Simon Holmstrom is getting a chance to be a top-six player for the New York Islanders and he's running...skating with the opportunity so far at training camp.
Simon Holmstrom is getting a chance to be a top-six player for the New York Islanders and he's running...skating with the opportunity so far at training camp.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Simon Holmstrom is getting a chance to be a top-six player for the New York Islanders and he's running...skating with the opportunity so far at training camp.
The 23-year-old former first-round pick (No. 23) has been a defensive specialist at the NHL level over his first two NHL seasons, earning him NHL minutes.
However, his lack of offense had impacted his ability to play a bigger role with the Islanders.
It's not that Holmstrom didn't have the skills to be an offensive player -- it's the opposite -- but it was the lack of confidence in his shot that led to opportunities going by the wayside at a consistent rate.
At the end of last season, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy made it clear to Holmstrom what he needed to see.
"Roy wants me to work hard and be strong on the puck and compete every day," Holmstrom told The Hockey News. "That's the most important thing. And when I can, I have to get the shot off so that I'm a threat out there."
Getting offense from Holmstrom and relying on Holmstrom for offense is two completely different things.
But when Roy watched the film from last year and game-planned his initial training camp lines, there was a reason he felt comfortable stapling him to a line with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
"He's got a lot of talent, a lot of skills," Roy said following Monday's skate. "It was nothing related to his talent or skills [that held him back]. It was just the [consistent] compete level. We talked about it, and it's funny because you guys mentioned to me after the preseason game how much you saw the compete level he had. That's exactly what I'm looking for from him."
Holmstrom played in the Islanders' 4-2 preseason win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night, scoring an empty-net goal.
Outside of the goal, he had two shots, a hit, and two blocks in 15:07 minutes, which included 1:57 on the power play.
"I love Homer's game," Nelson told THN. "I think he's got a lot of skill; he's super smooth, a big skater, and has a great stick. I think he creates a lot of turnovers getting in and under guys. He can create, possess, and transition inside of that to drive our line and drive the offense, and you see how effective he can be on the penalty kill as well. So it's more than just five on five."
Nelson gained a new sense of confidence when Barry Trotz came aboard in 2018. Once he believed that he could be a difference-maker on a nightly basis, he became the team's best goal scorer.
Outside of the shortened COVID-19 season, Nelson has scored 25-plus goals in five straight seasons, scoring 30-plus in each of the last three.
Nelson learned a lot about confidence during his first few seasons, and THN asked him how he found that confidence when things weren't going his way.
"Just stick with it. Know that it's not going to last, and just have that belief in your game that you're going to turn it around," Nelson said. "And when you turn it, you're going to make it tip the other way. And in the grand scheme of things, you won't think back at those tough times. But you will also learn from it to help the future. And I think Homer is still gf growing and still has a lot of raw talent.
"I think that he can mold into a really dynamic player."
Every player has their own way of dealing with confidence, but the luxury Holmstrom and the Islanders have is that Roy was a goaltender, a position where confidence is paramount.
So, when we asked Roy how he could help a young player rediscover their confidence, he chuckled and told us exactly what he said to No. 10.
"I said to Homer, 'You might not like me today, but you're going to love me down the road.' That's how I see it," Roy said. "I'm pushing on details, and I'm pushing on them, and I hope that eventually, the game is going to get easier for him and us."
Having two veterans to learn from has been tremendous for Holmstrom.
"I've learned a lot from them," Holmstrom told THN. "I played a couple of games with them last year and in the playoffs, and I feel like the chemistry is getting there. It's been a lot of fun."
Palmieri's seen the growth in Holmstrom's game.
"He's making his decisions fast. He's using a shot." No. 21 said. "He's a really talented player, and he thinks the game really well. So he's looked good so far, and he'll just continue to get better."
Islanders captain Anders Lee told THN that what we are seeing from Holmstrom right now is the game he's always had in him.
It's just now breaking through the surface regularly.
"He is just playing his game," Lee said. "I think he's come in as the same player as he was before, but I think you're seeing more of it because he's playing with a little bit of confidence and juice.
"And I think you're seeing that come out of him more. He's always had all that stuff, and now he's just really showing it."
Many will critique Holmstrom, citing that he just can't be a top-six player for whatever reasons they have. And, of course, for Holmstrom to win and hold the job, he's going to have to produce.
But for the Islanders, whose first-round draft picks haven't turned into NHL staples or players who can help the team, Holmstrom's breaking out and living up to his full potential is so important to the franchise's short-term and long-term future.