New York Islanders Practice Availability | (11/03/25)

New York Islanders Practice Availability | (11/03/25)

probably the most thrilling win of the year for your group. Just take me through those final few minutes there in last night’s win. Yeah, it was one of those games where um played a good hockey game and uh found ourselves down uh towards the end. So, we just had to stick with it, find a way, and wait for your puck. Sometimes you have these games where you’re playing really good hockey and you know, you’re you’re a bounce away or a play away and you just got to continue to to be patient and stick with it. And I think we we did a really good job of that of not wavering or changing our game to try to cheat for one or hope for one. Uh we just kind of played consistently throughout the whole 60 minutes and got rewarded for it at the end. I talked to Matthew Schaefer. He was humble as always, giving credit to his teammates, including you, for that screen on his goal. But how impressive is it to see so much offense from Schaefer and just the history he’s making only 12 games in? It’s it’s awesome. Look, he he he has a such a great ability to find find lanes and get the puck to the net. And as a defenseman and as a forward on the receiving end of that, you just love to see it. Someone that can be at the blue line and and find a lane just to deliver the puck. Um and when he delivers it, good things happen. You know, when we shoot the puck and you get a guy that can can bring it in, uh some are going to have eyes, some are going to get a good bounce, but it gives us an opportunity down low as forwards to to score a goal. and right now he’s just doing a great job delivering that and and they’re going in for him. So, uh you know, he he’s just a smart hockey player and his skill set takes over. So, no surprise by any of this. Like I said, he’s just uh been impressive since day one and um fun to see every time uh he does something out there, he’s he’s setting some time type of record. And your line seems to really be really clicking with Peasio and Holstrom, especially Holstrom. He’s been so productive both offensively without the puck and defensively. Um, what have you noticed from his game as of late? He’s he’s he’s himself. I think I think he’s, you know, us three have great great uh banter and camaraderie out there and good chemistry. So, I think, you know, we’re all comfortable with who we are on the ice with one another. And um I think we we love to just go to work and grind it out. I think we we talk about all the time. I think we can make a few more plays coming out of the corners, but I think just overall we’ve been really solid because um we utilize one another. Pedro knows when I’m low, he knows when homer’s low. We know where he’s going to be. Uh I think defensively we have things down in a pretty good spot and um you know, in all areas of the ice, we we we know where each other likes the puck and and how to get it to him. So, uh we’ll continue to build on that and and keep trying to to you know, have an impact on the game. And just with Caleb Richie two games in, what have you seen from him and also the way he’s able to fit so seamlessly into the lineup? I think I think poise comes to mind. I think he just came in and and settled into his role and, you know, he’s a smart hockey player. Um, as a centerman, you have to be. And I think he positions himself really well up and down the ice. And, um, you saw it last night, a couple nice moves, couple he’s he’s got great hands and and a good shot and just, um, understands the game really well. So that transition for him uh seems pretty seamless. Me through what worked so well in last night’s win. I just everyone was playing at a certain level. Um they had a little push in the second there where they kind of came out, but um I thought overall for 50 55 minutes we were playing really well and were out to play against and uh putting pucks at the net. A lot of people there. So it was a good game. And Caleb Richie started on your line. What do you make of his second NH Islanders game? Yeah, it was good. Um I know I’ve known Richie from Colorado a little bit. So, um, he’s a very smart player, very good. Um, it’s a hard lead to come into. I thought he did a good job yesterday having a good game and, uh, we had a couple looks in the first. I want to ask you about your connection going back to the Avalanche. What do you notice that’s different about his game this year versus last year? More mature. Um, I think obviously he had a good year in junior last year. Um, a lot of stuff we talked about in Colorado when when he got sent down a little bit. Um, I feel like he worked on it. He’s more mature. Like I said, he’s more responsible in some areas and um but again, he’s offensive player. You want to let those guys play and let let their skill kind of shine and um I’m sure you’ll see a lot of it coming up. That maturity and that defensive game, your whole line perform really well defensively. Um but with Richie, is that something that takes time for a younger player to develop? And that’s it does. Um understanding teams, what they want to do. Um every team’s kind of different some stuff. There’s obviously a lot of good players on other teams where um you could be positioned in the right spot, they’re still going to make you look bad. and uh it’s about kind of building on it and watching video and um you know I’ll try to help him as much as I can but the coaches are doing a good job and the staff as well. So what’s your friendship like off the ice even going back to last year in training camp in Colorado? Yeah, we’re