With Mathew Barzal still absent from Islanders camp, Barry Trotz talks importance of getting live action before season
The Islanders will have their first day off of training camp on Thursday, leaving them just six more potential practices until their season opener against the Rangers on Jan. 14 at Madison Square Garden.
Which means top-line center Mathew Barzal can still participate in the bulk of camp if the restricted free agent and the Islanders can quickly work out a new deal. But, as coach Barry Trotz cautioned on Wednesday without using Barzal’s name, the clock is ticking.
"If you’re going to start the season, you’ve got to get going right away," Trotz said. "It’s hard if you miss some time here. I don’t know if you can replicate what we’re doing here. It’s tough for anyone to catch up. We’re going to have live bullets, this will be a week from now.
"There’s not going to be a lot of practices [once the season starts]," Trotz added. "You need to be in live action as much as you can."
Numbers game
Unlike typical training camps, Trotz indicated he likely won’t trim the current 38-player roster (22 forwards, 12 defensemen, four goalies) until very close to the regular season.
"We’re going to stay with the bigger numbers until the last moment, before we have to send guys on waivers," Trotz said. "We need those bodies as protection because of where we’re at in a pandemic. So, we need those numbers."
However, Trotz added he would be splitting camp into a bigger group — presumably those likely to make the regular-season roster and taxi squad — and smaller group — most likely those headed for the AHL — possibly as soon as Friday.
Isles files
Forward Dmytro Timashov (undisclosed) did not participate in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Trotz said Timashov was "not available, but it’s not sickness." . . . Forwards Austin Czarnik (undisclosed), Simon Holmstrom (quarantining), Tom Kuhnhackl (unsigned) and Barzal were the others not to participate.
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.
More Islanders
