Goalkeepers.
O New York Islanders there are many of them.
At the NHL level, the Islanders are in great shape, with Ilya Sorokin locked up for eight seasons and Semyon Varlamov for another three.
Meeting that veteran Ken Appleby would likely sign elsewhere this summer – having joined the Charlotte Checkers – the Islanders have signed the former Ottawa Senators netminder Marcus Hogberg for a two-year deal outside Europe.
Related: Islanders sign former NHL goaltender Marcus Hogberg to two-year contract, diving into why
Hogberg will likely serve as the team’s goaltender in case any of the NHL regulars are injured, likely in a Bridgeport duel with Jakub Skarek (2018, Rd 3).
Skarek has struggled mightily in his three years with Bridgeport, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see his contract terminated with a year left or for this to be his final year with the organization.
The reason is that Henrik Tikkanen (2020, Rd. 7) was dominant, outperforming Skarek last season in his short stint with Bridgeport before being returned to Worcester, the club’s ECHL affiliate, which was hoping to make the playoffs – Bridgeport was not.
Don’t be shocked if Tikkanen starts the 2024-25 season in Bridgeport.
This leads us to Tristan Lennox (2021, Rd 3), who was Tikkanen’s goalkeeping partner at Worcester.
In his first season of professional hockey, Lennox played in just 13 games, posting a GAA of 2.94 and a SV% of .909 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Related: Islanders goalie prospect Tristan Lennox aims to open Bridgeport
According to the Worcester Guardian’s Bill BallouLennox will not be ready to start the 2024-25 season due to his “devastating” knee injury.
John Muse, who joined Worcester mid-season, is back, according to Ballou. After a trade with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Worcester also brought in veteran Michael Bullion.
So they have some veteran stability in goal, with the hope that Lennox can return to the team sooner rather than later.
Stefen Rosner / The Hockey News
While the Islanders expect Sorokin to be their No. 1 goaltender through 2032-33, they will eventually need a serviceable backup.
Lennox could be the guy who will only be 24 when Varlamov’s contract ends.
But with any perspective, you never know.
That’s why the Islanders added even more goaltending depth in the 2024 NHL Draft, using their fourth and fifth round picks to acquire goaltenders.
Although they are not expected to come to North America this season, the Islanders have signed KHL goaltender Dmitry Gamzin and Swedish goaltender Marcus Gidlof.
Gamzin posted a 1.98 GAA and .937 SV% in 13 games with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and a 2.42 GAA and .922 SV% in 23 games with Zvezda Moscow of the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL). The left goalie is 6’3” and 174 pounds.
Gidlöf posted a 2.22 GAA and .923 SV% in 26 games with Leksands IF J20 of the J20 Nationell League. In five playoff games with Leksands IF J20, Gidlöf had a GAA of 3.14 and an SV% of 0.895.
The Swedish left tackle has an impressive 6’ 6” and 212 pound frame at 18 years of age.
Related: Islanders use draft picks to bolster prospect pool; What now?
If Lennox isn’t the answer in a few years – in terms of injuries or just lack of development – one of these two, or Tikkanen, could be the future NHL backup to Sorokin and potentially take over as the No. 1 when the time comes. certain.
You can never have too many goalkeepers, and although it is a difficult position to evaluate, especially European ones, the more you have, the greater the chances of one of them living up to the hype.
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