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Feb 3, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) clears the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

With all the disappointments of the 2024-25 season, the Nashville Predators were in need of some good news as they opened training camp and began turning the page to 2025-26.

It came in the form of a positive report on team captain Roman Josi, who was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) last season.

The fact that the 35-year-old left-shot defenseman was present for the Preds’ first practice on Thursday was a plus in and of itself. During his media availability, Josi’s update on his health gave the team and its fans cause for optimism.

“I feel good,” Josi told reporters after Thursday's practice. “I’ve been skating for a while now. Even after the season, I started skating pretty soon, and even before camp practicing in full. (Thursday’s practice) was good. It was hard, but it was a good day.”

Josi suffered a concussion during a Feb. 25 game against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers Feb. 25 and missed the final 25 games of the season. As his recovery dragged on, he knew something wasn’t right and began looking into it.

“It just got to a point where it got worse and worse,” he explained. “That’s where I figured it out and… this was a really good thing for me to get some clarity. I think as a player, you start self diagnosing a lot. Having some clarity and having a plan going forward is huge to me.”

POTS is a condition that causes the heart to beat faster than normal when transitioning from sitting or lying down to standing up. Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky also was also diagnosed with POTS, but continues to compete.

Josi had been dealing with POTS symptoms even before his injury including headaches, elevated heart rate and dizziness. Once doctors discovered his condition, he began formulating a plan. He changed his diet and is making an effort to get more sleep.

Josi recorded 38 points (9-29-38) in 53 games for the Predators last season. While there were many things that went wrong for the team, losing their captain for that long stretch was like the final nail in the coffin.

“He’s our captain, our best player,” Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said Thursday. “Missing him for a substantial amount of time last year obviously isn’t a good thing. So, it’s great to see him healthy, number one; forget about the hockey part. I think he battled through that last year. I think he hung in there. Obviously, he’s got a lot of pride in this organization, he didn’t want to let (his teammates) down.”

Now that he has medication and other tools to help manage his condition, Josi is confident he can return to form this season.

“There’s some triggers, some times where I might feel symptoms a little bit,” Josi said. “Having the tools to manage it a lot better now is huge for me, and it makes a world of difference. I’m definitely back to 100 percent and feeling really good on the ice.”

Of course, one training camp practice is too small a sample size to determine what Josi’s role will be moving forward. Will he have to manage his workload and get less ice time than the approximate 25 minutes a night he’s been used to getting in previous years? Can he come anywhere close to the 85-point production of the 2023-24 season?

It seems unrealistic to think Josi can play an 82-game schedule like he did that season; in fact, it’s highly unlikely. Training camp will go a long way toward answering the many questions that remain. But having him back for any length of time will be a boost for the Predators.

“To see him back on the ice, for me, and I think for every Nashville Predator fan or anybody in the organization is a big deal," Brunette said.

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The San Jose Sharks hosted their opening day of training camp on Thursday morning.

The Teal group, featuring players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Nick Leddy, and John Klingberg, to name a few, started things off with their practice. Notably, Cam Lund was originally slated to skate with the Teal group but did not take the ice. Carson Wetsch and Oliver Wahlstrom took the ice instead, after not being listed. While there were a couple of interesting moments, the highlight was certainly when Celebrini pulled out an ankle-breaker on Leddy.

During the post-scrimmage media availability, Smith noted that although he was previously expected to spend a considerable amount of time playing center this season, he’s expecting to mostly play on the wing. He added, “I also worked on draws over the summer a lot. [I] got some tips from a lot of really good centers in the NHL, so if I need to take a faceoff at the end of a game, or at any point, I can do it.

Smith also spoke about not being invited to USA Hockey’s Olympic Orientation Camp, stating: “[It] definitely fuels the fire. I think every guy wants to be on that team, and I love playing for my country.” He went on to add, “I’m not going to worry about it too much. America’s got a bunch of amazing players, as everyone knows.”

Leddy then spoke about his feelings about joining the Sharks after previously playing with the Blues, “There’s a lot of excitement. You look at this roster up and down, there’s a lot of skill, a lot of speed, good goaltending, so there’s a lot of excitement ahead.” He opted to keep what type of injury held him to just 31 games last season private, but did note, “I feel good. [I’m] very excited to have another chance to prove myself.”

Leddy also spoke highly of Celebrini, “I don’t know if you saw, but he danced me and I fell,” he started with a chuckle. He continued, “It goes back to his work ethic. He’s one of the first guys out there and one of the last guys off. That’s a sign of a true leader. I’ve seen many captains do that throughout the years.”

From there, the first scrimmage of training camp was held at TechCU Arena, with the aforementioned Teal group taking on the Black group, which included the likes of Mario Ferraro, Yaroslav Askarov, and the second-overall pick from this summer’s draft, Michael Misa.

In the two-period scrimmage, the first period was a goaltending duel as both Alex Nedeljkovic and Yaroslav Askarov were able to keep the puck out of the net. Scoring opened in the second period, when Mario Ferraro made a smart pinching play from the blue line, and after a couple of attempts, he was able to beat Teal’s goaltender, Joshua Ravensbergen. Lucas Vanroboys scored Black’s second goal, and an empty-net goal sealed Teal’s fate as the Black group won 3-0.

The Black group then took the ice at the Sharks Rink for their practice. Tyler Toffoli spoke with the media and was quickly asked about the possibility of assuming the captaincy this season. He replied, “If something like that were to happen, then obviously it'd be an incredible honor. But at the same time, with the guys that came in, there are a lot of guys that are capable of doing that. I think we have a general group of captains within our organization and our team in the locker room that all step up.”

Toffoli also noted a key similarity between Misa and Celebrini: “[Misa] always wants the puck. When you have a kid who's 18 years old and demanding the puck in the middle of the ice, that goes a long way. You look at Macklin, and he's the exact same way. Different players, obviously, but both demand the puck and want the puck. I think that alone is a really good sign for a bright career.”

William Eklund noted that he has fully recovered from his wrist injury ahead of the World Championships. He was also complimentary of Sharks forward prospect Igor Chernyshov, “Really good player. You know, he’s very strong on the puck.”

The biggest news coming out of Ferraro’s availability was undoubtedly regarding his current contract status. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and, as of now, there have been no contract extension discussions between him and the Sharks.

Macklin Celebrini was also requested by the media, but was unavailable due to illness. 

Over the course of all the media availabilities, one thing stood above the rest. The Sharks are tired of losing, and they feel ready to take the next step, which, as Toffoli put it, is simple: “Not finish last.”

21 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 21The San Jose Sharks' season is just around the corner. NHL training camps opened yesterday and today, players returned to the ice for the start of on-ice activities. That brings us to just 21 days away from the official kickoff of the 2025-26 season against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. Sharks Announce 2025 Training Camp RosterLess than 24 hours before the San Jose Sharks start training camp, they’ve officially released their training camp roster. Sharks Sign Former Islanders Forward To PTO & AHL DealThe San Jose Sharks have announced that they’ve signed former New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom to a professional tryout (PTO) and an AHL contract.

On Thursday, GM Jason Botterill spoke to the media about the competition in training camp and the feel around the team, touching upon the idea of the Seattle Kraken carrying three goaltenders throughout the regular season. 

Due to the Olympic break, the NHL season will feature a more condensed schedule. Because of this, teams will need to rethink how they deploy players and goaltenders.

For the Kraken, the current concern is keeping their netminders, Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer, fresh, and one way is by keeping veteran goaltender Matt Murray on the NHL roster. 

"They're certainly going to be competing. We are ecstatic that Joey (Daccord) got the opportunity to be at the USA orientation camp; he certainly deserved that opportunity," said Botterill. "Joey's done a great job the last couple of years developing into a No.1 goalie in the National Hockey League, and it's great to see a goalie that was playing games for us in the Calder Cup Final to being in the mix to make a U.S. Olympic team."

Currently, Daccord is the proven and most deserving of the No.1 role. The 29-year-old has started over 50 games in the previous two seasons, recording a .906 save percentage and a 2.75 goals against average in 2024-25.

"Different positions, forwards, d-men, adding depth in those roles, competition in those roles and we've certainly done that in the goaltender position too. We are going to need the three of them throughout the year. We are ecstatic about Kokko and Ostman as young goalies developing in our system, but you don't want to throw them in NHL games until they are ready... We have ideas on playing three goalies, and we also have ideas if injuries occur, and we have to make an adjustment from that standpoint."

Daccord's role is seemingly set in stone, but as Grubauer has continued to struggle during his Kraken career, Murray comes with the opportunity to re-earn an NHL role. 

"I think there is a competition there for sure," Botterill said when asked if Murray could win a role over Grubauer. "I think there is different scenarios where we looked at being able to carry three goalies. How condensed some of the games are, I think you are going to need three goalies this season. "

Competition in training camp is a positive thing. As long as it's healthy competition, the players will push one another to be better, and that's exactly what Botterill and coach Lane Lambert are hoping for.

Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter is still without a contract, but the longtime NHLer isn't forcing a deal.

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Suter is still open to playing in the NHL, but isn't chasing opportunities; he's waiting for a team to come to him. 

