Overview
- Mathieu Darche said Wednesday that the Islanders are in a managed transition but still have the goal of qualifying for the playoffs this season.
- Key veterans who missed large parts of 2025–26 — Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov, Pierre Engvall and goaltender Semyon Varlamov — are reported healthy or making strong progress and are expected to take part in training camp and preseason games.
- Recent high draft picks and prospects including Victor Eklund, Malte Gustafsson, Kashawn Aitcheson and Cole Eiserman could push for NHL spots out of camp or later in the year as the club balances development with short-term needs.
- The Islanders lost captain Anders Lee in free agency to Utah on a three-year deal and the front office made mostly one-year depth signings while Darche defended a cautious approach tied to salary planning and Matthew Schaefer’s upcoming contract timeline.
- The team returns to a full season under head coach Pete DeBoer and plans to use training camp and the early season to integrate prospects, decide on a captain and test whether the roster can sustain a playoff push.