Kyle Palmieri’s Long Island Summer

Kyle Palmieri’s 2025-26 season didn’t end the way he had anticipated, but he came away from the campaign with plenty of perspective. 

Palmieri tore his ACL on November 28 and subsequently missed the rest of the season. After playing all 82 games in each of the previous two seasons, the extended absence was difficult for the 35-year-old. 

“The biggest goal for me is staying healthy,” Palmieri said. “I had a string of seasons where I didn’t miss any hockey, so after nine tough months without playing, I’m excited to get back out there.” 

Since being acquired from the New Jersey Devils during the 2020-21 season, Palmieri has been a consistent offensive contributor for the Islanders, scoring 30 and 24 goals in his last two healthy seasons and 18 points (6G, 12A) in 25 games prior to his injury. That included an incredible assist after tearing his ACL as he skated off the ice.  

His objective for the upcoming season is simple: return healthy and provide the production he has come to expect. After his six-month checkup in June, Palmieri feels on track for training camp. 

“I’ve been skating a bunch and gearing up for camp,” Palmieri said. “It’s been great getting back into the swing of things.”

Born in Smithtown, Palmieri spends his summers on Long Island and has embraced being an active member of the local community. 

Palmieri was a special guest coach in a “Try Street Hockey” clinic for military children at Northwell Health Ice Center on Aug. 5. Supporting military members and their families is a cause close to his heart. His sister served in the Air National Guard, his brother-in-law serves in the U.S. Army and his niece serves in the U.S. Navy. 

“My wife and I established the Kyle Palmieri Foundation hoping to see the smiles on these kids’ faces,” Palmieri said. “For me, it’s super rewarding to see their faces and create a segue for them to get into hockey.” 

When he’s not giving back to the community, Palmieri has been making the most of the offseason by spending quality time with his family. Earlier this summer, he made his annual camping trip to the Adirondacks, a tradition his wife’s family has maintained since the 1940s. 

“It’s a good week to unplug and be outdoors with the family,” Palmieri said. “We’ve started going with an RV because of our kids. I think the days of tents and sleeping bags are over.” 

His training regimen, however, hasn’t slowed down. Palmieri has been skating at Northwell Health Ice Center with several teammates, using the informal sessions to prepare for the season while strengthening team chemistry. Contrary to the NHL.com report on his workouts, Palmieri is not eating raw ground beef after his workouts. 

“It’s much more informal and a little more fun,” Palmieri said. “It’s an opportunity to get to know everyone, and we’ll have some of the new guys start filing in around the middle of August.”

Away from the rink, Palmieri has continued to enjoy Long Island’s East End, where he has lived since 2018. 

“There’s so much to do out there, and my family loves the Island,” Palmieri said. “I spent a ton of time out there as a kid. It’s an awesome place to spend the summer.”

Palmieri is looking forward to returning to a roster that will be largely similar to last seasons. One significant change will come behind the bench, where Peter DeBoer will begin his first full season as Head Coach after taking over for the final four games of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Although Palmieri wasn’t able to play under DeBoer because of his injury, he made a point to stay involved and get to know his new coach. 

“I had the opportunity to be behind the scenes and sit in on some meetings,” Palmieri said. “I did my best to give him insight on different guys and what we were doing.”

Another adjustment this season will be the expanded schedule, with NHL teams now playing 84 regular-season games instead of 82. Palmieri has experienced shortened seasons because of both a lockout and the pandemic, but never a longer one. Still, he’s confident the team will adapt. 

“It’s an opportunity for us to do something new and adapt,” Palmieri said. “It’ll be a little different, but at the same time, everyone prepares differently and we’ll be ready to go.” 

With training camp quickly approaching, Palmieri is eager to rejoin his teammates and return to the daily routine of an NHL season – a routine he missed throughout much of last year. 

“Knowing that I’m close to getting back to what I love and getting into the rhythm of things is very exciting,” Palmieri said. “I’m excited to get back out there and compete with my teammates.”