Why Islanders May Start Holmstrom in Bridgeport This Season

Stefen Rosner on 'Running It Back'

It's been over a month since the New York Islanders made their last batch of off-season signings. Since then, the Islanders have been over the salary cap by $486,625, per CapFriendly.

While teams can exceed the salary cap by 10 percent -- as long as they are cap compliant by game one of the NHL season -- the Islanders will have to make some move at some point following training camp and preseason.

On the surface, the obvious answers to the Islanders small cap issue can be solved by sending down one of those signees, Karlson Kuhlman, who carries a cap hit of $775,000.

But there is a caveat.

Kuhlman would need to pass through waivers to be sent to the AHL, and given his low cap hit, there's a likely chance he could get claimed.

Although forward Brian Pinho, who is currently not listed on the Islanders NHL roster, could serve as an insurance clause if Kuhlman was claimed, he doesn't have the NHL experience Kuhlman has.

And we know how vital NHL-ready depth is, especially after this past season for New York.

Outside of Kuhlman, the Islanders could send down fellow signee and speedy forward Julien Gauthier.

But that move is unlikely.

Unlike Pinho and Kuhlman, Gauthier's signed a one-way deal, which means his salary ($787,500) doesn't change if sent down.

Gauthier would also have to pass through waivers.

That brings us to Simon Holmstrom, who played 50 games for the Islanders this past season.

The 22-year-old winger's $863,333 salary isn't currently being counted against their current cap, as CapFriendly has him listed in the minors with a $70,000 salary.

Because Holmstrom is still on his entry-level deal due to two Entry-Level Slides -- with one year remaining -he finds himself waiver exempt.

And that's why there's a strong chance he finds himself in Bridgeport to start the season.

Holmstrom must be under contract for five seasons or surpass 150 NHL games played to no longer be waiver exempt. He's about to embark on season five and has only played 50 NHL games.

If Holmstrom were to make the team out of camp over Kuhlman, the Islanders will be exceeding the salary cap by $574,958.

Holmstrom's first season in the NHL was an interesting one.

Upon being called up, the Swede showed a keen understanding of the defensive side of the game, shining in that regard, which earned the trust of first-year head coach Lane Lambert.

However, once Holmstrom fell victim to a knee injury after cutting to the slot against the Florida Panthers on Dec. 23 -- a knee-on-knee unpenalized hit from Sam Bennett -- Holmstrom's game changed.

After somehow avoiding a major injury, missing just six games, Holmstrom seemed nervous to go into corners and play that strong forechecking game he had showcased early on.

That led to him coming in and out of the lineup.

Slowly but surely, Holmstrom regained some confidence in that area of his game, but his lack of offensive production came to the forefront.

In 50 games, Holmstrom scored just six goals with three assists. He went 43 games between assists, and outside of a highlight-reel goal against the Carolina Hurricanes, he didn't seem like much of a threat.

He stayed in the lineup because of his defense but found himself out of the lineup come playoff time.

"I think I had a lot of focus on that (defensive game) instead (of offense)," Holmstrom told The Hockey News. "I still think that was the right play because I think that was one of the things that kept me in the lineup."

"All the points and offense have taken a little too long for me. I think that's because that's where I feel like I'm most comfortable, and that's where my strongest game is [...] I'm just trying to get better every single day. And I know I got way more to give as well."

While the Islanders success in 2023-24 doesn't hang on Holmstrom's offensive game alone, the Islanders do need to see this former first-round pick find a scoring touch to separate him from the prospect pack.

If Zach Parise decides to retire, Holmstrom will be in the running to fill his spot in the lineup alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau. But so will Gauthier and Hudson Fasching, with Oliver Wahlstrom likely to land the right-wing role on that line.

Now, although we mentioned that Gauthier was likely to make the club due to being on a one-year deal, that's not a guarantee, especially if he doesn't impress at camp.

If the Islanders elected to keep Holmstrom and Kuhlman on the NHL roster and send Gauthier down (waivers), then the Islanders would be exceeding the cap by $562,458.

Whether Holmstrom makes the roster or not, forward Ross Johnston and his $1.1 million cap hit can be buried, and the financial problem goes away.

I asked Lou Lamoriello about Johnston's importance at his end-of-the-season press conference after the 29-year-old played in just 16 games and found himself at the bottom of the depth charts.

"His character is impeccable. It's tough on him not to play [...], but you do have to have extra players," Lamoriello said.

"I would've anticipated he would play a little more, and fortunately, we didn't have any injuries in the role that he would play. And unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to get in other than on a limited basis."

Unfortunately for Johnston, the Islanders do need the cap space, and unless someone is heading onto long-term injury reserve to start the season, the Islanders may have no choice but to send him down and expose him to the waiver wire.

The Islanders' roster and financial decision may not come down to Holmstrom's training camp and preseason play alone, but if he could force the issue with strong play.

We are exactly two months away from the Islanders first game of the 2023-24 regular season, when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 14.

Join Stefen Rosner's New York Islanders page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can listen to Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season.