I don’t know about you, but I can use an escape, no?
Hockey is back and begins for real in just a few short days. The New York Islanders have been in practice all week preparing for their opener on Thursday against the rival New York Rangers. Personally, I’m excited to insulate myself in my IHPB - Individual Hockey Protection Bubble (trademark) – and start discussing topics outside of the chaos that exists in a divided world.
With the mini-camp in full swing, let’s highlight some of the biggest stories so far coming out of a world more secretive than Hogwarts.
Mathew Barzal still not in camp: This is the biggest test to date of team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello’s mantra: ‘when you have time, you use it.’ It doesn’t appear like head coach Barry Trotz necessarily agrees, but yet, here we are.
In speaking to the media via Zoom, Trotz said: “If you’re going to start the season, you’ve got to get going now. It’s hard if you miss some time. I don’t know if you can replicate what we’re working on. It’s tough for anyone to catch up. You need to be in live action as much as you can.”
Lamoriello and Barzal, via his agent, have been working for the better part of the last week to come up with an agreement that gets the young star in practice with his teammates, but so far, have been unable to put ink to paper. That doesn’t mean something isn’t necessarily ‘agreed’ to, but Barzal would be unwise to risk himself to any injury without an official document on file with the league.
The assumption is the deal will likely fall in the three-year, $6.5 million range – and with the signing of Matt Martin to a four-year deal and the still yet to be announced Andy Greene contract, the Islanders are cutting it dangerously close to the cap ceiling, even after placing Johnny Boychuk on LTIR. In a season that will be dominated by uncertainty, given the still fragile status of Coronavirus, it’s a dangerous place to be.
To remedy this, Lamoriello has been trying to move Thomas Hickey and Leo Komarov, as reported by the Fourth Period, in an attempt to give the Islanders some breathing room. It’s not surprising that there are not many teams jumping at the chance to land the pair and give Lamoriello some cap space. In any event, I stand by my prediction made on Twitter last week that Barzal will be in the lineup on Thursday.
Youngsters grab the spotlight: Given the scenario outlined above, Lamoriello was unable to get the additional scoring help his team sorely needed following their Eastern Conference Final exit last season at the hands of eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay. Mike Hoffman was very much on the radar, and the fact he waited so long to even sign a PTO signifies he was serious about coming to the Island. But, alas, there was only so much leash he could lay out before the Islanders boss, and accepted an offer from the St. Louis Blues.
So, the Islanders are left with the same squad that exited the bubble playoffs last year, minus Devon Toews. It’s time for a youngster, some more lauded than others, to step up and step up big. The two that come to mind are Keiffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom.
Bellows scored 41 goals in his final WHL season before struggling to make an impact in the AHL with the Sound Tigers. His second season was clearly better than his first, almost doubling his goal output (12 to 22), but more is needed off the puck to fit into the system Trotz demands of his players. Trotz called him ‘productive and competitive’ in Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Wahlstrom came with high hopes after being selected No. 11 in the 2018 draft. However, there were some warning signs. Wahlstrom dominated the US National Development Program, but struggled at Boston College, netting only 8 goals and 19 points in 36 games. He didn’t exactly light up the AHL last year, either, with 10-12-22 in 45 games. On loan with AIK during the virus shutdown, he did produce better results with 4-4-8 in 10 games before suffering a shoulder injury that fortunately was not serious. Trotz said Wednesday was his ‘best day of camp.’
Both are likely destined for the taxi squad to begin the season, but one who definitely will be upping his minutes in a significant way is Noah Dobson. With the trade of Toews to Colorado, the highway is wide open for Dobson to take on a larger role, even adding some special team minutes to his repertoire. I realize it’s only one game, but the way he performed in the ECF, being thrown into the mix so late in the bubble with the injury to Adam Pelech, was impressive to say the least. Calm, cool, and collected was the book on Dobson coming in, and he didn’t disappoint in a demanding situation.
Confirmed ‘white whale’ sighting: Islanders fans have more patience than most common hockey fans can even fathom. Waiting for stability in goal has become an annual rite of passage, even after Semyon Varlamov arrived last season on a bloated contract, partly to secure the arrival of…wait for it….yup, Ilya Sorokin is here, actually practicing with his new teammates and prepared to play a significant role in the fortunes of the 2020-21 Islanders.
With a condensed schedule, games will be played at a never before seen pace, which means it can’t all fall to Varlamov. Sorokin will be expected to play more games than a typical backup would play in an 82-game season. He might not be the present, but he is very much the future, and fans have been waiting an agonizing long time for this moment.
I would simply caution the NHL is the greatest hockey league on the planet, light years ahead of the KHL. It will take some time for Sorokin to adjust to the speed of the game and the laser accuracy of the world's best snipers. Adjust your expectations, especially early, and see the forest through the trees.
Next week, we’ll have some regular season results to cover. The Islanders and Rangers face off twice in three days, both times at MSG, and this is not a drill. Games count for real come Thursday. You ready?
Follow Andy Graziano on Twitter: @AndyGraz_WFAN
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