Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin on the Islanders’ top line

Dose
Crédit: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 02: Emil Heineman #51 of the New York Islanders scores a goal past Samuel Ersson #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the third-period of a preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 02, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Let’s talk about the Islanders: journalist Stefen Rosner has published the trios from Patrick Roy’s club’s practice today. Why do I say that? Because the club’s first unit features Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman, alongside Bo Horvat, the club’s best forward.That’s a big vote of confidence.

[content-ads]Both former Canadiens have talent. You can’t take that away from them. But to play on the first line of an NHL club in the first game of the regular season? To me, that says a lot about the Islanders, who have no depth and no playoff club. If the guys are rewarded by their camp, that’s okay. But as I said, it still speaks volumes about the state of the franchise.But at the same time, in Montreal, Oliver Kapanen is playing with Ivan Demidov, to everyone’s surprise – or almost.

It should also be noted that Alexander Romanov, who just signed a good contract in New York, is on the club’s first pair of defensemen. In Montreal, that wouldn’t be the case for him. But above all, we see that Anthony Duclair, who ended last season on a bad note (in bickering with Patrick Roy), is placed on the fourth line to start.That’snot a good start.Obviously, what’s true before the first game of the season isn’t necessarily true a few weeks later. But let’s just say that the New York Roy is showing his colors. [spacer title=’en rafale’]-

watch out

– John Gibson against the Habs tomorrow.

– Interesting.