Julien Gauthier is one of the few additions to the New York Islanders’ roster this offseason.
In preparation for his first season on Long Island, Gauthier has participated in the Living Sisu Hockey League (LSHL) this summer, where he and his new Islanders teammate Samuel Bolduc won the league’s championship on Tuesday as part of Team Crystallin.
Both Bolduc and Gauthier scored a hat trick in the 10-3 victory over former Islander Anthony Beauvillier and Team Uptown Wealth Management.
Among Bolduc and Gauthier’s teammates on Team Crystallin were Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sammy Blais of the St. Louis Blues, David Perron and Daniel Sprong of the Detroit Red Wings, and Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens.
Over the course of the LSHL season, which started in mid-July and featured weekly games of three-on-three hockey, Bolduc recorded 16 points with 10 goals, while Gauthier scored 15 points with 12 goals.
Like Bolduc and Gauthier, Islanders captain Anders Lee has also participated in a summer league this offseason. He, Brock Nelson and Hudson Fasching all took part in the famed Da Beauty League in Minnesota this summer.
The action players get while playing in summer leagues is always beneficial for staying in shape and preparing for the season ahead, but it will be even more so for Bolduc and Gauthier this year. Once Islanders’ training camp begins in a few weeks, both will be involved in battles for roster spots.
After making his NHL debut last season and signing a new two-year contract with the Islanders this summer, Bolduc is in line to battle with Sebastian Aho to play on the left side of the team’s third defensive pair. Meanwhile, Gauthier should be in competition for a spot somewhere in the bottom six, just as long as Zach Parise decides not to return for a 19th NHL season.
The Islanders have not yet officially announced when training camp will open. However, given their first preseason game is just a little over a month away, the Islanders will be back on the ice at Northwell Health Ice Center in the near future.
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