Why Islanders & Goalie Prospect Skarek May Be Parting Ways This Summer

Stefen Rosner on 'Running It Back' On June 30, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/new-york-islanders-restricted-free-agents-wahlstrom-skarek-adams-wilde-jenkins] sent qualifying offers to restricted free agents Oliver Wahlstrom and Jakub Skarek. However, neither have signed just yet, with the deadline to accept coming this Saturday at 5 PM ET. While there's been reports that Wahlstrom could be a piece in a trade -- most recently included in a potential package to the Ottawa Senators for Alex DeBrincat -- there's been no information regarding Skarek. The 23-year-old Czechian goaltender was selected by New York 72nd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft after back-to-back strong seasons playing in the Czech league. At that point in time, the Islanders had Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/thomas-greiss-new-york-islanders-goaltender-retiring-14-year-career] as their goaltending tandem and needed a goaltender of the future. READ: Former Islanders Netminder Thomas Greiss Retires, What He Meant To Organization [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/thomas-greiss-new-york-islanders-goaltender-retiring-14-year-career] In 2014, four years before the Islanders drafted Skarek, they drafted a fellow named Ilya Sorokin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/new-york-islanders-pierre-engvall-scott-mayfield-semyon-varlamov-ilya-sorokin]. Sorokin could have signed with New York and come over in 2017 when his contract in the KHL ended. However, that didn't happen, as he opted to sign a three-year extension in Russia, and there was no knowing if Sorokin would ever make it stateside, whether it was to play for the Islanders or another NHL franchise. So, that meant Skarek could have been the goaltender of the future for New York. Coming over for the start of the 2019-20 season, there was a path to the NHL if things went swimmingly. Skarek split his first two seasons between the Worcester Railers (ECHL) and the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) before becoming an AHL staple for the next three seasons. However, the goaltending situation had changed since 2017. Halak and Greiss became Semyon Varlamov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/semyon-varlamov-new-york-islanders-ilya-sorokin-contract] and Sorokin, meaning Skarek's only chance of getting NHL minutes was if one of those two were injured. When that did happen, with Varlamov not ready ahead of the start of the 2021-22 season and Sorokin out with a concussion later that year, the Islanders brought up Cory Schneider to serve as the backup, a goalie who had NHL experience as a No. 1 netminder over Skarek, who had none. This past season, when Varlamov missed eight games with a lower-body injury after leaving the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights on Dec. 17, it was Schneider who served as Sorokin's backup over Skarek. It wasn't as if Skarek was lighting up the AHL, as he was on his way to a fourth straight season with an under .900 save percentage, but it's clear to see that Skarek's statistics were more indicative of the team in front of him. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5MzM0MjAyODQyMjk0MjIy/screenshot-2023-07-13-at-113522-am.png] Skarek was recalled during the postseason when rosters expanded but was just up on an emergency basis in case one of the two netminders went down with an injury. When we spoke to Lamoriello a day before the NHL Draft in Nashville, he shared that Schneider was heading overseas to play in Europe, which meant that the Bridgeport crease was likely Skarek's in 2023-24, with prospect Tristan Lennox coming to the club after graduating from the OHL. But, like every prospect, the dream is the NHL, not the AHL. And after seeing Sorokin sign an eight-year extension and Varlamov agreeing to one of four years, the path to Skarek becoming an NHL goaltender in the Islanders' organization is essentially over. It might be best for Skarek to decline his qualifying offer and either have his agent Darren Ferris seek out a trade or see if there's opportunities in Europe where Skarek can play and potentially come back to the states when the time is right. Stefen Rosner reached out to Mr. Fellis regarding Jakub Skarek's future with the New York Islanders, but did not get a response yet. If Skarek doesn't sign his qualifying offer, the Islanders still hold his rights until he is 27. However, it might be best for both sides to move on. Besides reading his work, you can listen and watch Stefen Rosner [https://twitter.com/stefen_rosner] talk New York Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYN7JIgdHnM&t=956s] with co-host Sean Cuthbert [https://twitter.com/seanyhockey] Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season.