Islanders hope Dufour can make impact up front

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the New York Islanders:

2022-23 season:42-31-9, fourth in Metropolitan Division; lost in Eastern Conference First Round

Key arrival

Julien Gauthier, F: The 25-year-old forward signed a two-year contract July 5 after he had NHL career highs in games (57), goals (nine) and points (14) last season for the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. Gauthier has yet to establish himself as a regular despite his size (6-foot-4, 224 pounds) and speed, but will get a chance to break training camp with the Islanders.

Key departure

Josh Bailey, F:Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 29 with a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for future considerations and became an unrestricted free agent after Chicago bought out the final season of his six-year contract. Bailey had 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) while averaging an NHL career-low 15:08 of ice time in 64 games last season and was scratched for the entire first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On the cusp

William Dufour, F:The 21-year-old made his NHL debut Jan. 18 in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. Dufour had 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) in 69 games for Bridgeport in the American Hockey League last season, his first as a professional. … Matthew Maggio, F:The 20-year-old won the Red Tilson Trophy as most valuable player of the Ontario Hockey League with league-highs of 54 goals and 111 points for Windsor last season. He had two assists in three AHL games after signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on May 1. … Samuel Bolduc, D:The 22-year-old made his NHL debut last season with three points (two goals, one assist) in 17 games and played two postseason games in place of an injured Alexander Romanov. Bolduc was named an AHL All-Star and finished with 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 56 games.

What they still need

To determine if Zach Parise will return this season. It's unclear if the forward, who will turn 39 on July 28, will continue his NHL career. The unrestricted free against said if he does play this season, it will only be for the Islanders. He had 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) in 2022-23 and played all 82 games in each of his two seasons with New York.

They said it

"Our ownership has given us every resource and every possible thing that we need to do it. It's on us to do that. We have to get better. I have to get better. Our coaching staff has to get better, and our players have to get better, and the inconsistency has to be taken care of."-- general manager Lou Lamoriello

Fantasy focus

Across his first three seasons in the NHL, goalie Ilya Sorokin has been consistent with a save percentage of at least .918 in every season. Last season with the Islanders, Sorokin had a .924 save percentage, a 31-22-7 record and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. He has proven himself to be a top three goalie in fantasy drafts and heading into next season should be viewed as the best fantasy goalie option given his high floor.-- Anna Dua

Projected lineup

Anders Lee -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal

Oliver Wahlstrom -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri

Pierre Engvall -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Hudson Fasching

Matt Martin -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock

Sebastian Aho -- Scott Mayfield

Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov