2024-25
Record: 35-35-12, 6th in Metropolitan Division
Playoffs: Missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key Losses
Noah Dobson (D – Trade with MON), Mike Reilly (D – Signed with CAR), Matt Martin (F – Retired), and Lou Lamoriello (General Manager – Contract Expired)
Key Additions
Matthew Schaefer (D – 2025 1st Overall Pick), Jonathan Drouin (F – signed via FA), Maxim Shabanov (F – Signed via FA), David Rittich (G – Signed via FA), Emil Heineman (F – Trade with MON), and Mathieu Darche (General Manager – Hired)
2025-26 Preview
Cleaning Lou’s Mess
With the New York Islanders finally moving on from Lou Lamoriello, new general manager Mathieu Darche has a huge mess to clean up before the Islanders will be a true playoff contender again. Being forced to re-sign forward Kyle Palmieri that was negotiated by Lamoriello was a mistake that Darche willingly accepted, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Darche still needs to contend with the bad contracts of Scott Mayfield, Pierre Engvall (yes, he’s still under contract until 2030), and yes, Mathew Barzal. Having to deal with these contracts for a defenseman who is too slow and can’t keep up with the pace of today’s game, a guy who is going to be buried once again in the AHL, and forward who thinks they are a center, but is really a winger, but is a one-dimensional player at best, Darche has a lot of work to do to turn this team around.
Two players that Darche will have an easier time to move with be forwards Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Both are entering the final year of their contracts, and will bring in some assets come the trade deadline. While both players have modified no trade clauses, they’ll still be easier to move than the aforementioned three that have longer deals and no move clauses, which at least two of them should have never gotten in the first place.
Good luck Mathieu. Lou left you one hell of a mess.
Let Roy Cook
For head coach Patrick Roy, he’ll now be able to really coach his style of game with the Islanders. One major downside to Lou Lamoriello is that he dictated the way the team played. while with Barry Trotz as coach, that worked well for them, but when Trotz left and Lane Lambert took over as head coach, he never got a true chance as he had to stick with what Lamoriello’s systems. That was never going to be a recipe for success for Lambert. However, when Roy came in to replace Lambert, he was given some leeway, but not a lot. With Lamoriello gone, and Darche in as general manager, Roy will now be able to coach more his style and the type of game he wants the Islanders to play.
While Roy does not have the strongest lineup to work with, the Islanders will be more competitive and I wouldn’t be surprised if they stole more games than what they should this upcoming season. Will they make the playoffs? Most likely not, but they’ll be a tough team to play against, and Roy being unleashed to coach his style and systems could make the Islanders a surprise bubble team.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Jonathan Drouin — Bo Horvat — Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee — Mathew Barzal — Simon Holmstrom
Anthony Duclair — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Maxim Shabanov
Maxim Tsyplakov — Casey Cizikas — Emil Heineman
Defense
Alexander Romanov — Tony DeAngelo
Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
Matthew Schaefer — Scott Mayfield
Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
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