a little different on on the age gap but he’s a good kid. Um obviously he loves the game kind of the way I do. We talk about a lot about hockey. Um but yeah, no Richie’s a Richie is a good good guy and um we’re happy to have him here. Obviously that was a big trade for them last year. Um but yeah to for him to get for us to get a young player like that is huge. What’s that familiarity like with Jonathan Duran of course you guys going back to uh Colorado last year. Yeah it’s great obviously um it’s great playing with him. Him and Palms have been great helping me out and uh just give me advice uh shift to shift um and uh yeah just a great guy obviously um knew him pretty well in Colorado and so uh him being here helps me a lot. I’m sure it’s an asset to have two veteran wingers on your line but how does your game kind of slot right into their games? Yeah, I think they’re both uh two players that think the game really well. Um and I think that’s one of my uh strengths as a player. So, um I think just trying to continue to kind of learn from them and take things from their games. Um and try to build some chemistry with them. It’s been it’s been great so far, I thought. Apologies if Stephan already asked this, but what’s the difference between your your first your first Islanders game versus your second one last night? Yeah, I thought um I thought last night was a bit better. I think my first game, first period, it took me a bit to get into the game. And then uh yeah, once uh second and third, I thought I played pretty good. And then last game, I thought we were really good together. Didn’t really give out much anything defensively. We had a had a lot of chances as a line recruiting and uh had a lot of zone time, so I thought it was good. I know you said you’ll you’ll, you know, play anywhere, wing, center, but how did you feel to start the game at center last night? Yeah, I felt good obviously. Um I mean, I’ve always been a center. Uh that’s kind of like the position that I’m probably most comfortable at, I’d say. Um so, uh for me, it was great to kind of start a center and kind of get in the game that way. But obviously, I want to learn and try to be a well-rounded player and try to and be trusted as a winger, too, at some point. So, I mean, whatever they need from me, I I’ll play. Talk about not giving up much. You actually haven’t given up your line has not given up a shot on goal yet in these four games. What What have What has allowed you guys to be so good defensively? Um, I mean I think I mean Palms and uh Drew make it really easy. So uh for me I’m just trying to learn from them and RD have been really good last couple games and um even if we do give up a shot I mean Sroi and Rich have been great too the last two games. So uh yeah I think we’re we’re kind of building off of it and uh just learning from each other I’d say. When you go down to Bridgeport obviously you playing a couple I think a game and then you get hurt. How tough was it? How tough was that just to have to deal with that? Yeah it was really frustrating. Um, I mean, I got here at the end of preseason here and get sent down there. Uh, finally get back to playing and then kind of similar thing. So, it’s just, uh, yeah, it was frustrating to deal with, but, uh, luckily it wasn’t too bad. So, uh, yeah, I feel good now. What have you seen from this Bridgeport team so far? Obviously, I know they had a tough last handful, but last year was really tough. Just what have you seen different from from them kind of just the attitude, the mindset, and the skill? Yeah, I thought um the three games I was there, I thought that uh I thought that we played some really good hockey. I thought we deserved to win a couple of those games. Um yeah, we we blew some leads, but um I thought we played really good hockey and just uh needed to fine-tune some things, but I think it’s coming along really well there. And the culture there is really good. So, um I was really happy with my experience there. Um and yeah, I mean, I’m also really glad to be here right now, too. What was it like for you to play your first home game last night? Uh yeah, it was incredible. Uh I play a preseason game here, so uh that was that was awesome, too. But to get a regular season game is kind of you kind of get the full experience, I’d say. So, um, yeah, it was really cool playing in front of our fans and they were, uh, really helpful for us, uh, to get the win last night. We also have a video of the bench going nut, went home some scores, but just take us through like just I mean, you guys tied up and you don’t get really a second to like think about it and then you guys are leading and then you win. So, crazy. Yeah, it was insane. It was uh those those are always the fun games of playing when it’s tight like that and uh to come out on top that was huge and uh yeah, just a big win. I think all the guys here made me just want to win. So, it’s uh it’s a lot of fun. You’re number 64. Anything is that pick that number that give that to you? It’s just my camp number. Yeah. How about taking the momentum from last night into tomorrow against really good Bruins? Yeah, I think um I mean I I played them once last year in Colorado and they’re pretty big like heavy team I’d say. Um I think you just got to continue to play the way that we did. I think against Columbus I thought that was a really good game by us last night. Um, we just got to play that way every night and just try to stay detailed and follow our structure and um, play the way that we can. What kind of feedback are you getting from the coaching staff? Um, I’m getting a lot of I mean