PROJECTED LINEUP
*Lines subject to change
Drouin – Horvat – Heineman
Lee – Barzal – Palmieri
Shabanov – Pageau – Holmstrom
Duclair – Cizikas – Tsyplakov
Pelech – Pulock
Romanov – DeAngelo
Schaefer – Mayfield
Sorokin
Rittich
WELCOME TO THE NHL
Matthew Schaefer and Max Shabanov are primed to make their NHL debuts on Thursday night.
Schaefer earned a spot on the Islanders roster after a training camp where he impressed with his skating, poise and maturity. The first-overall pick will become the youngest player in the NHL this season and will be the youngest defenseman in Islanders history at 18-years and 34-days-old.
Shabanov’s NHL debut comes after four seasons of professional hockey in Russia for the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk. The skilled winger is coming off a 23-goal, 67-point season in Russia.
A PAIR OF ISLES DEBUTS
Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin will also debut for the Islanders.
Drouin, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, will wear an Islanders jersey to kick off his 12th NHL season. Drouin collected 93 points (30G, 63A) in two seasons with the Avalanche and is expected to boost the power play, as he racked up 31 power-play points across those two seasons.
Heineman is primed to make his Islanders debut, coming off a season where he produced 18 points (10G, 8A) for the Montreal Canadiens. The 23-yar-old has been touted for his heavy and accurate shot though training camp.