The New York Islanders are looking to improve their power play performance in the upcoming season after a disastrous 2022-23 campaign where they ranked 30th in the league. One of the major changes they have made is stationing a right-handed player in front of the net on the top power-play unit to better unlock Bo Horvat, a left-handed shooter, from the slot. Players like Hudson Fasching, Oliver Wahlstrom, Kyle Palmieri, and Simon Holmstrom have all taken turns in this role during training camp.

This adjustment allows Horvat and Mathew Barzal, who is stationed at the left circle, to form a passing triangle on their respective forehands. Horvat believes that having a righty in front of the net makes him more of a threat and gives Barzal more opportunities for a release by the net. On the second power-play unit, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee, both lefties, form a similar lefty/righty dynamic.

However, the Islanders do not have a right-handed player on their roster with much net-front experience. Last season, Zach Parise, a lefty, usually played the role on the second unit but is not at training camp. As a result, whoever holds the position at the net front, particularly Wahlstrom, has been seen roaming around the back of the net more often than in previous seasons.

Special teams have been a major focus for the Islanders during training camp as they aim to improve their power play conversion rate. Last season, their conversion rate was only 15.77 percent, a number that hung over the team throughout the offseason and continues to be a point of emphasis in training camp.

Noah Dobson admits that by the end of last season, the team's confidence on the power play was completely depleted. This lack of confidence led to players taking extra time to make plays and contributed to their struggles. Dobson believes that regaining confidence is crucial for their power play success.

To improve their power play, the Islanders are focusing on cleaning up basic errors, such as entering the zone smoothly, and taking more shots early and often. In a preseason game against the Rangers, the power play showed signs of progress, scoring a goal at five-on-four in each of the first two preseason matches. However, there is still room for improvement in their entries and overall execution.

During training camp, Dobson has been playing on the top power-play unit alongside Barzal, Horvat, Brock Nelson, and Fasching. Lee has taken his spot on the second unit, which also includes Pageau, Pierre Engvall, Julien Gauthier, and Samuel Bolduc. Wahlstrom, a strong candidate for power-play time, has been practicing with a different group but is expected to be an option for the top unit as well.

The coaching staff has been more open to making changes on the power play this season, with Fasching replacing Lee in front of the net. Wahlstrom's role on the power play has also been unique, as he has been playing a behind-the-net role, focusing on creating low plays for Horvat and allowing Barzal to work off of them.

While the Islanders are not aiming to be the highest-scoring power-play team like the Edmonton Oilers, they believe that their 15.77 percent conversion rate from last season does not accurately reflect their abilities. They are determined to continue building and improving their power play to be more effective in the upcoming season.

Overall, the Islanders are putting a strong emphasis on their power play during training camp and are working on making necessary adjustments to improve their performance. Confidence, execution, and better utilization of players' strengths are key areas they are focusing on.