Last Word On Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are here for the 2025-26 season! Us here at Last Word have been and will continue to give our analysis and previews from around the NHL. We will be previewing each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming season. We will also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2025-26 New York Islanders and the uncertainty that surrounds this upcoming season.
2025-26 New York Islanders Puck Drop Preview
2024-25 Recap
For the first time since the 2021-22 season, the New York Islanders failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team went into the season with expectations to make it to the dance, but fell short of that goal. They finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division and nine points out of the last Wild Card spot. Inconsistent offensive play, non-existent special teams, and an injury bug that decimated their blueline are the main points to blame for this happening.
It was the first full season under head coach Patrick Roy, and it turned out to be a disappointment. Their team’s point leader, Bo Horvat, could only muster 57 points in 81 games. As a team, they only managed 2.71 goals per game, 28th in the league. Their power play and penalty kill both ranked 31st in the league at 12.6% and 72.2%, respectively.
The 2025 Off-Season Recap for New York
The disappointment that was last season cost their general manager his job, ending an era on the Island. After seven seasons, the team announced that it would not be renewing Lou Lamoriello’s contract. He served as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. Under Lou, he brought a sense of pride and respect back to a franchise that had been lacking them. The new man on the job is Mathieu Darche, in what was a busy offseason for the Islanders.
The main departure is Noah Dobson, the franchise d-man, who was shipped to the Montreal Canadiens for two first-round picks and Emil Heineman. Those picks turned into Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitchesen, as well as their own number one overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, in what was a great draft for the Islanders. Darche is building for the future, while also striving to remain competitive today. They addressed their needs by bolstering their forward group with two significant additions. Jonathan Drouin, who was one of the top free agents, and Maxim Shabanov, who lit up the KHL last season with 67 points in 65 games. While also getting a backup goalie in David Rittich, so Ilya Sorokin doesn’t get overworked again.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Jonathan Drouin – Bo Horvat – Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee – Mathew Barzal – Maxim Shabanov
Anthony Duclair – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Emil Heineman – Casey Cizikas – Maxim Tsyplakov
The Top-Six Forward Group
As mentioned before, Bo Horvat was the main guy for last year’s team. They did not score a lot, but when they did, Bo knows how to get in the middle of it. He will be flanked by a familiar face in Kyle Palmieri, who, even in his old age, can still find the back of the net, finishing with 24 goals last season. New addition Jonathan Drouin will also be on this line. He has some goal-scoring prowess as well. While he only appeared in 43 games last year, he had 37 points in that time. If he can stay healthy, he could be in for a productive year. Horvat’s great skating and playmaking abilities should help his two linemates find themselves in good positions to score.
Mathew Barzal moving back to centre will be something to look at coming into this season. After coming up playing centre, the last two seasons he had been converted to a winger to play alongside Horvat. The two will now be split up in hopes of balancing out the lines. Longtime teammate Anders Lee will join him on this line, who just fell short of 30 goals last season, finishing at 29. His physical play and puck retrieval skills will help them keep the puck in the zone and help set up scoring chances. Maxim Shabanov is a flashy high-speed forward whose playstyle could match up well with Barzal. However, the change from the KHL to the NHL is a big one, so we will see how long it takes him to adjust.
The Bottom Six
Anthony Duclair was a prized free agent signing from a year ago. His first season with the team, however, went horribly. He dealt with a lingering groin injury all year, and when he came back, he just didn’t look right. Then he got called out by the coach and asked for time away from the team. He has the speed and skill to make an impact for this team. If he bounces back, he could move up into a top-six role again. With Pageau and Holmstrom’s two-way forward abilities, this should help Duclair get more chances on the break, where he can use his speed to create an offensive chance.
Casey Cizikas has been a part of the identity of this team for the last 14 years. He returns to his familar fourth line centre role. His and Maxim Tsyplakov’s ability to throw the body and wear down opposing players cannot be overlooked. They will throw the puck in and make life hard for their opponents to break out of the zone. 23-year-old newcomer Emil Heineman has played in a depth role before, and he also racks up the hits, making him a good fit on a physical fourth line who will try to create energy for their team.
