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After back-to-back first-round playoff losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Islanders are hoping for bigger and better things in the 2024-25 season as they enter training camp on Thursday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
The roster features a few new faces, the team will likely bid farewell to at least one familiar one, and the Islanders begin their first full season under head coach Patrick Roy.
Below are three storylines that Islanders fans should keep an eye with camp underway.
New faces
The first look at Anthony Duclair in #Isles blue and orange. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/K0P8qtZGTS
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 18, 2024
While the Islanders didn’t make a major splash in free agency, they added a few new pieces with the signings of free agent forward Anthony Duclair and Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Duclair, who signed a four-year deal on July 1, had 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points over 73 combined regular season games with the Lightning and Sharks.
“I’m just really excited,” Duclair told Greater Long Island. “Going into free agency, I had a lot of decisions to make, and I just felt that looking at this lineup, I could fit in really easily.”
Duclair is expected to compete for a spot on the Islanders’ top line with Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat. In fact, it won’t take long to see if he’s a good fit.
“We’ll try him at the beginning with Bo and Barzy and see how it goes. We’ll go from there,” said head coach Patrick Roy. “I think he’s going to be a good help to our team.”
Duclair has already created a buzz around the team and caught the attention of the face of the franchise.
“Your immediate reaction is just fast, high skill, and good IQ, and his compete level seems to be really high, so I think it’s a great addition,” said forward Mat Barzal. “He’s smart, he’s got skill, and he can shoot the puck.”
In what could be an under-the-radar pickup, the Islanders signed Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov to a one-year deal worth $950,000. The 25-year-old had 31 goals and 16 assists for 47 points in 65 KHL games last season.
#Isles Maxim Tsyplakov doesn’t score but the quick skid-stop to open up the lane is a solid thing to see: pic.twitter.com/CpCo56YzO2
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 19, 2024
“He looks strong,” said Islanders forward and potential linemate Brock Nelson. “He looks like a solid player. A lot of grit. Works hard and knows how to score. Probably at some point, I’m sure we’ll play together and try to connect and build some chemistry.”
The Islanders are hopeful for great things from both Tsyplakov and Duclair.
“I’m curious to see (Tsyplakov) in training camp because he made such a great impression in rookie camp,” said Roy. “I’m excited about those two additions to our team.”
There could also be a few prospects who make an impression at camp, including Matt Maggio, Alex Jeffries, Aidan Fulp, and Long Island product Marshall Warren.
Saying goodbye
Embed from Getty ImagesA big question going into the offseason was what the Islanders would do with veteran forwards Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, two-thirds of the Islanders’ “Identity Line” with Casey Cizikas. Martin is in training camp on a professional tryout contract (PTO), but it appears the team is moving on from Clutterbuck after 11 seasons with the blue and orange.
He’ll certainly be missed in the locker room.
“He’s a guy that put his heart and soul into the game and gave a lot to the franchise,” said Nelson. “He played a hard style and was a leader for us on and off the ice.”
“Clutter was, from day one, just a good veteran to me,” said Barzal. “He’s a funny guy, and we definitely had a lot of good times together. His presence is going to be missed—his physicality on the ice and his leadership in the room. He’s been amazing for us and the fan base, and he gave everything he had.”
It will definitely feel strange not seeing number 15 on the ice for the Islanders.
First camp under St. Patrick
Back in January, the Islanders made a coaching change, parting ways with Lane Lambert and hiring Patrick Roy as the team’s new head coach. Roy managed to get the Islanders back on track, guiding the team to an 11-2-1 record to close the season, a run that helped the Isles secure a playoff spot.
Now, the Islanders have their first training camp and full season with Roy behind the bench.
“I’m excited,” said Nelson. “You just want to get the ball rolling and get back to organized skating and practice, get things underway, and start playing games. We know the passion that Patty brings, so we’re looking forward to getting started.”
“It’s nice to be back with the boys,” said Barzal. “It looks like everybody had a good offseason. I think we got a great indication of just what Patty expects from each guy and the team. I think having a full camp and a full season with Patty is going to be great.”
The Islanders are eager to get going, and Roy and the coaching staff will ensure they’re ready when the season starts.
“We want to have a good training camp,” said Roy. “We want a good start. What is a good start? It’s playing the right way right off the bat and making sure we’re ready for whatever challenges come. The start of our training camp is going to be very important to set that tone.”
The Islanders will play their first preseason game on Friday, Sept. 27, away against the Devils. Their first regular season game will be at home on Thursday, Oct. 10, against the Utah Hockey Club, a new team based in Salt Lake City.
