Islanders Players Who Must Step Up In Brock Nelson’s Absence To Stay In Playoff Hunt
Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesThe New York Islanders entered the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline averaging the sixth-fewest goals per game in the NHL, at 2.72.
Now, they are without Brock Nelson, their most consistent goal scorer after he was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in a blockbuster deal before midnight on Thursday.
But, despite the major loss, the Islanders are focused on fighting for a playoff spot, currently four points back of a wild-card spot.
The Islanders' big talking point in their trade-deadline practice was the fact that players will need to step up to fill the Nelson role.
Let's start with Simon Holmstrom, who has emerged as a top-six player after breaking into the league in more of a bottom-six role. He has 14 goals with 18 assists for 32 points in 54 games. That's a 21-goal, 27-point pace.
Roy has played him in a top-six role over the last few weeks and that's where he'll remain now.
Maxim Tsyplakov was supposed to be a goal scorer coming over from the KHL, but the production hasn't been there, yet. The 26-year-old has seven goals and 19 assists in 56 games, which equates to a 10-goal, 27-assist pace. Given the talent we've seen, and Roy's belief that Tsyplakov is a top-six talent, they'll have to hope that the goals come.
Tsyplakov is currently playing a third-line role, skating alongside Casey Cizikas and Hudson Fasching at practice. They'll need him to be the force on that line.
When the Islanders inked Anthony Duclair to a four-year deal worth $3 million annually on July 1, they expected more than just five goals in 31 games.
Yes, he's been battling a groin injury since Game 5 of the regular season, but that's not an excuse that holds complete weight. He entered this season scoring 20 or more goals in three of the last four years and they'll need much more from him down the stretch, with him skating on the top line with Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat.
The Islanders will also need defenseman Noah Dobson to get back to being an offensive catalyst, with just six goals and 19 assists for 25 points in 50 games, after a 70-point 2023-24 season (10 goals, 60 assists).
Filling Nelson's hole is going to be a challenge, but it's not an impossible one. And these players mentioned aren't the only ones that have to bring their "A" game.
It will have to be a collective team effort, which means the penalty kill has to be stronger. The defensive structure can't have horrific lapses and the goaltending has to be sharp.
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