Islanders Simon Holmstrom Goes 1-On-1: 'I Have More To Give'

When the New York Islanders lost forward Kyle Palmeri to an upper-body injury on Nov. 21 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the first of his two concussions, Holmstrom took his place.

Since then, he has played in 42 of the Islanders' last 62 games, with five goals and one assist. 

The 21-year-old first-year NHLer sat down with The Hockey News to discuss his season thus far as the Islanders continue their push to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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Holmstrom's defensive play impressed Islanders head coach Lane Lambert out of the gate, and he quickly became a reliable option for the first-year head coach. 

"I think I had a lot of focus on that 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."

However, as he saw more NHL minutes, we saw some flashes of offense. But just when he started to feel more comfortable with the puck on his stick, a lower-body injury sidelined him for six games, which did set him back a bit.

On Tuesday night, Holmstrom found the back of the net for the first time in nine games as he tapped home a loose puck to give his team a 5-2 lead with 10 minutes to play in what became a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

"It helps a lot (with confidence) and also to get the gap a little further away from them as well. So it was a nice goal as well. So nice to get one of those little shi–y ones. So it's always fun."
Anyway…back to his thoughts on year one.

"It's been a good learning process for sure," Holmstrom said. "I think it started off pretty good. And then, just played a 200-foot game that you need to play to be able to play in this league."

But Holmstrom understands that he needs to show more of an offensive flair, a significant need for the organization despite a seven-goal performance on Tuesday night. 

"All the points and offense have taken a little too long for me," Holmstrom said. "I think that's because that's where I feel like I'm most comfortable, and that's where my strongest game is. And I think the last two, three games, it's been a little step up for that as well, but I'm just trying to get better every single day.
"And I know I got way more to give as well."

Despite only a few goals on the year, Holmstrom has had some pretty ones. 

The best of his five goals came against the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 1, when he did the Auston Matthews toe drag before sniping goaltender Frederik Andersen.

The Hockey News asked Holmstrom if that goal proved to himself that he could be an offensive player in this league.

"Yeah, for sure. I think most of the goals that I've scored have been pretty good goals," Holmstrom said. "As soon as you start doubting yourself. You try to look back at the goals and see what you actually can do out there.

"And at the same time, just keep playing the same way as you're doing."

Over the last few games, Holmstrom has played alongside Bo Horvat and Anders Lee, but most of his action this season has been alongside veterans Zach Parise and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, two players he's learned a lot from.

"I played a lot with those two guys, so they've definitely helped me a lot," Holmstrom said. "And then same now with Bo and also Josh Bailey, just two really, really good guys that you always know you can count on."

Horvat has only been an Islander for 20 games, but Holmstrom said that he's learned a lot from him so far.

"You are always trying to take as much as you can from every player and try to see if you can put that in your game. And I mean, he has a lot of good skills. So I'm just trying to try and see every day what he's doing and how to be a professional."

After the Islanders drafted Holmstrom 23rd overall in 2019, the Swedish forward spent over two seasons with the Bridgeport Islanders before getting the opportunity to help the NHL club.

Now that he is here, Holmstrom says the experience of being an NHL player is crazy.

"It's been unreal. I mean, you dream of this ever since you've been a kid, and you think about the situations that you get put in, and it's just been even better," Holmstrom said. "So it's a big step up from playing in Bridgeport, of course, with all the buses and stuff, so it's been really good.

"It's been a lot of fun and a very good experience."