Defensive Pairings
Alexander Romanov – Tony DeAngelo
Matthew Schaefer – Scott Mayfield
Top Four
Since coming over to the Islanders, Romanov has been a steady force on the backline for this team. For the last three seasons, he has been a shutdown defensive presence that they have needed. He was rewarded for his efforts with an eight-year, $50 million extension this offseason. Now, he moves up to the top pair with the departure of Dobson. He will be joined by a more offensive presence in Tony DeAngelo. Signed from the KHL in the middle of the season last year when the Islanders were ravaged by injuries on their blue line. DeAngelo played well enough to earn himself a deal to come back for this season. In 35 games, he had 19 points and played heavy minutes. Romanov is the perfect partner to stay back while he carries the puck up and tries to set up in the offensive zone.
The same thinking goes into the second pair as well. Adam Pelech is the shutdown, stay-at-home defenceman who holds it down on the backend. While Ryan Pulock is a strong skater and more of an offensive defenceman, to go along with a heavy slapshot. These two have been partners in the past, and they usually play well together. They play to each other’s strengths and give the team a solid second-pair tandem.
Bottom Pair
The bottom pair, perhaps, will have the most eyes on it during the preseason going into the regular season. The reason is that this pair will likely feature the number one overall pick from this year’s NHL Entry Draft. 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer, the Erie Otters defenceman, played a dominant two-way game at the OHL level. His skating and offensive playmaking abilities make him a very intriguing prospect. He moves easily across the ice and can change directions on a dime. He has a quick shot, release to go with great vision and is creative with the puck. In order to stick in the league, he will need to beef up his body and improve his overall defensive game, but the potential is visible. These reasons are why his partner, Scott Mayfield, would make a lot of sense. Mayfield is a veteran who throws the body and plays solid defence. He is the perfect guy to protect and help out the young kid in his own zone.
Goalies
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
Headlined by the franchise goalie Ilya Sorokin, this should be a strong tandem for this season. Last season, without a real backup, Sorokin appeared in 61 games. He went 30-24-6 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average. The team went as he did. He went through bad streaks, which resulted in losing. However, he stole quite a few games last season and was the biggest reason they even had a shot at the playoffs last year. Sorokin is the biggest key to the Islanders’ success this year and in the future. With seven years left on his $8.25 million deal, his success or failure will determine how the team does going forward. It was smart to go out and get him a real buffer to back him up. The veteran Rittich fits the role and should do it well, which will allow Sorokin more nights off so he isn’t burned out by season’s end. Rittich appeared in 34 games last year, going 16-14-2. However, he held an .886 save percentage and a 2.84 goals-against average.
Players to Watch
Matthew Schaefer
When you come into the league as a number one overall pick, there will be eyeballs on you. He will be the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy just based on being picked first. He should be able to make the team and hopefully have a strong first season to start his career.
Jonathan Drouin
As the big signing this offseason, Drouin will be someone to watch as well. The veteran forward should slot into a top-line role, making him all the more important to the success of this year’s team. As a team that struggled mightily to score goals consistently, a lot of eyes will be on him and that top line to score and help rectify that this year.
Anthony Duclair
There was a lot of promise for Duclair last season when he came over in free agency. Fans were loving the idea of him, Horvat and Barzal all together. It never really worked out due to an injury that sidelined Duclair for months. After last season ended with him asking for time away from the team, eyes will be on him to see if he will bounce back. For the team to make it where they want to go, they will need him to provide that scoring boost in the middle of their lineup that he was supposed to last season.
Prediction for 2025-26 New York Islanders
Last season was tough to watch at times for this group. They improved in areas they needed to for this season, filling holes in their forward group, which will need to generate more goals. While also solidifying their backup goalie spot. The future outlook is also improved after acquiring Calum Ritchie last season, and they followed it up with a strong draft.
However, due to the competitiveness in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference as a whole, the Islanders will likely find themselves just outside of the playoff picture. They will be competitive till the end, though several teams simply have a better roster than they do. The good news is this season is not the be-all, end-all for them. It is clear that Mathieu Darche has a plan for this team moving forward. It may take a few years, but the future is bright on Long Island.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The post 2025-26 Puck Drop Preview: New York Islanders appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.