Now 40 years old, Suter is as proven as they come, and if a team needs a veteran defenseman with 1526 games of NHL experience, he'll answer the call. 

"The 40-year-old defenseman instructed his longtime agent, Neil Sheehy, not to be proactive in calling teams. Suter didn’t want to force it, Sheehy said Thursday. If a team called with interest, so be it; they would listen. But they weren’t going to chase it," said LeBrun in his NHL rumblings story. After 20 NHL seasons, Sheehy said Suter is at peace with whatever comes. Perhaps a contender calls in the coming weeks, or maybe that’s it after an amazing career. The former Team USA Olympian played for the minimum $775,000 with the St. Louis Blues last season after three previous seasons with the Dallas Stars. But Suter has not retired just yet."

Suter has had an illustrious career, skating with the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and the Blues in his most recent stop. In what could be his final season and his lone season with the Blues, Suter notched two goals and 15 points, playing in all 82 games. 

The former seventh overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft never won a Stanley Cup. Still, he did bring home an Olympic silver medal, gold at the World Junior Championship and the U-18s as well as a second-place finish in Norris Trophy voting in 2012-13.  

Suter's future is uncertain at the moment, but one of the most reliable players in the NHL has ever seen hasn't closed the door on the NHL quite yet. 

Scott Laughton, a self-described "pretty harsh self-critic," wasn't happy with his performance after joining the Toronto Maple Leafs midway through last season."I wasn't good enough last year. That's the bottom line," Laughton said following his first on-ice session at training camp. "I need to be able to contribute offensively and create that way and help out some of those top guys".

The Leafs acquired the 12-season Philadelphia Flyers veteran at the March trade deadline for a 2027 first-round draft pick and popular Russian forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin. The 31-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, recorded two goals and two assists in 20 regular season games as he struggled to find his fit with the club.

Following Toronto’s 2025 second-round playoff exit against the Florida Panthers, Laughton went to Muskoka with his wife, Chloe, and baby son, Reed. He used the time to get in some much-needed family time and to take a break from what was a hectic year that included uprooting from Philadelphia.

'More Backcheck And There'll Be A Greater Paycheck': Maple Leafs React To Losing Players And Prospects On Trade Deadline DayDENVER — The Toronto Maple Leafs made some big moves ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade deadline. The Leafs acquired forward Scott Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins.

Upon returning from up north, Laughton spent most of the summer working out at the Maple Leafs practice facility, trying to familiarize himself with the organization and his new franchise, getting to know everyone from staff, to veterans and rookies.

Before training camp opened, Laughton spoke to Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube about his desire to get on the team’s penalty kill this season."I think I drive and create a lot of offense on it. And it drives my game. So I'm excited about it," he said.

‘That Was Kind Of My Era Of Hockey’: Scott Laughton Ready To Write His Own Chapter With Maple Leafs In Battle Of Ontario RevivalScott Laughton is ready for the revival of the Battle of Ontario. 

Driving offense from the penalty kill will be music to Maple Leafs head coach Berube’s ears since Mitch Marner played a key role in that regard for Toronto last season.

Berube praised Laughton's commitment."He was here a lot of the summer, putting in the work. And I think that's going to be a big difference for him and for us." The coach added, "I think going forward, you'll see a different player".

Based on the conversation, it sounds like Auston Matthews will still get reps on the penalty kill this season while newcomer Nicolas Roy will be another center option. Berube cited Dakota Joshua as another player with penalty-kill experience that can help.

'I'm Starting To Find My Footing': How Scott Laughton Is Adjusting To Life With Maple Leafs After First Eight GamesLaughton hasn't registered a point since being acquired by the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

Nothing about being a Leaf surprised Laughton, though he did describe the experience as “extremely cool”.“Those playoff games, Ottawa Senators at home and Florida (Panthers), you go out and it had been a long time since I had the hair stand up on my arms, and you get that feeling. There's nothing like it when you play in the playoffs and you get a chance to live out your dream,” he said.

Laughton, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, says he hasn’t thought about his contract beyond this year."I think as you go along, you kind of let your game speak for itself," Laughton said. "You've got to be good and play to your potential, and whatever happens, happens. I've never been a free agent, so I don't even know the feeling. I haven't even thought that far ahead. I just want to have a good start for the group and contribute where I can".

‘That’s How You Win A Series’: Craig Berube Praises Scott Laughton’s Shot-Blocking Heroics, Maple Leafs' Bottom-Six Delivers Against SenatorsWith 25 seconds left on the clock in a one-goal game, it wasn’t a member of the ‘Core Four’ who made the defining play of the Toronto Maple Leafs' series-clinching win – it was Scott Laughton, throwing himself in front of a Jake Sanderson slap shot to preserve the lead.

