With the start of the 2019-20 NHL season a little more than a week away, the New York Islanders’ roster is taking shape after the team announced it sent 12 more players to the AHL.
Granted, it’s not that hard to forecast a team’s forward lines when the roster remains largely unchanged.
The Islanders are returning 10 of their 11 full-time forwards from last year — the lone exception being Valtteri Filppula, who opted to sign with the Detroit Red Wings in free agency.
General manager Lou Lamoriello signed veteran center Derick Brassard to fill the void on the third line, but there’s still one little lineup matter to take care of before Oct. 4.
Who gets the 12th forward spot?
That last man in will likely take over as the second or third-line left-winger.
Last year saw a rotation of players fill the role that would have normally belonged to Andrew Ladd. But injuries have sidelined the veteran, including a knee issue that will see him start this season on injured reserve.
It forced head coach Barry Trotz to give time to the likes of Tom Kuhnhackl, Michael Dal Colle, Josh Ho-Sang, and Ross Johnston.
All four of those players are back in the mix and so are the likes of Oliver Wahlstrom and Tanner Fritz.
On Wednesday, the Islanders assigned Mason Jobst, Kieffer Bellows, and Otto Koivula to the team’s minor-league affiliate in Bridgeport.
Kuhnhackl provides the most veteran option for Trotz. The 27-year-old won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins but doesn’t provide much of an offensive boost for an Islanders team that had problems finding the back of the net last season.
Dal Colle, who at 23 years old carved out 28 games on the lower lines last year, had just three goals and four assists. However, he showed an affinity to play well in Trotz’s defense-first system.
It creates an advantage for him, but how patient will the Islanders be if they don’t see any offensive threat?
That’s why so many eyes have been on Ho-Sang, the enigmatic forward who is likely getting his final chance to make the Islanders this summer.
There’s no disputing the 23-year-old’s promise. He can make plays almost near the same level as Mathew Barzal when he’s on his day. The problem is those days are proving to be few and far between while his all-around game has been questioned.
The latest example came on Tuesday night following the Islanders’ exhibition loss to the Rangers.
“I’m really proud of myself. Defense is … it’s not something I think about,” Ho-Sang said (h/t NHL.com’s Brian Compton). “I don’t go to bed thinking about defense, but it’s something that’s really important to the coaches here, and I value the importance to them. I’ve grown to see how it leads to success.”
Ho-Sang showed an ability to play that style last year in his abbreviated stint in the NHL. In his 10 games with the Islanders, they won nine games.
If the Islanders are committed to giving Ho-Sang one more chance, he’s the last man in.
Johnston is a bruiser who can add toughness while Tanner Fritz has experience as a rotational forward.
Wahlstrom will likely need a bit more time in the AHL, though his presence this close to the start of the season suggests that he isn’t far away from getting NHL playing time.
The 19-year-old made the jump from college hockey to the minors last season but has shown a promising offensive skill set including wicked wrist shot that will translate well to the big leagues.
Here is how the opening-night forward lines might look:
Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier – Brock Nelson – Josh Bailey
Josh Ho-Sang – Derick Brassard – Leo Komarov
Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Cal Clutterbuck
