The New York Islanders have a week to figure out who will be the final piece to the New York Islanders' top line. Is there a stronger option than Simon Holmstrom?

The New York Islanders are off for a second straight day, as there's now less than one week to go before they host the Buffalo Sabres for the season opener Saturday night at UBS Arena.

Given how preseason went, especially the games in which Islanders head coach Lane Lambert went with an NHL-caliber lineup, the Islanders have a lot to work on.

While preseason did provide some answers, like Julien Gauthier earning a starting role and Oliver Wahlstrom still needing time to get re-acclimated to the speed of the NHL, there's still a question mark as to who will play alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal.

On Thursday night, ahead of the Islanders' 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, The Hockey News asked Lambert what he was looking for to complement his top line. 

"We need someone who's responsible, responsible defensively, but can add pace and make plays," Lambert said. "We've been trying, guys, and we'll see where we go."

It seems like it's now Simon Holmstrom's job to lose, as he's been given the last few chances to prove he belongs there. 

The 22-year-old scored six goals in 50 career NHL games in 2022-23, with his biggest issue hitting the net, something that's been an issue so far in camp and preseason.

Despite that, when that trio was on the ice Friday night in the 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Islanders outshot their opponents 9-2.

Holmstrom had a strong play in the first period, as from the defensive zone, he chipped the puck to Barzal, who was stationed on the left wing, leading to an odd-man rush with Horvat.

The Islanders ultimately did not score on the play, but it showed what was possible for that threesome, given Holmstrom's IQ and defensive prowess. 

The question is, is there a better, ready option on the roster, and what route do the Islanders go with their final roster cut?

Until Wednesday, it seemed like the Islanders would start the season without forward Kyle Palmieri. But his return to practice and his ability to play in Friday's preseason finale make it seem like he will be ready for the start of the season.

In 14:12 TOI, Palmieri recorded two shots, a hit, drew a penalty, and took one of his own while showing little to no rust.

"I liked him. It was his first game, but he looked like a power forward tonight," Lambert said. "He used his body and drove pucks to the net. I liked his game."

Palmieri brings everything to a line. He's defensively sound. His ability to drive the net and also fire from long distance makes him a difficult player to defend. 

He also has no issues going in front of goal, at five-on-five, and on the power play.

Health is the biggest concern for Palmieri, but when in the lineup consistently, as we saw in the second half of 2022-23, he is vital to the Islanders' success.

It's not an ideal move to take Palmieri off Brock Nelson's wing, as that duo, alongside Pierre Engvall, served as the Islanders strongest forward line down the stretch and during their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

But, as we have seen so far in the preseason, the chemistry between Engvall and Nelson is very strong, which may allow Lambert to take Palmieri off that line without damaging their production.

A right-winger by trade, Palmieri can play the left side, but as we saw Friday night, Barzal can also play his off-wing, a spot that may benefit him more.

So, if Palmieri plays on the Islanders' top line, who plays on Nelson's right?

The two options are Gauthier and Hudson Fasching, who have both been given chances in that role during camp and preseason.

Gauthier's speed mixed with Engvall's makes that line ultra-fast, very responsible, and would be a pain in the you-know-what for the opposition to handle.

Although Fasching may not be as fast as Gauthier, his natural instincts open the ice for Nelson, as we saw in the Islanders' third preseason game, a 5-3 win over the Rangers, as the two were a threat every time they stepped on the ice.

Fans want an elite-caliber player to be on this roster that can solidify that final top-line spot. Sure, an elite goal scorer is something the Islanders would love to have, but that player, unless Wahlstrom becomes that this season, isn't on the roster.

With Horvat and Barzal clicking the way they have, rekindling their chemistry from last season, that final piece doesn't need to be that elite player. He needs to bring precisely what Lambert said he was looking for, and that line will gel. 

If Lambert ultimately decides not to go with Holmstrom on the top line, it likely makes more sense for him to go to Bridgeport and work on his offense, with the Islanders' having too many players who can play a stronger bottom-six role.

The Islanders have until Monday night at 5 PM ET to cut one final player and solidify their roster. According to CapFriendly, the Islanders are $574,958 over the cap. 

While the more logical move is to waive Ross Johnston and his $1.1 million, Holmstrom is waiver-exempt, and his $863,333 would put the Islanders under the cap. 

The movie "Miracle" has some fantastic lines and dialogues, and here's one that fits this first-line situation:

"You're missing some of the best players," assistant coach Craig Patrick told head coach Herb Brooks. 

Brooks responded with, "I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones."

So the question remains: is Holmstrom the best fit on the Islanders' top line, or does Palmieri make the most sense?