Stefen Rosner on 'Running It Back' Although we are still a few months away from the beginning of the 2023-24 NHL season, here is the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-hockey-hall-of-fame-stan-fischler]organizational depth chart and what positions need more NHL-caliber personnel. Each player is listed with their age, number of NHL games under their belt, and stat line from the 2022-23 season in the league they played most of their games in. Players with contracts overseas or currently in juniors were not included in this piece. All stats do not include postseason numbers. CENTER Bo Horvat: 28, 651 NHL games, 38 goals, 32 assists, 70 points in 79 GP with VAN/NYI Brock Nelson: 31, 758 NHL games, 36 goals, 39 assists, 75 points in 82 GP with NYI Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 30, 636 NHL games, 13 goals, 27 assists, 40 points in 70 GP with NYI Casey Cizikas: 32, 745 NHL games, 6 goals, 15 assists, 24 points in 81 GP with NYI Karson Kuhlman: 27, 145 NHL games, 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points in 47 GP with SEA/WPG Brian Pinho: 28, 2 NHL games, 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points in 53 GP with Utica (AHL) Otto Koivula: 24, 28 NHL games, 12 goals, 13 assists, 25 points in 46 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Reese Newkirk: 22, 0 NHL games, 18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points in 50 GP with Worcester (ECHL) Notes: The Islanders have tremendous center depth, only strengthened by the depth signings of Karson Kuhlman and Brian Pinho a few days ago. It's likely their strongest position, and that's not including Mathew Barzal, who is a natural center-turned-wingman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEFT WING Anders Lee: 33, 678 NHL games, 28 goals, 22 assists, 40 points in 82 GP with NYI Pierre Engvall: 27, 244 NHL games, 17 goals, 13 assists, 30 points in 76 GP with TOR/NYI Simon Holmstrom (Can play RW): 22, 50 NHL games, 6 goals, 3 assists, 9 points in 50 GP with NYI Matt Martin: 34, 898 NHL games, 7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 81 GP with NYI Arnaud Durandeau: 24, 4 NHL games, 24 goals, 31 assists, 55 points in 68 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Ross Johnston: 29, 134 NHL games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points in 16 GP with NYI Ruslan Iskhakov: 22, 0 NHL games, 17 goals, 34 assists, 51 points in 69 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Kyle MacLean: 24, 0 NHL games, 11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points in 67 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Daylan Kuefler: 21, 0 NHL games, 31 goals, 30 assists, 61 points in 54 GP with Kamloops (WHL) Notes: The depth at left wing is likely the Islanders' biggest weakness outside of the right defense position. Things change if Arnaud Durandeau and Ruslan Iskhakov become NHLers, but right now, that's a major question mark. They could use another depth, NHL-ready left winger. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RIGHT WING Mathew Barzal: 26, 420 NHL games, 14 goals, 37 assists, 51 points in 58 GP with NYI Kyle Palmieri: 32, 736 NHL games, 16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points in 55 GP with NYI Oliver Wahlstrom: 23, 161 NHL games, 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 35 GP with NYI Hudson Fasching: (Can play LW): 27, 87 NHL games, 10 goals, nine assists, 19 points in 39 GP with NYI Cal Clutterbuck: 35, 982 NHL games, 6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points in 49 GP with NYI Julien Gauthier: 25, 153 NHL games, 9 goals, 5 assists, 14 points in with NYR/OTT Matthew Maggio: 20, 0 NHL games, 54 goals, 57 assists, 111 points in 66 GP with Wind, 1sor (OHL) William Dufour: 21, 1 NHL game, 21 goals, 27 assists, 48 points in 69 GP with Bridgeport ((AHL) Notes: Moving Barzal to the wing changed a lot for the depth on that side. There's a few question marks, as we await to see if Oliver Wahlstrom can become an NHL sniper, while Matthew Maggio and William Dufour (late-round selections) continue to develop. However, there is NHL-experienced depth for now, in case of injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEFT DEFENSE Adam Pelech: 28, 442 NHL games, 6 goals, 15 assists, 21 points in 61 GP with NYI Alexander Romanov: 23, 209 NHL games, 2 goals, 20 assists, 22 points in 76 GP with NYI Sebastian Aho: 27, 132 NHL games, 5 goals, 18 assists, 23 points in 71 GP with NYI Samuel Bolduc: 22, 17 NHL games, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points in 17 GP with NYI Robin Salo: 24, 32 NHL games, 0 goals, 14 assists, 14 points in 38 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Dennis Cholowski: 25, 117 NHL games, 1 goal, 37 assists, 38 points in 67 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Travis Mitchell: 23, 0 NHL games, 6 goals, 13 assists, 19 points in 34 GP with Cornell (ECAC) Notes: The Islanders have the NHL depth on the left side, but could certainly use another proven NHLer to solidify the defense if the Islanders believe Samuel Bolduc isn't ready to be an everyday player. Sebastian Aho is a perfect seventh defenseman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RIGHT DEFENSE Ryan Pulock:28, 428 NHL games, 5 goals, 21 assists, 26 points in 82 GP with NYI Noah Dobson: 23, 238 NHL games, 13 goals, 36 assists, 49 points in 78 GP with NYI Scott Mayfield: 30, 428 NHL games, 6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points in 82 GP with NYI Grant Hutton: 27, 16 NHL games, 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 39 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Paul LaDue: 30, 70 NHL games, 0 goals, 8 assists, 8 points in 49 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Aidan Fulp: 23, 0 NHL games, 2 goals, 13 assists, 15 points in 38 GP for Western Michigan University (NCHC) Notes: With Scott Mayfield returning, the Islanders don't have a glaring hole here at the NHL level. But they still lack organizational depth at this position, their biggest need going forward. Grant Hutton and Paul LaDue have NHL experience but aren't young prospects by any means, to play key roles down the road. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOALTENDING Ilya Sorokin: 27, 70 NHL games, 2.34 GAA, .924 SV%, 6 SO in 62 GP with NYI Semyon Varlamov: 35, 272 NHL games, 2.70 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO in 23 GP with NYI Jakub Skarek: 23, 0 NHL games, 3.37 GAA, .892 SV%, 2 SO in 38 GP with Bridgeport (AHL) Ken Appleby: 28, 0 NHL games, 3.01 GAA, .907 SV%, 5 SO in 30 GP with Worcester Railers (ECHL) Tristan Lennox: 20, 0 NHL games, 3.15 GAA, .888 SV%, 3 SO in 45 GP with Saginaw (OHL) With Ilya Sorokin locked in for another eight years and Semyon Varlamov for another four, the Islanders' need for goaltending isn't there. However, after Varlamov's contract ends (will be 39 years old) the Islanders will hope that either Jakub Skarek or Tristan Lennox can be serviceable backups. With the loss of goaltender Cory Schneider, who is headed to Europe, the Islanders could use a veteran backstop like Keith Kinkaid (Long Island native) to pair with Skarek as Bridgeport's goaltending tandem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAP BREAKDOWN
