3 storylines to keep an eye on heading into NY Islanders training camp

Who will be the backup goalie to start the season?

The Islanders had one of the best tandems between the pipes for a few seasons, but Semyon Varlamov hasn't played an NHL game since Nov. 2024, with Ilya Sorokin bearing the lion's share of the starts.

Varlamov is rumored to have undergone a double knee replacement last season and, at 38 years old, he'll be attempting a comeback not many have tried. Varlamov made two starts with the Bridgeport Islanders to end last season, but he'll now need to remain healthy for an 82-game schedule.

The Islanders signed Vitek Vanecek to a 1-year deal last month as an insurance policy for Varlamov. Vanecek has struggled over the past few seasons despite having his name etched on the Stanley Cup as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup with the Florida Panthers.

If Varlamov proves that his knees are capable of holding up, he'll likely be the backup to begin the season. But if his body shows signs of deterioration, Vanecek may be the one to spell Sorokin throughout the season.

Will a rookie make the opening night roster?

With the improvement of the organization's prospect pool, some of the players recently drafted by the Islanders are preparing to make the jump to the NHL. Victor Eklund, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut in the Islanders' final game last season, registering an assist on a Bo Horvat goal.

Along with Eklund, 2024 first-round pick Cole Eiserman is known as one of the best pure shooters outside the NHL. The former Boston University Terrier made the jump to the AHL at the tail end of last season, scoring twice and racking up seven assists in 12 games.

Two years ago, injuries along the blue line forced Isaiah George into action. Despite being 20 years old, George held his own and was one of the team's best defensemen over the 33 games he played. Peter DeBoer and Mathieu Darche are going to give George every opportunity to make this roster out of training camp, whether on the ice opening night or as the seventh defenseman. But if there's a player to keep an eye on, George is that player.

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