New York Islanders 3 Biggest Questions for 2018-19 Training Camp

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Tom Kuhnhackl #34 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against Dennis Seidenberg #4 the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on March 20, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Will Dennis Seidenberg Make the Team?

The New York Islanders enter the 2018-19 training camp with only six defensemen on the roster. While that’s certainly enough to ice a full defensive squad, it’s at least one shy of the seven that NHL teams typically carry on the active roster.

I figured that the Islanders might give the seventh defenseman slot to emerging talent Devon Toews. Toews has absolutely outgrown the AHL, even if he missed most of the 2017-18 season with an injury.

So I was surprised to see that the Islanders gave Dennis Seidenberg a professional try-out contract for the 2018 training camp.

The Islanders originally signed Seidenberg after an impressive World Cup of hockey for Team Europe. Bought out by the Boston Bruins, the veteran blueline with a Stanley Cup ring was brought in on a cheap single year million dollar deal.

For half of the 2016-17 season, Seidenberg was outstanding. He looked like an absolute steal by Garth Snow. But in the second half of the season, he started to show his age. Often second to pucks and lacking that offensive dynamism he seemed out of place.

But his 22 points in 73 games, his highest return in five years, convinced the New York Islanders to bring him back for one more year. This time with much less success.

For the entirety of the 2017-18 season, Dennis Seidenberg looked well off the pace. The quickness of the game seemed to have passed the then 35-year-old German. His five points in 28 games should tell you what type of season he had.

And now the Islanders are bringing Seidenberg to camp on a PTO. Clearly to see if the veteran still has enough for one more go.

I’m sure that Seidenberg is an outstanding professional and still has something to offer the game of hockey. But it seems that a playing career in the NHL might not be it. I’d much prefer that the Islanders give the spot to a young talent like Toews rather than Seidenberg.