New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri has been a player unleashed since Patrick Roy came aboard. Just how good has he been?
New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri has been a player unleashed since Patrick Roy came aboard. Just how good has he been?
There have been a few New York Islanders players who have been outstanding since Patrick Roy was named head coach.
There's Mathew Barzal, who has bought into what Roy was selling before the product even hit the shelf.
Then there's Bo Horvat, who continues to be the letter-less leader he's always been while thriving alongside Barzal.
But there's another player who looks like a man unleashed: Kyle Palmieri.
Following the Islanders first week under Roy, The Hockey News spoke with Palmieri who was rather impressive, with two goals and an assist in four games.
"Laner was a great coach. He's got a great hockey mind," Palmieri said. "But, Patrick, he's come in, and he's a new voice, and everyone who's been around him so far, he just oozes passion, and that's inspiring as a player.
"We're fortunate to be playing for him and excited to see what we can do here."
Eight games into the Roy experience, Palmieri is still continuing to turn heads. Adding a goal and two assists over the last four games, he now has four goals and three assists.
His latest goal tied Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken at 1-1, scoring from the paint on the power play at 14:37 of the second.
Three of Palmieri's four goals under Roy have tied the game, with two of the three coming late in the third period.
Palmieri lit the lamp at 16:28 of the third period against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 25 to tie the game at 3-3. He scored with 1:29 to play in regulation against the Florida Panthers to tie the game at 2-2 on Jan. 27
Like an infomercial, "But wait, there's more!"
Palmieri's goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 18:35 of the first proved to be the game-winner in a 6-2 beatdown on Feb. 8.
Palmieir isn't hesitating to shoot and is also driving to the net front at a much higher rate. He's more engaged in every shift, is quick to jump on the loose pucks, and is getting rewarded.
If you remember, last season, it was Palmieri's play, alongside Brock Nelson and Pierre Engvall, that got the Islanders into the playoffs after a weak January.
"He's a great vet," Roy said. "I mean, he's been in Jersey, he's here. I feel like he's doing every details really well, plays on the wing. I just sensed that Brock and him have a very good connection. I mean, the chemistry between the two is really, really good, and I'm very lucky to have good vets like this."
Here's a fun fact.
Palmieri, just four games into February -- a shortened month with six games to go -- is just four points shy of the most production he's had in a single month this season.
His best month this season was December, where he had three goals and five assists for eight points in 14 games.
The 33-year-old has two goals and two assists for four points in four February games.