Islanders Select Cole Eiserman The 2024-25 NFL season gets underway this Thursday, which means everyone is finishing their fantasy football drafts. The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] have a fantasy football league. Thomas Hickey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/thomas-hickey-new-york-islanders-prime-monday-night-canadian-hockey-msg-networks-analyst-forslund-shelley] is the league's commissioner, a role that he is expected to retain for 2024-25. Once camp opens up, we'll find out which Islander believes their team will be heading to the championship, along with who they think has the worst team, as they don't hold back. What if the Islanders were a football team? It's pretty clear who would play quarterback, as Islanders captain Anders Lee [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/anders-lee-kancer-jam-king-clancy-new-york-islanders-cancer-fundraiser], as he was named the 2008 Minnesota Gatorade Football Player of the Year, The Star Tribune's All-Metro Player of the Year, and was a finalist for Minnesota's "Mr. Football": [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBHQhcO80Y[/embed] Noah Dobson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/noah-dobson-new-york-islanders-nhl-network-top-20-defensemen-list-2024-25] would serve as the backup quarterback at 6'4 and 200 lbs. With a beard like Kyle Palmieri's -- despite only being 5'11 and 196 lbs, he seems to fit the part of a center, a Jason Kelce-esque vibe. While we aren't going to go down the entirety of the offensive line, it's clear that Alexander Romanov, despite "only" being 6'1 and 205 lbs, would be a guard. His job is to protect his netminders on the NHL ice and the fire and determination that could translate to protecting Lee. The same can be said for 6'3, 210-lb Scott Mayfield, and 6'2, 216-lb Ryan Pulock. At running back, we have Casey Cizikas, the energizer bunny. Only standing at 5'11 and weighing 194 lbs, the 33-year-old would just put his head down, find the hole, and break through the bodies in front of him for those extra few yards. Kyle MacLean will serve as the second back. As for the wide receivers, there's options. Due to speed, Anthony Duclair -- 5'11, 197 lbs -- could be the No. 1 wide receiver, followed by Brock Nelson at 6'4, 210 lbs, with Jean-Gabriel Pageau as the slot receiver standing at 5'11, 185 lbs. Oliver Wahlstrom will be our fourth wide receiver at 6'2, 200 lbs. At tight end — not a blocking one — Pierre Engvall, who stands 6'5 "and weighs 215 lbs, takes this job. The second tight end would be Maxim Tsyplakov at 6'2, 189 lbs. At full-back, we have 6'3, 209-lb Hudson Fasching. Cornerbacks need to have strong IQs, so that's why we are choosing 6'1, 213-lb Bo Horvat and 6'1, 190-lb Mathew Barzal for these spots. Horvat reads the ice with ease, while Barzal led the NHL in takeaways this past season. With Ilya Sorokin's job on the ice being to stop the offense, at 6'3, 195 lbs, we have him lined up as a safety. Given his keen defensive sense, Simon Holmstrom, 6'2, 215 lbs, would line up at defensive end, serving as the quarterback spy. Adam Pelech, at 6'5, 220 lbs, will serve as the nose tackle since he will be tasked with clogging the middle, which seems to be just like taking the slot away. Given his transitioning skills, Mike Reilly, who stands 6'1 "and weighs 196 lbs, will be the punt and kick returner. You've seen how aggressive and fired-up Patrick Roy is behind the bench. Imagine him as a football head coach. Because of his strong relationship with Roy, Semyon Varlamov will be tasked with watching him on the sideline, like the Los Angeles Rams assistant coach has to do with their head coach, Sean McVay: In a few weeks, the Islanders will be back on the ice for the start of training camp. The New York Giants open their season at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 1 PM ET (FOX), with the New York Jets in San Francisco to face the 49ers on ESPN Monday Night Football. TOP STORIES
