Islanders New Player Of The Game Items for 2026-27 Season

The New York Islanders have two new items to hand out in the locker room postgame.

A custom Islanders canoe paddle will be handed out to the team's player of the game, replacing the Iron Man mask from last season. Bo Horvat said the award deserved to go to the player who made the boat go faster, alluding to a metaphor used by Head Coach Pete DeBoer. 

Ilya Sorokin was the first recipient after pitching a 37-save shutout in Saturday's 6-0 home opener win over the New Jersey Devils.

The Isles also created a new reward for the hardest worker, an orange hard hat equipped with ear muffs. Casey Cizikas was the first recipient after recording a goal and an assist in Saturday's win.

The team also handed Victor Eklund his first goal puck after recording his first NHL goal - and serenaded the 20-year-old Swede by singing Happy Birthday.