Islanders' defensive prospects get head start at trying to earn roster spots
Islanders defenseman Robin Salo skates during Prospect Development Camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on Thursday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
At least two roster spots for defensemen will be open next week when the Islanders begin training camp. Some of the presumed candidates are getting an early start at trying to win the jobs.
Nine defensemen are among the group of 25 players invited to prospect development camp, which had its first on-ice sessions on Thursday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. Within that group, Dennis Cholowski, Grant Hutton and Robin Salo all have NHL experience, the latter two with the Islanders last season though the bulk of their season was spent with the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
The veterans report for the main camp on Wednesday.
“It’s really exciting,” said Salo, 23, a fourth-round pick in 2017 who had a goal and four assists in 21 NHL games in his first North American season. “The games I got up last year that I spent with the Islanders, it gave me more confidence and motivation. It’s a huge thing for me. I see how hard the competition is up there.”
The Islanders have moved on from Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene and have an opening for a third-pair, left-shooting defenseman as well as a seventh defenseman.
Cholowski, 24, signed as an unrestricted free agent after splitting 11 games last season between the Kraken and Capitals. He has played 115 NHL games overall. Cholowski and Salo both shoot left while Hutton is a righthander.
Hutton, more of a physical, stay-at-home presence at 6-4, 214 pounds, had a goal in 16 NHL games last season after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio) in 2019.
“I think it’s an exciting time when there’s opportunity to be taken and everyone is aware of that,” the 27-year-old Hutton said. “You can’t change your approach just because there may be open spots. You want to do whatever it is to stand out. You’re trying to make the team.
“It’s a different style of play, in my opinion, than the American League. I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to play in some games and just feel more comfortable. The first few games you’re just trying to make it through without making a mistake. Then you start to think, ‘How can I impact this game? How can I help my team win?’”
Notes & quotes: Michael Dal Colle, who played 112 games for the Islanders after being the fifth overall pick in 2014, agreed to a professional tryout offer with the Senators. He did not receive a qualifying offer from the Islanders as a restricted free agent … Defenseman Bode Wilde, a second-round pick in 2018 who has yet to make his NHL debut, is not on the development camp roster. He played in Sweden last season as he was kept from participating in the Islanders’ organization after not getting a COVID-19 vaccination … Retired Islanders defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Seidenberg are serving as on-ice instructors during development camp. “It kind of feels funny that they’re here now coaching,” Salo said. “They’re unbelievable players so it’s great to see them here still.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
