Islanders: What will Cory Schneider’s role be exactly?

The New York Jets had their home opener this Sunday and the New York Islanders returned the courtesy the Jets players showed during their playoff run by heading to the MetLife Stadium to take in the game (too bad it couldn’t have been a better showing for them).

A ton of the Islanders playing staff were on hand. Mathew Barzal, Oliver Wahlstrom, Andy Greene, even Michael Dal Colle was there. Even though Dal Colle isn’t officially signed to a contract. All told there were some 15 Islanders players there.

Including Cory Schneider.

What will Cory Schneider’s role be with the New York Islanders?

Yeah, the same Cory Schneider who played only two games last year. Both were at the AHL level. With Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin for the NHL squad and Jakub Skarek and Ken Appleby for the AHL squad, why is Cory Schneider still around?

It’s a fair question. The answer is taxi squad.

And yes, again, you might be questioning that. “Weren’t taxi squads eliminated for this year?” Again, that’s a good question. Yes…and no.

According to DailyFaceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the NHL is looking to implement a goalie “taxi squad” of sorts. Assuming the role functions like the taxi squad did last year this third goalie could practice and travel with the team but wouldn’t count as part of the NHL roster or count against the cap.

But if needed, they could be added to the roster immediately.

That’s why Cory Schneider is around. He’ll take up the same role he had in 2020-21. If God forbid, Varlamov and Sorokin are injured Schneider would potentially step in to stop a few pucks or two. Maybe even get a conditioning stint with the Bridgeport Islanders for two weeks at some point.

But he won’t be on the roster to challenge for a spot.