Kyle MacLean is at an attention-grabbing intersection at New York Islanders Coaching Camp. He’s a job mannequin to youthful gamers and people in Bridgeport, a tangible instance of how onerous work and persistence could make the soar from the AHL to the NHL. On the similar time, he’s nonetheless a youthful participant on a veteran crew and is keen to take in all he can and enhance his sport. He’s excited to take what he’s repeatedly studying and paying it ahead.
“The youthful guys from Bridgeport, clearly I’m right here to assist and provides recommendation in the event that they want it,” MacLean mentioned. “However I am nonetheless taking pointers and suggestions from all of the older guys who’ve been round longer than me. I’ll study one thing from a kind of [veteran] guys and I will present it to anyone else. That’s the way it goes, it form of will get handed down.”
After enjoying elements of 4 seasons with Bridgeport (2020-24), MacLean graduated to the NHL final season, working his approach to Lengthy Island and staying by the second half of the season. MacLean’s Isles tenure virtually solely overlaps with Head Coach Patrick Roy’s arrival. Off the bat, the skillset of the 6’1,” 194 lbs. middle captured the eye of Roy, who highlighted the flexibility and character he’s seen in MacLean.
“I like his 200-foot sport, I actually do,” Roy mentioned. “Since he’s been right here, he has the velocity we’re searching for, he has that grit. He’s enjoying very well defensively and he’s able to bringing some offense to our crew, whether or not it’s on the forecheck or going to the online.”
MacLean got here into coaching camp with the momentum of his first 32 NHL video games, his first 5 playoff video games – the place he scored in his debut – and a three-year extension within the offseason. Feeling good about getting that deal performed, the 25-year-old ahead has one predominant objective.
“I simply need to construct off the expertise from final yr,” MacLean mentioned.
MacLean suited up for the Islanders’ 4-2 preseason win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The Livingston, New Jersey native performed 15:47 – together with 1:24 shorthanded – and notched an help. Although it’s a preseason sport, Roy felt confidence in MacLean’s line when matched up towards New Jersey’s expert veteran forwards.
“That line had numerous attractiveness,” Roy mentioned. “[MacLean] and [Maxim] Tysplakov and [Julien] Gauthier, they have been actually good, after they went up towards Nico Hischier’s line, I used to be actually comfy with that, I trusted them. As a coach, that’s the sensation you need to have.”
