The New York Islanders finalized their 23-man roster for Opening Night against the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday, with three surprising cuts fueling speculation about the decisions.
The Islanders announced their final roster before Monday’s 5 pm deadline, as coach Patrick Roy and GM Lou Lamoriello made the final cuts. Here are three unexpected names making the team:
Surprising Names on the Final Roster:
3. Dennis Cholowski
Cholowski’s inclusion wasn’t a complete shock, but it was notable that he surpassed Grant Hutton and Samuel Bolduc. Initially, Bolduc seemed favored for the seventh defenseman position, but praise for Hutton and Cholowski from Roy suggested Bolduc was likely to be cut. Hutton is now positioned as the next man up in case of injuries.
2. Ilya Sorokin
Following offseason surgery for Sorokin, there was concern about his availability. However, sending Marcus Hogberg down to Bridgeport indicates that Sorokin is ready for the season. Semyon Varlamov is expected to take most starts initially, with Sorokin slated to make a few appearances in October.
1. Pierre Engvall
Engvall’s placement on waivers came as a mild surprise. He cleared waivers, making him eligible for Bridgeport, but may refuse to report and seek a trade. Though it seems unlikely that another team would take on his contract, teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets may consider acquiring him to meet salary floor requirements. By sending Engvall to the minors, the Isles have managed to remain cap-compliant without losing key players. His fit in Roy’s system seems mismatched, leading to him being the first cap casualty of the season.
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