New York Islanders training camp opened Thursday morning, and Peter DeBoer is already borrowing a page from another sport to make sure his team is ready for a compressed start.
With the league’s CBA changes trimming both camp and the preseason, and the regular season stretched to 84 games, the Islanders have only 12 days before they open against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That leaves little room for easing into things, especially with Mathew Barzal expected to miss almost all of camp. He still has not been ruled out for the season opener.
DeBoer said the unusual setup pushed him to look at how the NFL has handled a similar squeeze in recent years. The result, at least for this camp, is a heavier dose of contact and more game-like work than usual.
"It's funny," DeBoer said Thursday. "I was watching a lot of the NFL stuff, and I've been listening to those guys talk about how they've gone to a lot less contact practices, which the analysts are saying has led to a lot more offense early in the season.
I think we want to avoid that. I mean, we got right into D zone coverage today in contact.
"We've added a couple of scrimmages on the game days. If the group that isn't playing a preseason game, then that group is scrimmaging, and the other group that's playing is playing. So, if I'm going to make an error, and there's no right answer for it, I don't think anyone knows.
The NFL comparison matters because it’s the first major North American league to shorten preseason while expanding the regular season, and DeBoer is using that model to shape how the Islanders prepare. His goal is simple: keep the early-season play from getting sloppy by putting his group into more physical and competitive situations right away.
If the NHL does start the season with loose play, the Islanders are trying to make sure they’re not part of it.
In Other News...
Islanders Have An Early Camp Test For A Contract Fans Still Question
Pierre Engvall was back on the ice for the Islanders as training camp opened, a welcome sight after he missed all of last season following hip and ankle surgeries. The forward skated with the first group on Day 1, giving the club an early look at where he stands physically as the team begins sorting out lines, roles and expectations for the season ahead.
His return also brings renewed attention to the long contract he signed in 2023, which still has plenty of runway left. For a player whose health and production have been under the microscope, camp is an immediate test, and it comes at a time when Islanders fans are still looking for clearer answers about how he fits into the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Camp Already Has One Young Forward Forcing Attention
Training camp opened with the Islanders getting a first real look at where their forward depth stands, and the initial scrimmage offered just enough to keep attention fixed on the younger names. The Blue and White groups skated to a 1-1 tie, with Bo Horvat finding the net and a few of the clubs goalies, including Semyon Varlamov, Vitek Vanecek, Ilya Sorokin and Joshua Kotai, sharing the workload as Pete DeBoer used the session to push players into game-like situations.
Victor Eklund was part of the early buzz after scoring in the scrimmage, another reminder that camp can quickly turn into an audition for anyone trying to climb the ladder. DeBoer said the short camp makes these reps especially valuable for evaluation, and for a young forward trying to force his way into the conversation, every chance to show up in those scrimmages matters. [Read more 🡒]
Former Islanders Pick Just Took A Telling Turn In His Career
Oliver Wahlstroms next stop has taken him well away from the NHL grind. The former Islanders first-round pick, who has spent parts of six seasons in the league, signed with SHL club Djurgarden after spending last season exclusively in the AHL with San Jose. For a player who has spent recent years on the fringe of NHL rosters, the move points to a different kind of opportunity, one built around regular ice time and a little more certainty.
For the Islanders, Wahlstroms path is another reminder of how quickly the league can shift for even a highly regarded young forward. Once seen as one of the organizations more notable betting chips, he now heads overseas in search of a steadier role and more secure contract situation. The one unanswered question is whether this becomes a reset that gets him back on an NHL track, or the start of a longer stay away from North America. [Read more 🡒]