The week was full of action for the Islanders.They closed out their preseason schedule last weekend.
The Isles lost 2-1 in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, Oct. 2. Kael Mouillierat scored the lone goal for the Isles. Later in the week, Mouillierat did not make the cut for the big-club and was sent to the AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The Islanders could not capitalize on a late power play in overtime. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak played the full game, stopping 21 of 22 shots in regulation and allowing one goal in the shootout.
Ryan Strome had a strong game. He led all Islanders forwards with 21:03 Time-on-Ice, five shots and 10 total attempts. Cory Conacher had a strong game as well, as he went on a breakaway in overtime.
The Isles finished out their preseason with a 6-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Friday, Oct. 3. Kyle Okposo scored the lone goal for the Isles.
Goaltender Chad Johnson played the full 60 minutes for the Isles. The Islanders finished their preseason with a record of 4-2-1.
The following day, Saturday, Oct. 4, was full of transactions for the Isles.
Both Isles first-round draft picks have now been signed to three-year entry-level contracts. Michael Dal Colle signed his contract last week. This week, Joshua Ho-Sang joined and signed his deal. Both will play for their Junior clubs in the OHL.
The same day, the roster was trimmed to 31. That meant nothing to General Manager Garth Snow, who made some significant acquisitions. He traded for two defenseman the same day, the first being former Boston Bruin Johnny Boychuk. The Isles traded second- round selections in the 2015 and 2016 NHL Drafts, along with a conditional third round pick to Boston.
Next was former Chicago Blackhawk Nick Leddy. The Islanders traded defensemen TJ Brennan, defensemen Ville Pokka and goaltender Anders Nilsson to the Hawks for Leddy and goaltender Kent Simpson.
Both Boychuk and Leddy are former Stanley Cup Champions. Leddy won it all in 2013 and Boychuk in 2011. Leddy has 54 playoff games under his belt and Boychuk will bring 79. They know what it takes to win. Both guys will add experience to a young defensive core. Top-quality defensemen was the piece to the puzzle the team needed to fill the most. The message is clear that they want to win.
The Isles trimmed down their roster to the final 23 on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Griffin Reinhart made his first NHL roster out of training camp. He will be an asset to the defensive core. He will become more comfortable every game he plays.
Defensemen Matt Carkner, Calvin de Haan and Lubomir Visnovsky were all placed on the injured reserve list to begin the regular season.
Conacher is the winner of the spot to play alongside Kyle Okposo and Captain John Tavares on the first-line. Brock Nelson will center the second-line of Mikhail Grabovski and Strome.
The puck drops on the Islanders regular season with a back-to-back, home-and-home set against the Carolina Hurricanes, beginning Friday Oct. 10 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