structurally I’m still kind of learning a bit of the systems I’d say. So, um, there’s always like kind of fine-tuning stuff in the Dzone, I’d say. Um, some faceoff work today we worked on. Um, yeah, I think there’s always just little things that you can kind of pick up. Uh, it’s been really good. I mean, I come off come off the ice from a shift and kind of get a little little advice from uh Wah or or Ray or any or Drew or Palm. So, it’s really helpful for me. I just trying to soak it in and uh trying to learn as much as I can with the win of that style last night. What can that do for for confidence for the group? Should be good. Um, you know what? I mean, I’m sure the guys feel good about themselves, um, for many reasons, but a we we were capable of sustaining the pressure from the start to the end. Um, that’s what I enjoy watching. And then b, I mean, we um, we were resilient, you know, like down 2-1, one two. Uh, we scored at one and we kept going at them and it paid off. So um for these reasons I’m should be conf a lot of confidence bring a lot of confidence to the team. Are you planning on running the same lineup against Boston except Soren is back in that but yeah same thing with Richie. What gave you the confidence in that game against the Capitals to put him as the number two center and also stick with him for last night’s game in that spot? Yeah. Um, I just feel like for some reason, I mean, uh, he earned my trust during the preseason and, um, you know, it was hard to let him go, but to the minors, but I mean, we thought that was for his for his best and opportunity came, you know, um, for him to to come back here and I feel like I was curious to see how he would perform and I feel like he’s been playing extremely Well, um, you know, is there details that that we’re going to have to work with him? Yes. But, um, you know, I thought he was in the right position. I mean, he had, you know, he’s got some really good skills offensively, brings some offense. Um, so I’m I’m very pleased with him. I mean, I feel like um playing with Dwayne and Paul Mary, I think he’s going to learn a lot and and and I think they both going to be great teacher for him, great mentor for for him and and I don’t think he could have any better than these two guys. What do you see from him on the on the power play on the flank? Moves the puck very well. Makes right decisions. Um Bri, I mean had him a little bit in uh Colorado and he’s very comfortable with him. So I mean I think he understands what we tried to do and and and does it very well. He gave like a couple uh great one-times in Washington to Ironman and um he actually they score like this against New Jersey in the preseason games. So I mean I feel like it’s um it’s a good fit for him and for us. You always talk about having good vets to lead the younger guys on the team. Um, but for Paul Mary and Drewan, how do how do their games kind of complement Richie’s game to help him settle in a bit more? Experience first of all. Uh, secondly, I mean, they’re both 200 ft guys. I mean, I will say this, I mean, uh, Joe DeWine, since he’s been here, he’s been playing really well defensively. I mean, um, I saw him in junior. I mean, I I saw him a little bit, you know, in when he was last year in Colorado, but I mean, the way that he’s been um playing defensively, I’m pretty impressed with it. And and Pomzy, I mean, I know his game and he’s been here. I’ve been here a year almost like two years, year and three quarter to say. And and and I feel like Palmsy’s been so reliable and and been able to do pretty much everything we ask and and do it so well. So, I mean, um, I think Richie is just going to help them to continue to do what they’ve been doing so well. What does it say about the organization that you have a lot of young guys coming up and being placed in their roles? For example, maybe sometimes in years past, a second line center goes on the fourth to start and move his way up, but you guys are having the the trust and confidence to put them in their actual roles and they’re performing well. Just what does it say about the organization in terms of development? That’s what we want, isn’t it? That’s what we want. I mean, I it’s not a charity business here. I mean, the guys are doing their job and and they’re playing the right way. I mean, it’s and it’s nice to have guys coming up and and we trust these guys. I mean, um, and they’ve been doing the right thing. How about facing the Bruins again tomorrow night? And what do you take from that last game you played against them? I thought we played a really good game against these guys. I mean, um, you know, I don’t think they beat us, but they won the game. So, I mean, that’s that’s what we need to to make sure that we find a way to to win the game and and and um keep playing probably the same way we played last night against Columbus and and um putting, you know, a lot of pressure, but keeping that intensity level for that 60 minute like we did last night. That’d be great. What have you seen from Romanov in his three games back from injury? Really well. Played really well. Um, when Rooney is physical, and I’m not just saying physical in a way that finishes check and stuff like this, but physical around the net, win his battles. Um, you know, um, moving guys, pucks out guys and tries to get in front of the net from a point shot. So, I feel like and he’s been moving the puck very well. So, I feel like Tony, D’Angelo, and him are been playing like they were playing when Tony got here.

Hear from Anders Lee, Cal Ritchie, Jonathan Drouin, and Head Coach Patrick Roy after today’s practice.