New York Islanders Practice Media Availabilities | 10/24/25

New York Islanders Practice Media Availabilities | 10/24/25

What was it like to uh to get the call to come on up and and play with the big boys here? Yeah, it was uh pretty cool. Um it was after practice, so uh you know, I had to go right from the rink to UBS, so quick time turnaround, but yeah, it was obviously really cool, really special. Um yeah, and it was cool Rocky telling me um and then Dar calling me after. So it was really really cool experience. What did Matthew say to you? Yeah, he just said um you know, you’ve had a really good camp. You’ve been playing really well. Um and just uh you know it’s a good opportunity for you. Um and yeah, just cool experience for you and just take everything in and just um you know hopefully do your thing when you get out there hopefully. So was there part of you Marshall that went down there and said, “All right, I’ve got to do everything I can to get back as quick as I can.” Yeah, I think like um you know your first year kind of learning everything and then your second year you kind of everything slows down a little bit. So I feel like um it’s definitely helped me a lot just kind of learning um the way it went the first year and now you know I’m pretty comfortable in that league. So, um just you know, learning everything from the veterans and um taking everything day by day. But yeah, obviously like I think people don’t realize like how the game can slow down for guys and I think like if you have a good hockey IQ, everything becomes a little quick, a little slower and everything things open up more than than you didn’t see last year. So, it was obviously really special. What was the phone call like uh your parents? Yeah. Uh pretty emotional. Um it’s been a crazy journey. Um, yeah, it’s pretty hard to describe just because um like I was driving here and I I was like I was a little kid on Ice Works skating in that little Islanders program. Like who would have thought you know you’d ever be in this position. Um it’s really surreal. Like I don’t really have any words for it. It’s kind of emotional really but um yeah like my parents are obviously my mom was obviously like my dad was obviously pumped. My sister is pumped but yeah it takes a village really. So obviously without them I wouldn’t be anywhere. So I I I know you you you’ve dreamed of this since you were like seven or whatever it is. Have you allowed yourself to imagine, you know, if you get that rookie laugh just what that moment’s going to be like for you? Be pretty emotional. Yeah. Um really cool. Something really special. A lot of hard work. Like there’s some days in sports where you don’t know if you’re ever going to have a chance and then um when you when you’re that close it’s pretty special. And uh yeah, just it took a village for me to get here and um I put a lot of work in, a lot of sacrifice and um a lot of sacrifice people don’t even know that um I had to do. But yeah, it’ll be pretty surreal. I’ll probably inside I’ll be like a little kid, but I I’ll be a game game face when I do it. But yeah, you skated with these guys in training camp, but to be with them again today in practice, what was that like? I’m pretty fortunate because I get to skate here in the summer. So I know most of the guys and they’re all really good to me. really nice to me. So, yeah, it’s pretty easy transition, I think. You know, playing golf with them and like seeing them, it’s really really makes it easier. But, yeah, I’m just really thankful that everyone’s been super super welcoming and um yeah, it’s just a great group of guys and um yeah, it’s really it’s really cool to be here. What was it like for you to be named the AHL player? Yeah, it was cool. I think uh you know, sometimes you just have those games, you’re feeling it. I was feeling it and uh yeah, but like honestly like I didn’t even think that much of it cuz like you know you’re the boys are like making fun of you but I was just like whatever like but it was it’s cool. It was cool. It’s a cool honor first week of the year. So um for me it was cool but yeah just kind of build off training camp so um had a good training camp so led into the year and feel pretty confident like um the game’s kind of flowing. So just keep everything going and um let the game come to me. When you called home, did you tell them right away or did you make pretend you were calling for something else and then dropping on them? No, I told them right away. I was pretty excited. I was like I was like, “Mom, I got to pack. So, I got to like I got to call you and then I got to get everything going.” So, um yeah, everyone’s fired up. Uh yeah, everyone’s really fired up. They posted a picture of you, little Marshall in your Islander, big helmet, you know, big jersey. What would you tell that kid now? Well, uh you know, you’re you’re in the right direction. and you’re in the right direction. But it’s kind of cool cuz um like I was a diehard Islander fan like growing I still am, but growing up I was and um I had really good mentors along the way. So a lot of people in the organization still here um that really like all the Zamboni guys like all the guys in the pro shops that kind of like help me tape my stick and help me like sharpen my skates like you know th those are the special connections that