Islanders place faith in new forwards

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is taking a look at where each team stands. Today, the New York Islanders:
The New York Islanders won a series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 23 years last season when they defeated the Florida Panthers in six games, but they will have a different look when training camp opens in September.

Three pieces of their core, forwards Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin, left on July 1 as unrestricted free agents. Islanders general manager Garth Snow is hoping the replacements he signed -- forwards Andrew Ladd, PA Parenteau and Jason Chimera -- can help them build on the playoff success.
Here is what the Islanders look like today:
KEY ARRIVALS: Andrew Ladd, LW: He will be the only player in the Islanders locker room who has won the Stanley Cup twice. The 30-year old forward signed a seven-year contract and is expected to skate on the top line with center John Tavares. Ladd scored 25 goals last season with the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks. … PA Parenteau, RW: One of the biggest bargains of the offseason, Parenteau signed a one-year contract on July 2. The contract is worth $1.25 million, according to Newsday. Parenteau likely will be reunited with Tavares on the top line, where he had 120 points over two seasons (2010-12). Parenteau, 33, scored 20 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. … Jason Chimera, LW: After scoring 20 goals for the Washington Capitals last season, he signed a two-year contract. Though he's 37, Chimera remains an elite skater and brings experience and grit.
KEY DEPARTURES: Frans Nielsen, C: The 32-year-old left the only NHL franchise he had played for, signing a six-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Nielsen had 20 goals and 52 points last season, the second time in three seasons he scored at least 20. … Kyle Okposo, RW: Selected by the Islanders with the seventh pick of the 2006 NHL Draft, Okposo left for a seven-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. A three-time 20-goal scorer, Okposo had 64 points in 79 games last season. … Matt Martin, LW: He signed a four-year contract with Toronto, leaving what many referred to as the League's best fourth line, with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. Martin scored an NHL career high 10 goals last season and led the League with 365 hits.

ON THE CUSP: Mathew Barzal, C: A first-round pick (No. 16) in 2015, Barzal nearly made the Islanders out of training camp last season. A similar performance in September could lead to an NHL roster spot this season. Barzal had 88 points in 58 regular-season games and 26 points in 18 playoff games for Seattle in the Western Hockey League last season. … Michael Dal Colle, LW: He thrived after being traded from Oshawa to Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League on Jan. 1; he had 55 points in 30 regular-season games and 18 points in nine playoff games for Kingston. He may need some seasoning with Bridgeport in the American Hockey League, but Dal Colle, the fifth player selected at the 2014 draft, is inching closer to his NHL debut.
WHAT THEY STILL NEED: The Islanders carried three goaltenders last season, much to the dismay of starter Jaroslav Halak. It's a situation they should resolve before they open the season against the New York Rangers on Oct. 13. Thomas Greiss led the Islanders past the Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round and has one year remaining on his contract. Halak, who was injured a month before the playoffs, has two years left on his contract and had surgery to repair a sports hernia this offseason. J-F Berube signed a one-year, one-way contract July 5.

PETE JENSEN'S FANTASY FOCUS: With Nielsen and Okposo out of the picture, there are spots up for grabs on the first power-play unit. In addition to its anchor, Tavares, you have to imagine the spots would go to Ladd, Parenteau and defenseman Nick Leddy. That leaves one spot for either Anders Lee, Ryan Strome, one of New York's prospects, or a second defenseman. Defenseman Ryan Pulock, 21, had one goal and two assists in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Two of the points came on the power play when he saw some time on the first unit. The chance to be utilized in those prime situations makes Pulock a deep fantasy sleeper.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Andrew Ladd - John Tavares - PA Parenteau
Anders Lee - Brock Nelson - Josh Bailey
Jason Chimera - Ryan Strome - Shane Prince
Nikolay Kulemin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy - Johnny Boychuk
Calvin de Haan - Travis Hamonic
Thomas Hickey - Ryan Pulock
Thomas Greiss
Jaroslav Halak