The 2021-22 NHL season is upon us and Islanders training camp is underway.

There was a lot of roster turnover in the offseason, which means new faces will be competing for some important spots on the team. Here are a few storylines I’ll be keeping my eyes on as the regular season draws closer.

Bottom-Four Defensemen

The only pre-determined defense pairing for the Islanders is their top duo of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. The rest is pretty up in the air.

Head coach Barry Trotz paired the Islanders’ youngest defenseman, Noah Dobson, with their oldest, Zdeno Chara, early in training camp. He said he liked how Chara mentored young defensemen like Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug while he was with the Boston Bruins. But if Trotz feels Dobson is ready to take on more minutes, perhaps on the second pairing, can the 44-year-old Chara keep up with Dobson?

Then there’s the question of the third pairing. How do Andy Greene and Scott Mayfield adjust to playing with each other? Mayfield spent an entire season next to speedskater Nick Leddy, who was much better at generating offense than Greene is. Perhaps Thomas Hickey, who might be the team’s seventh defenseman, could play a more up-tempo game and be a better fit for Mayfield.

Or maybe an unexpected player impresses Trotz. The Islanders brought in Erik Gustafsson, 29, on a professional tryout contract and could compete with Hickey to be the seventh defenseman. He had two rough seasons with the Flames, Flyers and Canadiens but scored 60 points with the Blackhawks only three years ago. Samuel Bolduc is also a promising young defenseman who can also crack the lineup if he plays well.

Where Does Zach Parise Fit?

Zach Parise is hungry for a Stanley Cup. He’s not the point-per-game player he used to be, but he’ll provide crucial offensive depth on an Islanders team that’s competing for the Stanley Cup.

My guess is that he’ll start off on the third line with J-G Pageau and Kyle Palmieri. Many teams would’ve been happy with that as their first line a few years ago.

But what about some young players who seem ready to take the next step? I’m talking about Kieffer Bellows. He’s very talented, as has demonstrated in the few games he’s played over the past two years that his game is NHL-level. But when will he get a full-time role?

Parise has some injury history, so Bellows might be the first man up if he or another offensive-minded player goes down. He’ll have Leo Komarov, Ross Johnston, Richard Panik, Michael Dal Colle, and plenty others breathing down his neck, however.

Fresh Prospects

Training camp will be the first time Islanders fan will get to see 2021 second-round pick Aatu Raty in action. The once consensus first-overall pick fell to the Isles later than most analysts thought, and now he’ll get to impress the team that took a chance on him.

It’s also the first time we’ll see 2016 fourth-round pick Anatoli Golyshev. The winger signed a contract with the Islanders last season after a 208-point, 366-game KHL career.

The other 2021 selection at training camp is goalie Tristan Lennox. He last played for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit in 2019-20. The team did not play in 2020-21.

Injuries and Absences

Trotz announced a few injuries after the first day of camp. According to the Athletic’s Arthur Staple, Matt Martin is recovering from an injury he sustained during the playoffs and Semyon Varlamov is dealing with some soreness.

Martin’s absence could give Ross Johnston some extended looks with the fourth line, and some younger goalies could get a few extra reps with Varlamov sidelined.

Some of the Islanders’ young defensemen made headlines also. Samuel Bolduc is also dealing with some soreness, but the developments surrounding 2017 second-round pick Bode Wilde are more concerning. After declining to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Wilde will not be allowed to play with the Islanders.

Trotz said he is working to find somewhere for Wilde to play and develop. Perhaps Wilde changes his mind at some point, but it’s too late if he was hoping to crack the NHL roster.

The Captain is Back

Anders Lee is back on the ice with his team for the first time since his season-ending ACL injury. The Islanders posted videos of him smiling on the ice and skating with his teammates, apparently feeling just fine.

Things you love to see:

🔘 THIS pic.twitter.com/5TDLCNCwpe

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 23, 2021

“Felt really good to be on the ice with the boys and a really good day one of camp here,” Lee told Islanders writer Cory Wright. “For me, it’s continuing on with my rehab and my progress here and it’s great to have camp to do that. We’re just taking it day by day and going at it like we always have been. The restrictions are off, everything is good, it’s just making sure we take a look at everything and get ready for game one.”

We won’t know that for sure until at least the first preseason game, which is Saturday at 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers, but the early indications are surely promising.

Ben Baruch

Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.