Islanders Can't Ignore Need For Depth Goaltender
This summer, the New York Islanders ensured their NHL goaltending was set for the foreseeable future. But what about their goaltending depth?
This summer, the New York Islanders ensured their NHL goaltending was set for the foreseeable future.
On July 1st, the club announced that not only had veteran netminder Semyon Varlamov agreed to a four-year deal worth $11 million, but that Vezina finalist Ilya Sorokin was in it for the long run, inking an eight-year extension worth $66 million.
The Islanders are built from their goaltenders on out, a philosophy that Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has followed for his entire managerial career.
But, with how important these two are for the Islanders to succeed in 2023-24, there needs to be an insurance plan in case of an injury.
For the last two seasons, veteran netminder Cory Schneider was that insurance plan.
Although he wasn't a bonafide NHL netminder anymore after years of battling a lower-body injury, the Massachusetts native had over 400 NHL games under his belt and was a valuable asset to goaltending prospect Jakub Skarek in Bridgeport.
Lamoriello shared a day before the NHL Draft that the 37-year-old Schneider was headed overseas to continue his career after three years with the Islanders organization.
So, right now, the 23-year-old Skarek is the No. 1 netminder for Bridgeport, which means, he's the only option if an NHL netminder falls victim to any injury.
The former third-round pick in 2018 hasn't had one of those breakout seasons in the AHL yet, averaging a 3.39 GAA with an .892 SV% and three shutouts in 87 career AHL starts
Skarek, a restricted free agent who was tendered a qualifying offer by New York (has until July 15th at 5 PM ET to sign QO), joined the Islanders' postseason roster when the rosters expanded.
It seems that 20-year-old Tristan Lennox, who just graduated from the OHL after a three-year stint with the Saginaw Spirit, will serve as the AHL backup. He owned a 3.15 GAA with an .888 SV% in 20 games this past season.
Ken Appleby, a 30-year-old ECHL netminder will also be pushing to complete the AHL tandem, as he's coming off a season in which he posted a 3.01 GAA with a .907 SV% in 30 showings.
There's a need for the Islanders to bring in another Schneider-type of netminder.
With no cap space, especially if Oliver Wahlstrom returns to the club, either by accepting his qualifying offer or on a bridge deal, the contract would likely have to be a two-way deal.
One option could be Long Island native Keith Kinkaid. The 35-year-old -- and one of my first goaltending coaches growing up -- has bounced around quite a bit after his time with the New Jersey Devils came to a close following the 2018-19 season.
Since then, he's played for five different organizations: Montreal Canadiens, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Colorado Avalanche.
The majority of his playing time has come in the AHL.
Another option is former Islander and fan favorite Thomas Greiss, who brought five years of stability in goal for the Islanders from 2015 through 2020.
Greiss was still on the team when Sorokin came over while the Islanders were competing in the Canadian bubble in 2020. And even though Greiss, a pending unrestricted free agent at the time, knew Sorokin was taking his job, that didn't stop him from helping him and working with him, which spoke volumes about Greiss's character.
Now a few years later, Greiss is coming off two straight seasons of sub-par play for the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.
Already familiar with the Islanders organization, the 37-year-old could be another veteran to help Skarek continue his development, while also serving as the third-string NHL netminder, if need be.
You can listen and watch Stefen Rosner talk New York Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert.