When a team starts a new era in their history, it’s generally because something didn’t go right the year before and changes were made. That's the case with the Islanders, who did not make the playoffs last season, a finish that didn’t sit well with anyone associated with the franchise.
Especially the players.
“We got a lot of competitors here,” said forward Mat Barzal. “So obviously with the way the year went last year and not getting into the playoffs…that eats at us as a whole, so we’re definitely looking to be in the hunt and find a way in the playoffs.”
That hunt begins on Thursday when the Islanders open up training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. It was an eventful off-season for the Islanders, who parted ways with President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello but, while searching for a new GM, won the NHL Draft lottery, giving them the first pick in the NHL Draft.
The Islanders hired Mathieu Darche as Senior Vice-President and General Manager, and then Darche took defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick - and this summer, the 18-year-old was impressive at both Development Camp and, most recently, Rookie Camp.
“He's really good and very mature for his age,” said Islanders forward Bo Horvat. "His play is great. He moves really well and is smart with the puck.”
“I’ve gotten to know him a little bit around the rink,” said Barzal. “He’s an energetic kid. He’s obviously an incredible skater and I’m excited to work with him out there.”
Schaefer will push hard to earn an opening-night roster spot, and avoid being sent back to juniors with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. He has a lot of skill and poise to go along with remarkable maturity for someone who just turned 18.
But, the Islanders will take things slowly with Schaefer.
“We’re going to give him time and we’re going to be extremely patient with him,” said Head Coach Patrick Roy. “He’s a phenomenal kid, has great values and he’s very humble.”
This will be Roy’s second training camp with the Islanders after taking over as Head Coach during the 2023-24 season. Last year, Roy focused on conditioning, but this year he’s going to change things up a bit and pay close attention to team structure.
Special teams was a huge Achilles heel for the Islanders last season, and Roy wants to fix it.
“I’m going to look for power play and penalty killing,” said Roy. “I think last year if our power play and our penalty killing would have been better, we probably would have made the playoffs.”
Roy anticipates that the Islanders will begin work on their special teams by the third day of training camp, and that’s when we’ll get our first look at how a couple of their shiny new toys will help the power play. During free agency, Darche reeled in forward Jonathan Drouin, and later won the Maxim Shabanov sweepstakes, bringing the Russian forward to Long Island.
“I think we had a need for skills and I think that’s what Drouin and Shabanov will bring to our team,” said Roy.
While camp hasn’t started yet, Roy has an idea of what he wants to see with his first three lines. When he spoke to reporters at Monday’s Islanders Golf Outing and Tennis Classic, Roy said the top three lines would be:
*Anders Lee-Mat Barzal-Kyle Palmieri
*Jonathan Drouin-Bo Horvat-Maxim Shabanov
*Simon Holmstrom-JG Pageau-Anthony Duclair
For the moment, Barzal is going back to center, but still hopes to share some ice time with Horvat.
“I’m excited to play anywhere,” said Barzal, who is healthy after a season-ending kneecap injury last season. “I love playing with Bo on the wing. I think me and Bo have great chemistry out there, so hopefully we can find ways to get us on the ice together still, because I feel like we give our team a good chance of scoring.”
There is a new sense of enthusiasm around the Islanders this season…sort of a breath of fresh air. From a new GM to the first overall pick to fans being allowed into camps, there is excitement building all over Islanders Country.
And the players share in that optimism as the 2025-26 season approaches.
“We’re really excited and we should be,” said Horvat. “The fans should be excited. We’re excited in the dressing room. We feel like we have a really good hockey team in there and we just have to go out and prove that now.”
“It’s exciting,” said Barzal. “I think what Mathieu did this off-season was great bringing some guys in and he did a fantastic job with the draft.”
For the Islanders and their fans, there is a newfound excitement and enthusiasm around the franchise. Change doesn’t always equate to success, but the Islanders didn’t stand pat after not making the playoffs. There are reasons to be optimistic and the quest to getting back to the post-season will start on Thursday.