New York Islanders

Notebook: Islanders Signings, Rookie Camp Recap, Training Camp Time

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2022

We are one day away from seeing the New York Islanders on the ice for training camp as the 2022-23 season is right around the corner. In today’s Islanders Notebook, we address the organization’s three recent signings, the stories from development camp, as well as the information we have regarding training camp, along with some burning questions.

Islanders Bring Back 2 Players, Sign a Third

A day before the start of New York Islanders training camp, the organization announced three signings. Goaltender Cory Schneider, defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and forward Nikita Soshnikov to one-year deals.

Let’s break it down.

Per PuckPedia, Cory Schneider’s one-year, two-way deal is worth $750K (NHL) and 400K (AHL). We had been told by general manager Lou Lamoriello on Monday, that Schneider would be back with the organization.

Last season, in 30 games for the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL), the 36-year-old netminder posted a .921 SV% with a 2.71 GAA. Schneider got to play in one NHL game, getting the start against his former team, the New Jersey Devils.

You can refresh your mind about that magical night at The Rock right HERE.

Although we do not know what is role will be in Bridgeport, whether the starter or the backup, he will serve as a mentor to prospect Jakub Skarek and the rest of the young guys in the minors and help push them along.

Parker Wotherspoon’s contract, per CapFriendly, is a one-year, two-way deal worth $750k (NHL) and $175K (AHL). He was one of the last few remaining RFAs in the NHL. Wotherspoon, 25, has yet to play in an NHL game but was called up this past season. He even got the call-up over Robin Salo, with head coach Barry Trotz stating that Wotherspoon was the best defenseman in Bridgeport at that point in time.

In 57 games played last season in the AHL, Wotherspoon notched three goals and 21 assists.

As for why a contract took so long, no one knows. Wotherspoon will likely be at training camp but will play for Bridgeport this season.

Now onto Nikita Soshnikov, a 28-year-old forward from the KHL.

With Jim Paliafito part of the New York Islanders organization, hired this offseason after years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a signing like this should not come as a shock. Paliafito is a European scout who has done fine work in recruiting top KHL players like Rasmus Sandin, Nikita Zaitsev, Calle Rosen, Andreas Borgman, and Ilya Mikheyev.

Soshnikov also has NHL experience, playing 70 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and another 17 with the St. Louis Blues before leaving for the KHL following the 2018-19 season.

He had eight goals and eight assists in a total of 87 games and will serve as an extra forward for the organization.

Per The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz, Soshnikov’s contract is a one-way, one-year deal, worth $750K.

Despite playing for CSKA Moscow, Soshnikov was not teammates with Ilya Sorokin or Alexander Romanov.

Soshnikov played for CSKA Moscow from 2020-2021, as well as 11 games in 2021-22 before being dealt to Omsk Avangard. Sorokin played at CSKA from 2014-2020, with Romanov there from 2018-20.

Islanders Rookie Camp Content:

The New York Islanders held a six-day rookie camp, in which 22 skaters and three goaltenders participated. Read up on some of the prospects: Rookie Camp Roundup, Analysis & Observations

Goalies. Goalies. And goalies. The Islanders had three goaltenders participate in rookie camp: Jakub Skarek, Henrik Tikkanen & Tristan Lennox. Notes and quotes on the goalie prospects: Goalie Analysis From Development Camp

Fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Isaiah George relives hearing his name called, seeing his parents, and answering questions about his offseason work and what his goal is this year: EXCLUSIVE: Isaiah George’s Experience at NHL Draft, Development Camp So Far

Prospect Robin Salo is a player that will be fighting for the sixth or seventh defenseman spot. He expressed to me that he is still getting comfortable with North American ice, as he has only been on this side of the pond for one season. EXCLUSIVE: Robin Salo Still Getting Accustomed to North American Game

27-year-old Grant Hutton might be on the older side, but he stood out as a leader at rookie camp. But he shared with me that many prospects share that leadership quality, something that the Islanders organization pays attention to: Prospects Bring More Than Just Skills to Development Camp

Training Camp Info, Chat With Anders Lee, Lou Lamoriello

At the organization’s 14th annual golf outing, we caught up with New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, who explained how training camp would run this year: 3 Group Structure, 3 Biggest Questions

Prior to the chat with Lamoriello, we caught up with Islanders captain Anders Lee who discussed the Barry Trotz firing, the hiring of Lane Lambert, his new teammate Alexander Romanov and more: Lee Does Not Blame Trotz’s Style, Speaks on Lambert and Romanov

We do not know if a contract extension for Mathew Barzal will be coming prior to the start of training camp or the beginning of the 2021-22 regular season, but Lamoriello made it clear that he has a ton of confidence in his talented forward, saying that he was his biggest fan: Lamoriello on Barzal, ‘I Got Total Confidence And I’m His Biggest Fan’

The Islanders did not sign any players to PTOs, with Lamoriello addressing the reasons behind that: Lamoriello Speaks on PTO Decision, Belief in Younger Players & More