Going into training camp for the 2025/26 season, Matthew Barzal will take back the center position that was occupied by Brock Nelson prior to his trade to the Colorado Avs. Barzal had been playing on the right side when healthy, giving the Islanders a reputable threat for the top-line winger spot. While Barzal’s 43% career faceoff numbers aren’t great, it is his natural position and gives the Isles four NHL-proven centers on their roster to start camp. This leaves the team with only five right-wingers under contract to start the season. Let’s take a look at who they have to choose from and other options the team may have within the organization, as a whole.
Columbus Blue Jackets v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
Simon Holmstrom continues to grow into an NHL top six winger
The list of right-wingers the NY Islanders have to choose from isn’t going to jump off the page at you, but they are going to have the opportunity to prove themselves as NHL regulars going into the season. Simon Holstrom, Max Tsyplakov, Maxim Shabanov, Julien Gauthier and Matthew Maggio are who the Islanders have to start the new campaign. Simon Holmstrom made great strides last season posting career-highs for goals (20), assists (25) and points (45), while averaging almost 17 minutes per game. Holmstrom has quietly become a player to be counted on in all situations, especially on the penalty kill and with his timely scoring. He gives the Isles the best option on the right side and may get top line minutes.
Traktor Hockey Club player, Maxim Shabanov (49) seen in… | SOPA Images/GettyImages
Islanders have a duo of Russian players trying to prove they are NHL-caliber wingers
The Islanders 26-year-old winger, Max Tsyplakov, got his shot to play in the NHL last year. The highly touted Russian showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie campaign, scoring 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points while playing on all four lines. However, the best word to describe Tsyplakov’s season was inconsistency. He’s got good size at 6’2″, has an elite shot, is a deceptive skater, but just lacked the killer instinct around the net. He will have to take advantage of this opportunity to prove he deserves top six minutes, and one of the ways is by scoring on the powerplay. His three PP points weren’t good enough for a player of his ability, so he needs to show he can contribute on extra man situations. Joining Tsyplakov this season is 24-year-old Maxim Shabanov from the KHL in Russia. Playing for Chelyabinsk Traktor last season, the left-handed speedster scored 23 goals, added 44 assists for 67 points in 65 regular season games. Shabanov added another 20 points (10g/10a) in 21 playoff games, losing to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the KHL Finals. Hopefully, by adding Shabanov, the Islanders have given Tsyplakov a spark to jump start his game all while adding a quality addition to their talent pool.
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Who will end up as the Isles 4th-Line Right Winger?
Coming off an unexpected half season of play, NY Islanders Marc Gatcomb signed a much-deserved one year contract extension after scoring eight goals in a fourth line role. He is actually listed as a center on the teams’ roster, along with Casey Cizikas who most likely will be the center on that line. Making Gatcomb a winger makes the most sense, at least going into training camp. The other options are rookie Matthew Maggio or Julien Gauthier, who has NHL experience mostly with the Ottawa Senators. Then there is the highly talented Cal Ritchie the Isles received in the Brock Nelson trade. The former 1st-rounder of Colorado is another right-shot centerman who may have the best chance of making the team out of camp as a winger. If Ritchie shows he is ready for the jump to the NHL, this would then give the Islanders several options for their 13th forward kept on the roster. Not only would the Islanders then have depth on the right side, but down the middle at center. Only time will tell, but things may be a whole lot better at Right Wing than it looks on paper heading into camp.