The roster that was shown this week at Northwell Health Ice Center looked similar to what is expected at prospect camp, with birth years starting with a zero.
In the 23-man group, we have '01s and '02s, even '03s and '04s, and a few '05s. We also have '99s and '98s, because Maxim Tsyplakov came over from Moscow and is taking every opportunity to train.
And then there's '89. Yes, '89.
lightning. Getty Images
“What do you mean? I'm young,” joked Keith Kincaid, 35, who hopes to complete a tour with an NHL team in the tri-state area.
Kinkaid played goaltender for the AHL's Chicago Wolves last season and began his career with the Devils when Lou Lamoriello was still in New Jersey, appearing in 169 NHL games.
Since then, he's had a stint without a club with the Blue Jackets, a brief stint with Montreal, two years with the Rangers, one season each with Boston and Colorado, and last season with the unaffiliated Timberwolves.
Kinkaid, a Long Island native, trains at the Islanders' facility during the summer, so it was only natural that his agent asked Lamoriello if he could come to the rink during the summer. That led to a PTO.
“I grew up an Islanders fan,” Kinkaid said, “and loved coming to the Coliseum. It's always been a joy of my life. It's just awesome. I played for the Devils and the Rangers. Hopefully I can join the trio in the tri-state or metropolitan area.”
“I'm just trying to do my best. Whether it's pro or rookie, just getting experience. Just showing the way. This is my 14th season. I want to do whatever I can to get noticed. I still have plenty of energy and, yeah, it's just going to go from there.”
There have been 11 players who have played for the Islanders, Rangers and Devils, but the trio was only completed recently when Michael Grabner moved from the Rangers to the Devils in 2018.
Barring an injury, it's unlikely Kinkaid will be the 12th because he's on a tryout contract with a team that already has its top two goalies confirmed.
To get playing time in the NHL, he'll need to both beat out Marcus Hogberg and Tristan Lennox in camp to become the team's third goaltender and for the Islanders to need to use a third goaltender at some point this season.
But for a player who has been traveling so much lately, playing closer to home is a big attraction.
Asked if it was mentally tough, Kincaid joked that his wife would say it was.
“But it was,” he said. “Especially being traded twice in my career. The first one. [New Jersey to Columbus] “It wasn't bad, but it was pretty tough going from Boston to Colorado. I never felt safe. It's a good thing, too, because I have to prove myself. That's why I came here – to prove myself. I've known Lou since the beginning of my career, so hopefully I can still show them what I've got.”
Of course, this is the kind of perspective that is typically lacking at rookie camps.
But Kinkaid is not the type of player you'd expect to see at an event like this.
He takes it in stride, and of course his wife is overjoyed to be closer to home.
“She was away seven months of the year last year,” he said. “She wants to enjoy her home on Long Island. You never know what's going to happen. She works hard, she's professional, and she's having fun.”
