The Islanders’ final unanswered question involving their forward group was which wingers would play alongside Casey Cizikas. Saturday’s preseason finale offered a strong indication that the answer is now clear.
Earlier in the day, the Islanders placed Mitchell Chaffee on waivers. That left Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair on the lineup card for the exhibition matchup with the Devils.
The 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup led to some shifting combinations, but Palat and Duclair appear positioned to join Cizikas on the fourth line for Wednesday night’s season opener in Toronto. Kyle MacLean is expected to serve as the extra forward.
On paper, the trio offers a mix of contrasting styles. Cizikas is a direct, physical straight-line player, Duclair brings speed and offensive creativity, while the 35-year-old Palat is looking to rediscover the form that made him a key contributor during the Lightning’s Stanley Cup runs.
“We all bring something different to the table, which is nice, and it’s a lot about communication,” Cizikas said before Saturday’s exhibition. “It’s a lot about understanding each other and each other’s games.”
With coach Pete DeBoer searching for the secondary scoring the Islanders lacked last season, the combination could give the team one of its most dangerous fourth lines in years. Duclair has yet to produce consistently since joining the Islanders in 2024, but his history of 20-goal seasons remains a source of optimism.
“He’s got a nose for the net and he’s as slick as anybody with that puck,” Cizikas said. “So we’re gonna try to do everything we can to get him the puck and get him in positions where he’s able to get an opportunity.”
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The Islanders finished their preseason finale with 11 forwards and seven defensemen after Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn were held out. DeBoer described Schaefer’s issue as an upper-body “tweak” and Schenn’s as a lower-body one.
DeBoer said neither injury is expected to affect Wednesday’s opener, emphasizing that both players were kept out as a precaution.
Mathew Barzal remains day to day with a left kneecap injury. DeBoer did not say whether the Islanders center has resumed skating.
The Islanders also made several roster moves before Saturday’s game, assigning Alex Jefferies, Josh Kotai, Daniil Prokhorov, Matthew Highmore and Marshall Warren to AHL Hamilton. Mitchell Chaffee, Pierre Engvall, Liam Foudy, Daylan Kuefler and Matt Luff were placed on waivers.
With Engvall assigned to Hamilton, his salary-cap charge drops from $3 million to $1.775 million.