Reading into preseason lineups is a perilous activity at the best of times.
But the Islanders offered up some reason for intrigue on Monday.
There was Maxim Tsyplakov’s debut in the top six.
There was Julien Gauthier getting a look at the fourth line.
And there was the conspicuous absence of Pierre Engvall.
All this in a sloppy 4-3 win over the Flyers that featured a full lineup of NHLers — one that might just be representative of where things stand for opening night on Oct. 10.
After a camp in which Simon Holmstrom saw the bulk of time on Nelson’s left, with Engvall getting a brief look as well, this was Tsyplakov’s chance to show what he could do.
“I think it’s a line that can be very successful,” Kyle Palmieri said. “Tonight as a whole was a little sloppy. Wasn’t all that crisp through the neutral zone.”
Tsyplakov, though, did contribute a screen assist — if hockey counted such things — on Mathew Barzal’s power play goal and made his presence known over 16:07 of ice.
“I think he’s gonna continue to get better the more comfortable he is, the more up to speed he is,” Palmieri said. “Obviously there’s not much of a language barrier, but he’s still learning the system, sometimes in camp, things move a little fast. As he continues to get more comfortable, he’ll get better.”
Engvall being out of the game group, in the midst of a preseason where he has not performed particularly well, was eyebrow-raising.
“I think he had an OK camp,” Roy said of Engvall. “Obviously, he’s minus-5 [in games]. So I’m not saying he’s playing bad. I think he’s been trying to do the things we’re asking for. But I have nothing negative to say about his play.”
You don’t need to read too far between the lines on that one.
It would be stunning if Engvall, who signed a seven-year deal with the Islanders in July 2023, did not make the opening night roster.
That is unlikely, but Engvall watching from the press box looks as though it is very much in play.
“I think everyone is fighting really hard to be in the lineup,” Engvall said. “I think some players are more certain. For me, from day one, I’ve just been trying to do my best and skating hard and good. Unfortunately some of the games I played, had a couple minus. But just gotta keep doing my best and that’s it.”
As for Gauthier, his chances of making the opening night roster are suddenly looking up after the former Ranger spent the back half of last season in AHL Bridgeport.
“I think so,” Gauthier said, when asked whether he feels he can grab a spot in the lineup. “They’ve been giving me some trust, just by showing I can be in the lineup tonight. Just gotta make the most of it. Obviously if it keeps going well like that, I don’t see why not.”
Gauthier’s opening night status could depend on Hudson Fasching, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury and skated on his own Monday.
The Islanders have a math problem to solve before training camp ends. Unless Ilya Sorokin (back surgery) starts the season on long-term injured reserve, the team will likely only be able to roster 22 players due to the salary cap.
So between Fasching, Oliver Wahlstrom, Samuel Bolduc, Gauthier, Matt Martin and Engvall — who had not previously been considered at risk — only two can be on the active roster.
That is more intrigue than this time of year has offered for the Islanders of late.
And with just one preseason game left, it still could shake out in any which way.
