New York Islanders lineup will be re-evaluated at the 10 game mark

Theres a lot of excitement around the New York Islanders heading into the season. Many around the NHL believe the Islanders could be a sleeper team this year. With a deeper forward group, and Matthew Schaefer expecting to be apart of the defense group, the Islanders have a lot of decisions to make. Training camp is all about learning systems, getting the motions and feel back, while developing chemistry with linemates. The lines in camp are constantly changing, and by 10 games into the NHL season, allows a better and more detailed look at the personnel.

Let’s start with the forwards. The projected lines seem to be:

Drouin- Horvat- Palmieri

Lee-Barzal-Duclair 

Holmstrom-Pageau-Shabanov

Heineman-Cizikas-Tsyplakov

While the lines are still being experimented in preseason, it seemed that Barzal and Duclair have rejuvenated chemistry in their last game against the Rangers. Drouin and Horvat are another duo I would expect together. One name I want to keep an eye on is Simon Holmstrom. After a strong campaign last season with 20G and 25A, he is poised to break out even more. Holmstrom is a name that I believe could make his way into the top 6. Tsyplakov is also a name I could see moving up in the lineup if he can produce in the minutes he is given. 

The defense seems to be:

Romanov-DeAngelo

Pelech-Pulock

Schaefer-Mayfield

At 18 years of age, Schaefer is a bright spot on the backend. He has played in 3 preseason games so far and has tallied 2 assists. While Mayfield has been a fantastic partner to Schaefers so far, it turns into a matter of time as to when he will move into the top 4 on the backend end. 

Heres Schaefers ice time through 3 games:

9/21 PHI

24:39 TOI

9/26 

23:54 TOI

9/29

20:39 TOI

Mayfield has had a strong start to the preseason but is he going to be effective playing 23 minutes or more a night. Could Schaefer be paired with Pulock in the future? I wouldn’t be shocked to see him moving up. 

Looking at the goaltending, I would expect Sorokin to start 8 or 9 of the first 10 games. David Rittich has won the back up job, with Marcus Hogberg being placed on waivers and Semyon Varlamov still not ready to go. The Islanders will need Rittich to be able to keep them in games when Sorokin is given the night off.