Islanders Notebook: Lineup 'Mix', Leadership, Difficult Decisions

NEWARK, NJ -- It appeared that the New York Islanders were going to go with an NHL-heavy lineup for Monday night's preseason game against the New Jersey Devils. 

But things have changed. 

"Yeah, we made some adjustments," Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said Monday evening. "It's probably a mix, a decent mix."

Lambert added that the lineup changes are not due to any injuries, which is a sure positive for a team already without Kyle Palmieri. 

There's no update on the veteran forward, who continues to skate daily away from the team with an undisclosed injury. 

As for who is in and who is out, we will find that once warmup happens. 

We saw forward prospect Ruslan Iskhakov and defenseman Grant Hutton before our fireside chat. We also know Anders Lee and Brock Nelson will be in because we spoke to them.

While we are on the Nelson subject, I asked Brock what it would mean to him to don the "A" this season. With Josh Bailey no longer with the club, a letter is available, and Nelson has worn it in both preseason games he's played in on top of wearing it last season when letter leaders were out injured. 

"It'd be an honor," Nelson said. "I know we have a few guys here that have been around a long time that have the capability to wear it. I know I'm not the most vocal of guys, but I just try to go out there and be a big part of the team and lead by example."

Islanders captain Anders Lee and Lambert weren't too vocal about the "A" in terms of awarding it, even though all signs point to Nelson.

"I think it's a conversation that will be had [...] and we'll go from there," Lee said, which echoed Lambert's sentiments. 

Cal Clutterbuck will continue to wear the other "A". 

The Islanders lost their most versatile winger this summer when the 39-year-old Zach Parise decided that he wouldn't be coming back, at least not right now.

The Islanders have a handful of wings right now fighting for just a few spots, some being on their off-wing, the opposite side of their handiness. 

Simon Holmstrom, who we wrote about earlier today, is the only lefty playing the left side. But Lambert said the likes of Hudson Fasching, Julien Gauthier, Oliver Wahlstrom, and others certainly can play their off-side. 

"We don't," Lambert said on having reservations with right-wingers playing the other side. "I know sometimes it's easier when you pick up the puck off the boards to get pucks going up the ice or across the ice on the forehand, so there aren't any reservations."

The fact that all can play their off-wing and most of the options from NHL regulars to NHL hopefuls have played well is making Lambert and upper management's life a little more difficult. 

"They're very close. That's what we wanted right from day one," Lambert said. "I mean, it's with those four guys (mentioned above), it's with other guys in terms of what kind of role or what significance their role is going to be, whether it be a younger player or a veteran player.

But these guys, in my mind, they're making the decision difficult."

Many teams have already trimmed their roster size to the high twenties, but the Islanders have decided to keep enough around to have multiple groups.

The reason is simple.

The organization wants to run high-octane, full practices now and after preseason play ends with an eight-day game break until opening night on Oct. 14.

That means a handful of Islanders prospects won't be heading back to Bridgeport just yet.

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