Islanders season preview: Schaefer growth, improved play in front of Sorokin key to playoff return

The 2026-27 NHL season starts Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the New York Islanders.

Last season: 43-34-5, sixth in Metropolitan Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Peter DeBoer (first full season)

Biggest challenge

The power play again was a major issue last season and one reason the Islanders ended up missing the playoffs despite holding third place in the Metropolitan Division as late as April 4. They were 30th on the man-advantage (16.5 percent) after ranking 31st (12.6 percent) in 2024-25. Rocky Thompson was hired as an assistant coach May 5, and will oversee the power play after Ray Bennett left that role May 21. Bennett had only been on the job for one season, replacing John MacLean. The Islanders continue to look for improvement to a unit that has ranked no higher than 19th since 2023-24. "It's not complicating things and simplifying our game plan a little bit, not trying to make that perfect play (or) that pretty backdoor pass," center Bo Horvat said. "Sometimes, it's got to be an ugly one."

How they make the playoffs

They play better in front of Ilya Sorokin, who finished second to Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning last season in voting for the Vezina Trophy as the League's best goalie. Sorokin led the NHL in high-danger saves (452) and high-danger save percentage (.864) while going 16-6-0 when facing at least 30 shots. His 229 starts from 2022-26 are fourth most in the League, so he can use the help from a healthy Semyon Varlamov, who will be on the ice for training camp after last playing an NHL game Nov. 29, 2024, because of injuries to both knees. Next in line is Vitek Vanecek, a 30-year-old signed to a one-year contract July 1 after going 5-13-3 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .883 save percentage in 22 games (19 starts) for the Utah Mammoth last season. Matthew Schaefer may have to elevate his game; the defenseman, who turned 19 on Sept. 5, set numerous records at his position as a rookie and teenager and was voted the unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. The Islanders also must stay ahead of the curve in their own division, home to the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Most intriguing addition

Matias Maccelli provides depth in the bottom six with the potential for offense. The 25-year-old signed a one-year contract July 1 after he had 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 71 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and set NHL career highs in goals (17), assists (40) and points (57) with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24. He had 106 points (28 goals, 78 assists) in 146 games from 2022-24, which would have ranked third among Islanders forwards during that span, with his 25 power-play points tying Kyle Palmieri for third. "He can move the puck, he can make plays, and that's what we're looking for, so we're excited to have him," general manager Mathieu Darche said.

Biggest potential surprise

Kashawn Aitcheson turns 20 on Monday. Although the defenseman likely will make his professional debut with Hamilton of the American Hockey League, a call-up may happen sooner than later if the first-round pick (No. 17) in the 2025 NHL Draft continues the play he displayed with Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League. Aitcheson's 28 goals last season set a team single-season record at his position, and his 171 points in four seasons are the most by a defenseman in team history. And there's that something extra that Darche loves. "He's got some swag," Darche said. "He's not afraid to answer when he has those big hits. He's not afraid to defend himself. There's not as many players like that as there were 25-30 years ago. He's a rare breed."

Ready to contribute

Victor Eklund, chosen one spot ahead of Aitcheson in the 2025 draft, has a realistic chance to break training camp with the Islanders. He had 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 43 games for Djurgarden last season, fourth among players age 20 and younger in the Swedish Hockey League. Eklund, who turns 20 on Oct. 3, had an assist in his NHL debut, a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes at UBS Arena on April 14, and he had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in nine AHL games. "His play will show us," Darche said.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Eklund, F: The Islanders offense has some high-upside young players to integrate around Schaefer in the seasons ahead, including their top forward prospects in Eklund and Cole Eiserman. Eklund had a strong NHL debut for the Islanders with one assist, two shots on goal and two hits in 15:30. The younger brother of Ottawa Senators wing William Eklund, he could compete with players like Eiserman, a first-round pick (No. 20) in the 2024 NHL Draft who had nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 12 AHL games last season, Calum Ritchie and Kyle Palmieri, who is recovered from a season-ending knee injury sustained Nov. 28, for top-six and/or first power-play usage this season. Although it was a one-game sample size, Eklund had encouraging advanced metrics; per NHL EDGE stats, he ranked highly among forwards in average shot speed (62.40 mph; 95th percentile) and even-strength offensive zone time percentage (43.0 percent; 88th percentile), making him a fantasy rookie sleeper attainable in the late rounds (average draft position: 138.8). -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Simon Holmstrom -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal

Calum Ritchie -- Brayden Schenn -- Emil Heineman

Victor Eklund -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Kyle Palmieri

Ondrej Palat -- Casey Cizikas -- Matias Maccelli

Matthew Schaefer -- Ryan Pulock

Adam Pelech -- Tony DeAngelo

Alexander Romanov -- Scott Mayfield

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov