New York Islanders News

With Darcy Kuemper (lower body) sidelined for at least one game, Rittich assumes the role of the Kings' starting netminder on Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old Rittich has not played yet this season but will attempt to replicate his stats from a season ago when he emerged as a viable option in the net for the Kings, posting a 2.15 GAA and .921 SV% in 24 contests (13-6-3). The Kings enter action as +158 road underdogs against the Maple Leafs.

After losing their first two games of the season, the Islanders will finally turn to 2022-23 Vezina-trophy runner-up Sorokin in between the pipes. Sorokin had a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, posting a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV% in 56 outings (25-19-12), and seemingly fell out of favor with head coach Patrick Roy. That said, the 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific over his four-year NHL career, accumulating a terrific 2.54 GAA and .919 SV% in 192 career contests (95-65-30). The Islanders enter action on Monday as +135 road underdogs against the winless Colorado Avalanche.

After losing their first two games of the season, the Islanders will finally turn to 2022-23 Vezina-trophy runner-up Sorokin in between the pipes. Sorokin had a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, posting a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV% in 56 outings (25-19-12), and seemingly fell out of favor with head coach Patrick Roy. That said, the 29-year-old Sorokin has been terrific over his four-year NHL career, accumulating a terrific 2.54 GAA and .919 SV% in 192 career contests (95-65-30). The Islanders enter action on Monday as +135 road underdogs against the winless Colorado Avalanche.

Patrick Roy favoured Varlamov last season after taking over the Islanders' head coaching duties and will turn to Varlamov for consecutive games to start the season. The 36-year-old Varlamov was great last season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in 28 games (14-8-4), but struggled in the Islanders season opener on Thursday, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in 5-4 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Boqvist took a puck to the face in the Panthers' season opener and had to leave after just 4:38 TOI. He missed Thursday's game in Ottawa but will be back in the lineup in Buffalo. Boqvist will be one of the Panthers' seven defensemen in the lineup but will serve as the quarterback on their top power-play unit.

Heineman had two SOG and three hits in 9:40 TOI in the Canadiens season opener but was a healthy scratch in their second game. He'll replace Alex Barré-Boulet on the fourth line on Saturday.

Drouin played 21:25 in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday or Friday and will miss several games. Ross Colton is expected to fill in on the top powerplay unit in Drouin's absence.

Patrick Roy favored Varlamov last season after taking over the Islanders' head coaching duties and appears to be doing so again, likely turning to Varlamov for consecutive games to start the season. The 36-year-old Varlamov was great last season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in 28 games (14-8-4), but struggled in the Islanders season opener on Thursday, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in 5-4 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Boqvist returned to Florida's morning skate on Thursday but will be out with an upper-body injury after taking a puck high and leaving the Panthers' previous game early. The 24-year-old has battled unfortunate injuries throughout his entire six-year career and will be replaced by Nate Schmidt on Thursday. Head Coach Paul Maurice stated he felt good about Boqvist's return in Florida's next game on Saturday.

Oliver Kapanen will draw into the Canadiens lineup for his NHL debut on Thursday, resulting in Heineman being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Heineman playing 9:40 time-on-ice in his season debut last night, recording two shots and two penalty minutes.

Sorokin underwent back surgery in the offseason and, despite being ready to play, will serve as the backup to Semyon Varlamov in the Islanders' season opener on Thursday. Last season, after Patrick Roy became head coach of the Islanders, Sorokin's workload decreased dramatically. Sorokin had a poor campaign by his standards, posting a 3.01 GAA and .908 SV%, and will need to improve to his Vezina-caliber numbers of years past if he plans to regain the trust of the coach as one of the premier netminders in the league.

Ilya Sorokin has fully recovered from offseason back surgery but will start the season backing up Varlamov, as he did for much of the stretch run and into the playoffs last season. Varlamov has a report with head coach Patrick Roy from their days with the Colorado Avalanche and could find himself in a position to garner more starts again this season if his play warrants it. The 36-year-old Varlamov is coming off a solid 2023-24 campaign, posting a .260 GAA and .918 SV% in 28 games (14-8-4).

Boqvist took a clearing attempt to the face while the Panthers' were on the power play in the first period of Tuesday's game vs. the Bruins. This is a tough break for the often injured Boqvist, who had a great opportunity starting on the Panthers' PP1 to open the season. Aaron Ekblad took over for Boqvist on that unit.

Highmore spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, where he had 31 points (9G / 22A) in 43 games. During a brief time in the NHL, he had two assists in seven games, giving him 29 points (12G / 17A) in 146 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Canucks, Blues and Senators. He is expected to be out for a week to two weeks.

Sorokin missed the start of training camp after undergoing offseason back surgery but GM Lou Lamoriello said that "he's ready" for the start of the season. It's still unclear if Sorokin or Semyon Varlamov will get the start but it's good news that Sorokin won't miss any time to start the year.

Bear was placed on waivers Friday but cleared on Saturday and has been loaned to the Hershey Bears (AHL) for the start of the 2024-25 season. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a two-year, $4.13 million contract and had a goal, four points and 10 PIMs in 24 games played in 2023-24.

Sorokin's return date is still unclear after the 29-year-old successfully underwent back surgery in the offseason. However, he had some incredibly positive signs on Thursday after he returned to Islanders' practice in full for the first time. The four-year NHL veteran claimed he felt good during the skate and is hopeful to be back shortly. Sorokin endured one of the roughest seasons of his professional career in 2023-24, posting a 25-19-12 record with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV%.

Islanders' GM Lou Lamoriello said that Sorokin could miss the first couple of days of training camp but there's no concern about his injury extending into the regular season. Sorokin will be looking to bounce-back in 2024-25, after posting career worsts in GAA (3.01) and SV% (.908) in 56 games last season.

Holmstrom waited to sign his contract after heading into the offseason as a RFA and has agreed on a one-year, $850,000 contract with New York on Tuesday. The 23-year-old right-winger was New York's 2019 1st round pick (23rd overall) and had a solid second NHL season in 2023-24 with 15 goals, 25 points, 72 SOG and 14 PIMs in 75 games played.

Beckman's rights were acquired from the Wild in late June and he signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Devils. The 23-year-old spent most of 2024 in the AHL, where he had 33 points (19G / 14A) in 51 games with the Iowa Wild. During his 11-game stint with Minnesota, Beckman had two assists, 10 SOG, 13 hits and three blocked shots.