This has certainly been an eventful and somewhat refreshing off-season for the Islanders. After not making the playoff last season, the Islanders franchise has gone in a different direction.
First, they announced that President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello would not return and that they would begin a search for a new General Manager. Then, while still looking for a GM, the ping-pong balls bounced the right way for the Islanders and they won 2025 NHL Draft Lottery giving them the first pick in the draft. The Islanders on-ice and cultural transformation continued with the hiring of Mathieu Darche as Executive Vice-President and General Manager.
Darche went on to make a number of moves including the trade that sent Noah Dobson to Montreal and the selection of defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. The Islanders also began to implement some fan-friendly initiatives including having Islanders Country at the team’s development camp following the draft.
And now the Islanders are excited for the start of training camp next week.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Islanders Captain Anders Lee. The juices are flowing and it’s an exciting time of the year. As a team, we have a lot to look forward to.
Getting to work together…some new faces…and putting this all together.”
Islanders rookie camp gets underway on Thursday with the full squad reporting to Northwell Health Ice Center next week. There are two other events that signal the start of the new season including this Saturday’s Jam Kancer in the Kan “Anders Jam” hosting by Lee and attended by his teammates. On Monday, the Islanders host their annual Golf Outing and Tennis Classic and then it will be time to hit the ice to get ready for the 2025 NHL season.
“Those opportunities and the excitement around it and the juice from coming out of nowhere and getting the first overall pick,” said Lee. “Obviously some moves in the summer too that just adds to all of it. Coming in here, it’s a new season and a new slate and something to build on and to start something and continue to grow. That opportunity every year is always an exciting one but you can sense it a little bit from the fan base that they’re getting excited for what’s coming and we are too as players.”
While there are many Islanders players who make Long Island their off-season home, there are others, including draft picks and prospects, who have been trickling back to the Island in recent weeks and there have been some informal skating sessions. But, the gang will all be together starting this weekend with the heavy lifting commencing next week on the ice in East Meadow.
The boys are back in town!
“For us, we’ve all been away in the summer,” said Lee. “We definitely pick up where we left off (on Saturday). With new guys in the room, there’s always stuff to catch up on. It’s just another opportunity to spend time with one another and meet while we’re doing a really great thing. It brings everyone a little bit closer and you can see the personalities come out from the new guys when you’re getting to know them. It’s just nice quality time.”
The players are excited. The organization is excited. And the fans are excited.
There is a breath of fresh air in Islanders Country.
“Let’s go after this thing,” said Lee. “Let’s have a great camp and prepare ourselves for a great season and put it together.”
The Islanders will open their pre-season schedule on September 21st against the Flyers at UBS Arena. The regular season begins October 9th in Pittsburgh and then the home opener is October 11th against the Capitals.
Welcome back hockey!