Latest From Lamoriello's Press Conference Ahead of Islanders Training Camp

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed the media Monday morning as we prepare for the start of training camp and development camp. Here's what he had to say.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed the media Monday morning as we prepare for the start of training camp and development camp.

Here are the key takeaways:

On Monday, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello shared that Zach Parise hasn't called it quits just yet, but the 39-year-old won't be present at training camp.

"Zach Parise will not be here. Zack will be with his family," Lamoriello said. "We will see how the rest of the season goes. But right now, it's important for him to be there. He's spent a couple of years away, and so that is the decision at this point.

"To my knowledge, he is not retiring. In fact, I don't feel he will at this point."

Parise, who played up and down the lineup, mostly on Jean-Gabriel Pageau's wing and on both special team units, scored 21 goals with 13 assists in 82 games.

READ MORE: Parise Hasn't Retired, Won't Attend Islanders Camp

With five games to go before the end of the Islanders' regular season, the big-hitting Alexander Romanov was wrestled to the ice by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cory Perry.

Romanov finished the game but suffered a shoulder surgery on the play, missing the remainder of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs. 

Following the season, Romanov had shoulder surgery, and although he was expected to be ready for training camp, it's going to be a close call.

"He should be. It'll be close. If he's not, it'll be close," Lamoriello said. "He's skating. He's doing everything. We will be as cautious as we possibly can. If it was up to him, he'd play with two broken legs."

When I attended Matt Martin's hockey camp a few weeks ago, Romanov was on the ice with skills coach Troy Stevens. 

If Romanov is not ready for the start of the camp, the expectation is that Samuel Bolduc will take his place.

The Islanders had the third-worst power play in the NHL this past season, operating at a 15.8 percent. In the playoffs, the Islanders scored just one goal on 18 opportunities, a significant reason they fell in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Lamoriello shared that power-play coach John MacLean will be back despite all that.

But Lamoriello isn't concerned with the power play at all.

"I'm not concerned about, I think our power play will rebound, respond. We have the ingredients [...] But there's no question that it wasn't something that went well. We know that. It's certainly been a part of a lot of discussions but not where it upstages everything that we have to do."

The Islanders are hoping that with Mathew Barzal back healthy, alongside Bo Horvat, the power play can be a significant threat. But the onus is certainly on the players, with MacLean returning.

The Islanders, who did not bring in any players on professional tryouts a season ago, are bringing in Jackson Cates. 

Jackson's brother, Noah Cates, was a fifth-round pick of Philadelphia back in 2017 and has proven to have what it takes to be a full-time NHLer.

The Hockey News' Flyers beat reporter Ryan Quigley had this to say regarding the Islanders' PTO: "He had a few brief stints with the Flyers over the last few years, but never really managed to stick in the NHL. Most of his time was spent down in Lehigh Valley. At this stage, he’s pretty much a decent AHL forward who can play NHL minutes of times are desperate for bodies, but he is by no means an NHL player. He's a good player to have in the organization though as a depth option."

The 25-year-old center went undrafted after a three-year career at the University of Minnesota Duluth, signing with the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2020-21 season. 

Over the last three years, Cates has played primarily with their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, potting 11 goals with 12 assists in 65 games. 

He only dressed for five games with Philadelphia this past season, failing to record a point in 8:59 minutes per game. 

In 20 career NHL games, Cates has a goal and an assist. 

"When you sign a player with PTO, you almost have to guarantee them you're going to get them some exhibition games and so forth," Lamoriello said, so Cates will get a chance to show his worth.

Notes: MSG Networks announced that Brendan Burke (8th season), Butch Goring (14th season), and Shannon Hogan (10th season) are back, and so is Thomas Hickey (2nd season). There will be 70 games televised on MSGSN, as well as these four preseason games: Sept. 26 @. NYR, Sept. 29 vs. NYR, Oct. 2 @ NJD, Oct. 6 vs. NJD