Kyle Palmieri is in his third full season with the Islanders, but he has yet to live up to expectations since signing a four-year contract in the summer of 2021.
For example, it’s not directly his fault that he missed 27 games due to injury last season.
Other factors have been modified somewhat, particularly a lengthy cold spell that saw him score five goals in 35 games to start the 2021-22 season.
However, the fact remains that while Palmieri scored 24 or more goals every season from 2015 to 2020, he has yet to score more than 16 goals on the Island.
“Obviously I want to stay healthy all year long,” Palmieri told the Post after Tuesday’s practice. “The last nine or 10 months have been tough for me to stay healthy. The best way to help the team at the moment is to be ready and able to play. That’s the focus right now. ”
Palmieri missed the start of training camp due to an undisclosed issue, but returned in time for Friday’s final preseason game.
As a result, the second line, consisting of Palmieri, Brock Nelson and Pierre Envall, has only recently started skating together.
“It’s never a relearning process,” Palmieri said. “We knew what made us successful as a product line. You can go back and watch the clips. We had that opportunity. Sometimes you look at it and go, oh Sometimes it’s not as simple as saying, “Let’s go out again.” [but] We know where we’ve had success as a line. We just want to pick up where we left off. ”
Palmieri’s value was most apparent to the Islanders late in the season, when he helped turn the second line into a weapon, scoring more than a point per game in March. .
But he hasn’t done it in a full season yet.
“I’m optimistic that not only him but everyone can play through an 82-game season,” head coach Lane Lambert said. “A strange thing happened. We’ll see what happens. But certainly, noticing the difference when he’s playing, when he’s in a game, and when he’s practicing. There’s no doubt he can do it. He’s an important part of our team.”
Ross Johnston was claimed off waivers by the Ducks, who will inherit the remaining three years and $3.3 million of his contract.
Cal Clutterbuck missed Monday due to illness, but returned to practice Tuesday.
Ryan Purock skated on the second power play unit in place of Oliver Wahlstrom, who stayed late for extra work for the second day in a row.
Julien Gauthier skated on the front line with Mathieu Barzal and Bo Horvat on Tuesday as Simon Holmstrom was assigned to AHL Bridgeport to help the Islanders remain cap compliant.
