The Islanders have their NHL roster for the start of the 2024-25 season. Here's how they will line up on opening night.
New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello had tough decisions to make before rosters were due at the NHL headquarters on Monday at 5 PM ET.
But on Sunday, those decisions were made when we learned that four forwards, including Pierre Engvall, two defensemen, and two goaltenders, hit the waiver wire at 2 PM ET:
That meant Oliver Wahlstrom and Julien Gauthier had won the final two forward jobs, with Dennis Cholowski winning the seventh defenseman gig.
Wahlstrom had a slow start to camp but had a late push, while Gauthier did his usual thing, showcasing his skating and shot through preseason and winning the extra forward spot role as he did a year ago.
Because of the Islanders' salary cap situation, they can currently roster only 22 players instead of 23.
Although the Islanders have a few days before the real thing, hosting the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, Oct. 10 to kick off the regular season, it's safe to say that this will be the lineup:
Anthony Duclair -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Maxim Tsyplakov -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Simon Holmstrom
Casey Cizikas -- Kyle MacLean -- Oliver Wahlstrom
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson
Mike Reilly -- Scott Mayfield
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Extras: F Julien Gauthier, D Dennis Cholowski
Notes:
- Matt Martin will remain on his PTO for now
- Ilya Sorokin is 100% healthy, hasn't been ruled out from starting opening night
- Maxim Tsyplakov will play on one of the power play units, likely the first
- Patrick Roy thinks Casey Cizikas and Kyle MacLean will rub off on Oliver Wahlstrom