“Those playoff games, Ottawa Senators at home and Florida Panthers, you go out and it was a long time since I had the hair stick up on my arms, and you get that feeling. There's nothing like it when you play in the playoffs and you get a chance to live out your dream.”

Laughton is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and is eligible to sign a contract extension before then. But he insists he hasn’t thought about free agency and is more focused on getting his game back to where it was before the trade to Toronto.“I think as you go along, you kind of let your game speak for itself,” Laughton said. “You've got to be good and play to your potential, and whatever happens, happens.“I've never had free agency, so I don't even know the feeling. So I haven't even thought that far ahead. I just want to have a good start for a group and contribute where I can.”

'Hopefully Those Conversations Come': Scott Laughton Being Patient For Contract Negotiations With Maple LeafsScott Laughton has thoroughly enjoyed his first summer at home as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

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Thursday’s episode of the Crave series The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens aired on Thursday and focused solely on the Habs’ qualification for the playoffs and the series against the Washington Capitals.

Seeing how the players reacted to the qualification and how much they wanted to make the spring dance, not only for themselves and for the team, but also for veteran defenseman David Savard.

Canadiens: The First Scrimmage Was Intense
Canadiens: Dach Learned The Error Of His Ways
Canadiens: Russian Prospect Still Has His Eye On The Habs

We got a glimpse of that faithful April 16 from behind the scenes with Geoff Molson spending the whole day at the Bell Centre, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton watching from above on pins and needles when the Canadiens were desperately trying to seal the deal with an empty net goal.

The aftermath was also notable, with Martin St-Louis receiving the game puck from his team for his first playoff appearance as a coach. Seeing the unbridled joy in his face was quite something, because what we usually see is a guy who’s fully dialed in and just focused on his job.

The show then showed the making of the playoffs’ opening ceremony and the thinking that went behind having Carey Price, the man who last guided the team to the playoffs, light up the ice, and just how important it seemed to be for the organization to get the fans as pumped up as possible. An employee even recalls a player telling her that when the fans are waving the towels and screaming their heads off, you can actually feel the vibrations in the building.

Of course, the realization that playoff hockey is a different animal is part of the conversation as we see several extracts of the series against the Washington Capitals and of Tom Wilson’s impact on proceedings through his bone-crushing hits. While it’s obvious the team would have liked its playoff journey to last a lot longer, we see the realization that something is missing, particularly in terms of grit and physicality.

One of the most interesting parts of this final episode has to be Gorton and Hughes’ end-of-season talk with Juraj Slafkovsky. While the youngster wonders where his head was at in October and November and why he couldn’t play like he did at the end of the season, his bosses tell him that he has to be mentally ready when he comes to camp and not just physically prepared. Gorton even adds that self-flagellation in the media is not the way to get back on track, either. As for Hughes, he asks the power forward if he saw what Wilson did in the series against the Caps and tells him that he could be that guy for the Canadiens.

Will there be another season? They joke about it, saying it needs a new name now that they've made the playoffs, but I think there’s a real appetite for it among fans. It’s an excellent way to get to know both the organization and the players in a new light.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 24 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #24. 

Let's take a look.

Mike Gaul - 2001 - Drafted by Los Angeles in 1991. 

Played two games for Columbus during the franchise's first season in 2000. He didn't score a point and never played another NHL game.

He left for Europe in 2001 and played in Switzerland until 2004. After retiring from professional hockey in 2004, Mike took a position as a senior partner at an Investment Bank, Vires Capital VII, where he is currently developing and overseeing a portfolio of infrastructure projects totaling over $80B.

Hannes Hyvönen - 2003 - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1999. 

He played 36 games for the Jackets in 02-03, totaling 9 points, after the CBJ claimed him off waivers. He never played another NHL game after Columbus loaned him to Färjestads BK in 2003. 

He would go on to play in Finland, Switzerland, Russia, and Norway. He retired in 2016 and went into coaching in 2019.  Hyvönen is currently an asst. coach for Ässät of LIIGA. 

Todd Rohloff - 2004 - Undrafted out of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Played 24 games for the Jackets in 03-04, getting two points. The defenseman also played four years at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, before turning pro. 

Rohloff retired after the 2005–06 season after never playing another NHL game. 

François Beauchemin - 2006 - Drafted by Montréal in 1998.

Beauchemin only played 11 games as a Jacket before being traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the Sergei Fedorov trade of 2005. Had he stayed a Jacket, he could've easily been listed as the best player to have worn #24, and possibly one of the best defensemen to ever wear a CBJ uniform.

