It is September and the weather starts to cool down (which happened early in the New York region this year for some reason). It means that hockey is around the corner and the time to make predictions and projections is now.
Related: Islanders have 4 duos that will make or break 2025-26
The New York Islanders go into the season for the first time in a while with an unpredictable schedule and therefore an unpredictable line -up. There are many moving parts and a few prospects that the team can make directly out of the gate. That is why there are several line-ups that can roll out the islanders during the 2025-26 season.
Ahead
The islanders have a step back and look at the forward unity, have a lot of depth skate, but not many who fit in the top six. That is why even the ideal lines look messy and show striking problems.
Ideal forward lines
Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal
Simon Holmstrom – Jonathan Drouin – Kyle Palmieri
Anthony Duclair-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Maxim Shabanov
Maxim Tsyplakov – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman
Two things stand out with these lines. The first is that it leans heavily on the upper line that bears the attack, with the Barzal and Horvat connection leading the way. The other is that Pierre Engvall stays it. Engvall, that a seven -year -old deal signed In the low season of 2023 is in the same category as Duclair, an attacker signed with a bad contract and will either remain on the line -up until an injury takes place.
Most likely forward lines
Other Lee – Bo Horvat – Simon Holmstrom
Jonathan Drouin – Mathew Barzal – Kyle Palmieri
Maxim Tsyplakov-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Maxim Shabanov
Anthony Duclair – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman
Palmieri is a top-line skater, especially in this schedule. However, if the islanders split Barzal and Horvat, it makes sense to play him on the same line as Barzal, the best playmaker, to give him a lot of open appearance. The other note is for Duclair, who is not a fourth lining and is expected to bounce back from a rough season. That said, it’s hard to see someone replacing him on the left wing for him.
The sliding doors ahead lines
Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Mathew Barzal
Jonathan Drouin – Calum Ritchie – Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Maxim Shabanov
Maxim Tsyplakov – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman
The reason that these are the sliding doors lines is because of Calum Ritchie. When he is ready, he will force many skaters in the top six to move. Ritchie, who have acquired the islanders The Brock Nelson tradeis a center, and by making the NHL selection, he would return Barzal to the upper wing (which then moves someone from the top six).
It is a good problem to have, because Ritchie can be a major upgrade to the forward group and get the most from the experienced wing players. This also makes some skaters replaceable, in particular Duclair and Engvall, who have struggled since he came to the team and did not succeed in finding consistent roles.
Defense
The big questions about the defense are whether Matthew Schaefer is ready and whether he can be made directly from the gate. The ideal defense combinations include The top choice By the islanders who immediately become a star.
Ideal defense savings
Alexander Romanov – Matthew Schaefer
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Tony Deangelo – Scott Mayfield
If Schaefer is a star that he projects at some point, it gives the islanders an ideal top combination. They have a two -way player who can play in all situations and at the same time has an option for home in Romanov. This link also makes the others better, because it enables DeEngelo to move in the line -up and to have a greater impact as a depth defender.
Projected defense savings
Alexander Romanov – Tony Deangelo
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Adam Boqvist / Matthew Schaefer – Scott Mayfield
The assumption is that the 18-year-old Schaefer is not immediately ready for the NHL, and if he is, he will not be an impact player. So when he is on the Roster, he will probably start the third pair with a veteran like Mayfield, which is great for his development.
The two projections above ignore one player who can join the schedule and add a young presence to the line -up. It is where a potential youth movement can be involved.
Island residents Youth Movement couples
Alexander Romanov – Matthew Schaefer
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Isaiah George – Scott Mayfield
George showed flashes last season and is a great skater. That is why there is a good chance that he will be in the team immediately and add a spark to unity. The case can be made that the ideal scenario is Schaefer in the top pair with George on the third pair, making the islanders a faster team that can look better at the offensive end.
These couples leave two veterans from the line -up. Boqvist, who is expected to complete the unity, and Ethan Bear, who is the islanders signed this out of season Like the extra defender. There is a chance that both defenders will be in the American Hockey League team next season, but they will probably add depth to the NHL roster and be ready when the inevitable injuries strike.
Other comments about the arrangement of the island residents
The goalkeepers are worth keeping in mind. The projections are simple because Ilya Sorokin will be the starter and David Rittich will be the backup until Semyon Varlamov returns. The question is whether Sorokin will split, starts with the back -up or whether the islanders will lean on him all season.
The big image on the line -up of the islanders are that they have a lot of depth skate on both the forward unity and the defense. The question is whether the players can form strong chemistry or not. That is why Tsyplakov and Shabanov, two players with similar skills that adapt to the NHL (with Shabanov who plays his first season away from the Kontinental Hockey League), are useful as line sizes.
What do you think the lines and combinations will look like next season? Let us know in the commentary section below!
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