoyed breaking down these roster moves and hearing our takes on the nine-center dilemma, please consider supporting the show. It helps us keep this content free and daily for all of you. Just check the link in the episode description.
Gary: Thanks for listening, everyone. We’ll see you next time.
Kelly: Go Isles! And remember, subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.