Bear was placed on waivers Friday but cleared on Saturday and has been loaned to the Hershey Bears (AHL) for the start of the 2024-25 season. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a two-year, $4.13 million contract and had a goal, four points and 10 PIMs in 24 games played in 2023-24.
Kurtis MacDermid will make his season debut in Palat's absence as he leaves the team for the birth of his second child. Palat managed to stick around for the Devils' season opener in Prague and had no points, and one SOG across 13:46 TOI.
Sorokin's return date is still unclear after the 29-year-old successfully underwent back surgery in the offseason. However, he had some incredibly positive signs on Thursday after he returned to Islanders' practice in full for the first time. The four-year NHL veteran claimed he felt good during the skate and is hopeful to be back shortly. Sorokin endured one of the roughest seasons of his professional career in 2023-24, posting a 25-19-12 record with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV%.
Islanders' GM Lou Lamoriello said that Sorokin could miss the first couple of days of training camp but there's no concern about his injury extending into the regular season. Sorokin will be looking to bounce-back in 2024-25, after posting career worsts in GAA (3.01) and SV% (.908) in 56 games last season.
Holmstrom waited to sign his contract after heading into the offseason as a RFA and has agreed on a one-year, $850,000 contract with New York on Tuesday. The 23-year-old right-winger was New York's 2019 1st round pick (23rd overall) and had a solid second NHL season in 2023-24 with 15 goals, 25 points, 72 SOG and 14 PIMs in 75 games played.
The Islanders selected Pulkkinen with the No.54 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old blueliner spent most of 2024 in Finland's top league, posting eight points (2G / 6A) in 29 games with JYP Jyväskylä.
Ritchie was the No.27 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward had 80 points (28G / 52A) in 50 games with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) last season and added another 30 points (8G / 22A) in 21 playoff games.
Duclair will join his ninth NHL team in 11 seasons after he signed a four-year deal worth $14.0 million ($3.5M AAV) with the Islanders on Monday. The 28-year-old went on a nice run with Tampa Bay after being acquired at last year's trade deadline, with 15 points in 17 games to add to his 24 goals and 42 points in 73 games played on the season.
MacLean made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and has earned himself a three-year, contract extension with the New York Islanders on Wednesday. The 25-year-old spent time in 2023-24 split between the Bridgeport Islanders (43 GP) and New York (32 GP) and had four goals and nine assists with the Islanders during his inaugural NHL season.
Chaffee was expected to be an unrestricted free agent come summer but has been re-signed by Tampa Bay for a two-year, $1.6 million ($800,000 AAV) contract extension on Thursday. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in 2021-22 but played 30 of his 32 career games this season with Tampa Bay, picking up seven points (4G/3A) in 30 games played in 2023-24.
DeAngelo suffered a wrist injury in Game 5 vs. the Islanders, but X-rays came back negative, and he's expected to play in Game 1. DeAngelo will likely remain in the lineup until Brett Pesce returns from his lower-body injury, which could happen at some point in Round 2.
DeAngelo left Game 5 in the third period after just 14:51 TOI due to an undisclosed injury but is fine and will be good to go if needed for Round 2. The 28-year-old defenseman appeared in three games after replacing the injured Brett Pesce earlier in the round, but failed to pick up a point to go along with his eight SOG and two PIMs.
Bear was a late-season signing for the Capitals making his debut at the end of December, but did not finish the campaign after entering the NHLPA player assistance program in late March. The 26-year-old defenseman scored four points (1G / 3A) while averaging 14:54 time-on-ice in 24 games this season.
Holmstrom has not played since game two but will re-enter the Islanders lineup for game five on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In the first two games of the series, the 22-year-old forward averaged 11:06 time-on-ice while firing one shot on goal.
