Curious what everyone thinks about Henrik Tikkanen and where he fits into the Islanders’ goalie plans next season.

He’s 25, huge at 6’7”, and was drafted by the Isles in 2020. He’s been bouncing between Bridgeport and the ECHL, and while his AHL results have been kind of up and down, he’s actually looked pretty solid in Worcester this year. Still hasn’t made his NHL debut, but he’s under contract through next season and would be a cheap option.

With Sorokin obviously locked in and Varlamov getting older (and always hurt), I wonder if the team gives Tikkanen a real shot as the backup or at least the first call-up. On one hand, the size is there and he’s shown flashes. On the other, consistency at the AHL level has been an issue.

Do you think he’s realistically in the mix for the backup job next year, or is he more of a long-term depth guy? Would you be comfortable going into the season with him as the #2?

21 comments

  1. We are keeping big save dave still we are 110% certain we have someone able to be Ilia’s backup or varly comes back, then we need to trade one of them, varly, dave, or Henrik that is.

    Also I like big save dave.

  2. I think it depends what Rittich is looking for after this season since he’s just on the 1/1mil. We will be in a position to give him a little more since the Leezy and Pager contracts are ending but that also depends on how much they re-sign for. I think we only see Tikkanen next year if Rittich goes somewhere else/ some other team is willing to give him more than us.

  3. If Rittich wants more than $1.5million – $2million next season, yes. I like Rittich, but I’d like to start seeing the team structure it’s cap better. Pay your top 6 forwards top 4 d & starting goalie. Kids and affordable vets on short contracts fill out the roster depth.

  4. No, not a chance. If not Rittich, it will be someone else established as an NHL caliber backup

  6. I don’t know anything about Tikkanen, but if your best upside is “he’s cheap” and the analysis of his play is “kind of up and down”, I definitely wouldn’t be comfortable with him as the #2 unless he has a crazy second half.
    Your analysis ignores trying to resign David Rittich. Is there a reason for that? Dude has been a stud for us so far, and he seems to like it here. I’d offer him a two-year extension and throw him a little more cash.
    Goalies are not usually that expensive, and not a place I’d try to save a few bucks. We’d be outside the playoff picture right now without Rittich.

  7. No idea what his contract situation is but I’m guessing Gamzin goes straight into that backup spot once he makes the jump. As far as next year goes, Rittich has earned another contract for sure.

  9. With cap going up, Rittich resigns 3-year for a fair amount.. Next in line is either prospect working out or a journeyman 1B. Gamzin has potential but goalies take a long time to develop so don’t bet on it. Varly is LTIRetired and his contract goes to a bottom feeder that needs to make the floor.

  10. I think we’ll bridge with Rittich (depending on moneys) to Gamzin and Gidlof and let’s hope Tikkanen can be a good 3rd back up during all the transitions. Varly I’m sure is done. Let’s see what Tikkanen’s got, injuries happen, a decent 3rd goalie is a win.

    And maybe Burke can be in the Hood too at some point.

  13. He’s a career AHLer or goes back home and plays in Liiga. Nothing wrong with that, I like him a lot, but unless there’s a crazy injury I don’t see him getting called up.

  15. If he can’t stick in the AHL, why would he stick in the NHL? His AHL stats are pretty okay this year, and with more consistency, maybe he’d get the kind of starts Hogberg has been seeing? But definitely not a #2.

  16. I think people forget how long it takes to develop a good goalie. Yes he is 25 so the clock is probably against him but Brandon Bussi didn’t make his first start until he was 27. I don’t think he has enough of an AHL track record yet to make a judgement about whether he can go further than the AHL but I wouldn’t write him off completely. TLDR absolutely not next year; if he was the 3rd in 2 years I wouldn’t be shocked if his development went well.

  17. Im a 6’7″ former goalie and have been waiting for average NHL goalie to get taller since before Jason Missiaen, who never worked his way to NHL.

    If you have flexibility and hand eye then being a tall goalie is a really fun experience with the angles your height affords you to play. 

    Ofc it’s murder on your hips and knees but that’s the case with every sport at this height.

    Hope this kid gets a shot. 

  19. There’s no reliable back up goalies in our system. I am a season ticket holder tiki is definitely our best goalie but he’s not a NHL caliber goalie by any means 

  20. “He’s been bouncing between Bridgeport and the ECHL, and while his AHL results have been kind of up and down”

    Answered your own question here. Would you trust this guy to play 30 games for us?

  21. He can’t crack the AHL consistently but you think he can be an NHL goaltender?

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