He went on to play 903 NHL games, score 288 points, and win a Stanley Cup in 2007. He returned to Anaheim in 2017, where he would play his last NHL season before retiring. 

Cam Severson - 2006 - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1997. 

After his trade from Calgary to Columbus, Severson played four games in 05-06 and had 0 points. 

He left for Europe in 2006 to play in Germany, Poland, and Romania, and would never play another NHL Game. He retired in 2010. 

Kris Beech - 2008 - Drafted by Washington in 1999. 

After being claimed off waivers, Beech played 16 games for Columbus in 07-08. He had 9 points in those 16 games. and would leave for Europe in 2009, where he would play until 2016. 

After playing for Columbus, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh in 07-08, he left for Europe and played in Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Czechia, Germany, Austria, and England. He retired in 2016. 

He is now an assistant coach for HV71 of the Swedish Elite League. 

Aaron Rome - 2009 Drafted by LA in 2002. 

Rome played 25 games for Columbus and had three points over two seasons, after being traded from the Anaheim Ducks. 

After playing for a few different teams, he would retire in 2015. 

Derek MacKenzie - 2010-2014 - 2008-2009 - Drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999.

MacKenzie played 279 games over the course of seven seasons for Columbus. He signed in Columbus in 2007 and made his debut in December of that year. 

He left for the Florida Panthers in 2014 and would play there until he retired in 2019. Later that year, he was named an asst. coach for Florida. He's spent the last two seasons as an asst. coach for the Nashville Predators.

Nathan Gerbe - 2018-2021

If this were a popularity contest, Gerbe wins by a landslide. He only played 41 games over three seasons, but it felt like he played a decade. Gerbe spent much of his five seasons with the organization in Cleveland, where he was the Captain for two seasons.

He retired in 2022 and joined the Nashville Predators as a development coach. 

Mathieu Olivier - 2023-2025  

Olivier is entering his fourth season in Columbus and is a fan favorite. He has played 202 games and has 59 points. He also has 290 PIMs and is considered the team's enforcer and authoritarian.

Last season, he set career highs in goals, assists, points, and PIMs. For his efforts, he was awarded a 6-year, $18,000,000 contract, keeping him away from free agency. This is one of the best signings in team history, if you ask some people. 

There are 24 days until opening night at NWA. 

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

After that, the Blue Jackets will open the regular season on the road against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Let us know what you think below.

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The New York Islanders could be in the Matt Grzelcyk market, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. 

"The Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, and Ducks would be other potential situations to monitor for Grzelcyk depending on how camps and the preseason go for those teams and their younger defensemen," LeBrun wrote in his latest. 

Fresh mini Rumblings — Suter, McTavish, Evangelista, Roslovic and more in my latest for ⁦@TheAthletic⁩ ⤵️ https://t.co/weq9HYO1VV

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 19, 2025

Grzelcyk, 31, has 593 total games of NHL experience, 511 of them over an eight-year career with the Boston Bruins. He played all 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024-25, recording one goal and 39 assists for a career-high 40 points in a career-high 20:37 minutes of ice time. 

So, why should the Islanders be interested?

The answer: experience. 

The Islanders are a veteran team with experience up and down their lineup. However, when it comes to the left side of their defense, that position is lacking the big league experience. 

Outside of Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov, no other left-side defenseman in the entire organization has a full seaosn of NHL experience under their belt -- let alone half of a season.

The closest is 21-year-old Isaiah George, who played 33 games in 2024-25. 

After George, the left-side defense depth looks like this: Calle Odelius, Marshall Warren, Travis Mitchell. 

No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer is likely to win the final LHD spot alongside Scott Mayfield, while Adam Boqvist is likely to serve as the club's seventh defenseman. He can play both sides, which is a luxury. 

Patrick Roy To Use Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon Approach With Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew SchaeferWESTBURY, NY -- At the New York Islanders charity golf outing on Monday, head coach Patrick Roy was asked about his plan when it comes to evaluating No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer.

But again, Grzelcyk brings experience, which will only benefit Schaefer.  

So, what would happen if the Islanders signed Grzelcyk?

Ideally, most teams carry 14 forwards and seven defensemen to complete their 23-man roster, but if the Islanders were to sign the veteran defenseman, he wouldn't be able to boost Bridgeport. 

The Islanders would then likely carry only 13 forwards, rocking eight defenseman instead. 

With Pierre Engvall two to three weeks away from even participating in a team practice after offseason hip surgery, the Islanders may have to choose between Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb if they go this route. 

Grzelcyk's next deal will likely be a one-year contract worth $755,000, a deal that would likely contain some bonuses.