you get um that people don’t even know. You know, I have so many so many lifelong friends that I’ve met around the rank at Ice Works and here and uh it’s super special. It’s almost like you’re playing for more than you. That’s what you’re making it sound like. Yeah. Like seriously. Yeah. Um I think a lot of things. I mean obviously you know I thought our special teams was pretty good even though you know um our power play didn’t get anything. I thought we did uh a good job of of getting in their zone and and sustaining pressure. But I mean um yeah it was just a great overall team effort. and every line was going last night and we need that going forward. In your line, especially that pass you made to Hinimman, how did you know he was there and and how did that chemistry develop over the past few weeks? Yeah, he’s just so good at finding those uh those empty spaces, right? And um I’m just trying to get it into an area and if you get it into an area with him, he’s he’s usually going to put it in. So, um he’s got a heck of a shot and you’re just trying to get it to him and and uh let him do the rest. What kind of elements do you guys bring as a line, the three of you that that click so well? Um, I just think we we read off each other really well. Um, obviously, uh, the skill takes over, but I think, you know, being responsible at both ends of the rank, I too has has been a big thing for us and, um, playing well defensively has led to our our offensive abilities to take over and, um, yeah, we just got to keep that going. For him, just to make such an impact at at 23, you know, only seven games into um, him being an Islander, just how surprising and and and cool is that to see? Yeah, it’s it’s been great. I mean, um, you know, you’re not sure what to expect. um you know, playing against him and stuff like that until you actually get on his line and and see him in person and um you know, get practicing and playing with him. So, you know, he’s he’s been phenomenal for us and um even Joe Joe’s been unbelievable, too. So, um you know, the the pieces are are starting to to fit and and click and we just got to again, we just got to keep that going. How good do you feel behind him to contribute too? That’s one thing to you know, join a team and you know, he’s got to make it a little bit of his name for himself in the locker room and on the ice. How good is it to see him do this? It’s been great. I mean, I think, you know, um, you saw it in camp, you know, his speed and his skill and his ability to shoot the puck and, um, you know, for him to kind of, you know, it’s not easy to come to a new team and and play the way he’s been playing right away and and fit in like he has and, um, he’s done a phenomenal job with that and I mean, just speaks to him as a player, as a person. What’s been the difference in the four wins compared to the three losses? Um, I think confidence is a big thing for us. Um, you know, obviously I think in, you know, us doing things a little bit better than we did in the first three games and and just growing as a team. I mean, you know, it’s it’s still early in the year and we still got some growth to do. We still can get better in certain in certain areas, but um, you know, these last four games has taken a step in the right direction. Good to rip off early wins, too. You’ve been here, you know, when sometimes there’s a hole that you got to dig yourselves out of. Yeah. No, it’s Yeah, it’s been great that way. I mean, we did dig ourselves a little bit of a hole the first three games and, you know, dug ourselves back out of it and we just got to, you know, we can’t just keep, you know, digging ourselves out of holes, you know, the entire year. So, um, you know, we’re we’re taking big steps here and we just got to continue to keep climbing. What do you remember from Warren’s camp and how happy are you for him to be up here? Yeah, super happy for him. Um, he had a great camp. He um, you know, contributed in and some goals and, uh, played well in the preseason and stuff like that. And you know, kid being from Long Island and being able to come up and and uh and be with us right now, it’s it’s great for him, it’s great for his family, and um you know, if he gets in the lineup, he’ll fit in just great. You can just tell from his his energy, the way he came into this locker room and how excited he is um to play for a hometown team, how special to watch him. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, I couldn’t imagine, you know, playing for uh for a hometown team, especially, you know, growing up watching um you know, certain teams. And um no, he does. as he has a smile on his face every single day. I think he’s just he’s super happy to be here. He works hard every single day on the ice in the gym. So, um we’re happy to have him up and and um you know, one of these days I’m sure we’ll see him in the lineup. You’ve taken a rookie lap. Is that one rookie lap that if he gets to take it, you might go, “Okay, I want to see this one.” Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I know. I’ve I’ve taken uh you know, my rookie laps and seen a couple over the years and um you know, I think it’d be great for him to to get out there one of these days and it’d be definitely wearing no helmet. That’s for sure. So evident how excited Marshall Warren was to to be here. But what did you think of his camp and also his practice today? Yeah, he was uh actually he was really good in the training camp. I thought he played really well and um he was player of the week in in Bridgeport and um seeing him today I mean it was it was nice to see him be rewarded for for what he’s been doing and playing tomorrow his first game will be even more uh a great moment for him. Focus comes out. Yeah. And any update on are you expecting to have Shabana for tomorrow or not? No. No. Well, I was gonna ask you if you were willing to tell the lineup, but No, we we’ll see tomorrow. Yeah, there’s there’s Since you’ve started working with Matthew Dar, what have you seen in terms of just how decisive he is, like once he makes a decision, there’s no, you know, he he’s going to do what’s best for the team, right? I’m not going to answer directly like this, but what I’ll say is um you could tell that he he learned a lot in in in in Tampa working with Julian Breeze boy. I think he was um he’s probably his mentor and and he’s learning so much from him and and he was ready for this this job and um now to answer your question is yes. I mean, but that’s that’s the beauty of this business. I mean, sometimes you have to make those decision and I think he’s not afraid to do. What did you see from Simon Holmstrom yesterday? I thought he was really good. Thought he was really good. Um, made a joke to him. I said, I guess you don’t want to be back on that fourth line, but you know what? I I thought he was skating well. I thought that he um when he protects the puck and he’s moving his feet, um he’s hard to play against. And um I was happy to see him be rewarded with that goal at the end of the game. you make the joke, but by a great play by Ley as well. Is it is it a different mindset, do you think, for him being going just from the quoteunquote fourth to the third or it just I think sometimes it’s it’s no one’s like to be bumped back in the lineup, but when you back up, you want to stay there so it’s healthy for the team. Just with him and and JG Pio, what kind of chemistry did they reignite last night? Well, I mean, they’ve been playing really well and pony killing together. I mean um they are um a solid pairing and and um so was I surprised to see them play that well together? No. But I mean at the same time I mean you always hope that when you you know when you make a decision like this one it’ll turn very good for the team and actually it did. Anything surprise you about Emil’s game now that you’ve had a chance to really do it? Anything surprise you about Heinman’s game that now that you have a chance to do like a really deep dive with him and see what he is as a player? I will say this, Spencer told me that I would love him and he’s right. I mean, um I guess he saw him when he was in Tempo, but I mean um sometimes when you make trades, you hope the trades will be great for both teams. And right now it is. and and and it’s really nice to see him taking advantage playing with Bo and and and and uh Joe Dwayne. So that line’s playing really well for us. So um but everything he’s been doing is just great and and I’m I’m I’m impressed with this one, two, three jump, how fast he’s he’s, you know, he taking off and and how good he is to find those uh same pass and like he did yesterday on that second goal. I was scorer would do that. What’s impressed you most about the way he was able to settle into a new team so quickly? Well, sometimes it’s easy for some guys, sometimes it’s tougher for others, but I mean, for him seems like he he had a role for us, you know, like in a way that um he brings that that that element that we didn’t have, that physicality, the guy that goes to the net. And and what I love about it is he understand that and he does it really well. When you got the job, this is kind of the way you wanted to play. So as a coach to see it in action where you guys are dominating off the rush, defending the rush, getting good goalending. What does it feel like for you as a coach when this is exactly? Well, what I really love about yesterday’s game, sorry if I don’t answer your question correctly, but what I love about our game yesterday was our first touch on our breakouts. I mean, we were moving our feet, we were moving the puck, and I think sometimes it just take time, you know, that’s that’s a big change for us, you know, breaking out and skating and allow our D to jump into the rush and stuff like this. So, so it’s a lot different than it was was. So, yes, we are. I think we all are excited, but unfortunately sometimes takes a little bit time to do and and I think our guys adapting really well right now. I I know winning plays a large part in being happy, right? But when you see the guys react like they did to that last drill there, what what does that tell you about where your team is at? Well, that’s what we want. We talk about joy from the start of the season and that’s that’s exactly but we just don’t want to have joy when we win. We want it all the time, you know. It’s I guess it’s different kind of joy you say. But I mean it’s nice to see the guys having fun out there but also, you know, feeling good about the way we’re playing. I mean, last night was a really good game for us.

Hear from Bo Horvat, Marshall Warren, and Patrick Roy after today’s practice.