WESTBURY, NY — When I ask myself who the most important players are to this New York Islanders team entering the first full season under head coach Pete DeBoer, Matthew Schaefer, Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal come to mind.

But when you take an extra second to think, there’s another key name that belongs in that conversation: Semyon Varlamov.

The 38-year-old netminder, who has one season left on his $2.75 million deal, is returning this season after undergoing double knee surgery. He has not appeared in an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024.

Since Varlamov went down, the Islanders’ backup goaltending has been insufficient.

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WESTBURY, NY — The New York Islanders held their annual Golf Outing & Tennis Classic on Monday, giving us a chance to hear from players and head coach Pete DeBoer just days before training camp gets underway.

With Bo Horvat officially named the 16th captain in franchise history, much of the conversation centered around the Islanders’ new leadership group, but there was plenty more to come out of the day.

From injury updates to Matthew Schaefer’s offseason, training camp expectations, and more, here’s all you need to know:

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NEWARK, NJ — New York Islanders forward prospect Cole Eiserman forced overtime before playing hero in Sunday’s 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils prospects.

Both goals showcased the release that has made Eiserman one of the organization’s most dangerous shooting prospects.

His first was a quick snap shot through the five-hole late in the third period to tie the game. Then, in overtime, Eiserman used a slight toe-drag before depositing the puck under the glove of Devils netminder Jakub Malek for the winner.

Eiserman’s shot is incredibly special, which is why I sat down with the Islanders’ 2024 first-round pick to discuss how he developed his release, who he studied growing up, what he learned from his brief AHL stint, and how a new teammate quickly became a mentor and roommate.

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NEWARK, NJ — On Sunday, the New York Islanders’ prospects battled the New Jersey Devils’ prospects.

Daniil Prokhorov lit the lamp for the Islanders at 5:56 of the second period. But the Devils answered with two goals in 41 seconds to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.

But Prokhorov lit the lamp again at 1:55 of the third period. He deflected a point shot before hopping on the rebound, as he just can’t be contained in front of goal.

Then it was Victor Eklund off a 2-on-1 rush at 7:50 of the third to give the Islanders a 3-2 lead. Off the rush with Cam Berg, Eklund opened up to show his pass, but instead, off his back leg, beat Jakub Malek high on the blocker side, kissing the bar for just a beauty of a finish.

Disgusting stuff.

The Devils added two goals in short order yet again, with Melovsky scoring twice in 1:29 to put the home team up 4-3 with 8:19 to play in the third.

But then it was Cole Eiserman times two, tying the game with 1:21 to go in the third before winning the game in overtime with less than a minute to play:

Here are my notes and observations from the Islanders’ 5-4 overtime win over the Devils:

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EAST MEADOW, NY — The New York Islanders’ prospect pool will battle the New Jersey Devils’ prospect pool at 2 PM ET today in New Jersey. You can stream the game on the Islanders’ team website.

It’s been a minute since Islanders prospects faced another organization’s prospect pool.

Going up against your fellow prospects is one thing — and with the amount of skill now in the system, it’s challenging — but for some players, like Kashawn Aitcheson, it’s difficult to show their full skill set.

That’s what scrimmages like today are for.

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Back in July, New York Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer floated Matthew Schaefer as an option to play the right side this season.

At the time, the comment came while DeBoer was discussing where Isaiah George could potentially fit on a crowded Islanders blue line.

Two months later, it’s clear that wasn’t just a hypothetical.

DeBoer revealed on TSN’s OverDrive that the Islanders have really been discussing potentially playing Schaefer on the right side this season, an idea that was reinforced by what the head coach saw while reviewing tape from the now 19-year-old’s rookie season.

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EAST MEADOW, NY — New York Islanders prospect Victor Eklund got a taste of the NHL last season when he made his debut in Game 82 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, he’s trying to turn that taste into a full-course meal and crack the Islanders roster out of training camp.

But first comes rookie camp, which began Friday. And, as expected, Eklund was the standout on Day 1.

Whether it was his skating, his shot, or his ability to read the ice, Eklund showed why he is one of the Islanders’ most prized prospects.

I asked rookie camp head coach and Hamilton Hammers head coach Jay McKee about Eklund:

“He’s a highly talented player who has a really good brain for the game. He’s very shifty, obviously not overly big in stature, but he’s very strong on his feet. We could see in some of the compete drills out there protects the puck very well. There’s unlimited potential with him. He’s going to be a very exciting player to watch for a long time.”

Following Day 1 of rookie camp, The Elmonters caught up with Eklund:

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EAST MEADOW, NY — Friday marked the opening of New York Islanders rookie camp.

Usually, Day 1 is just basic drills, but Hamilton Hammers head coach Jay McKee, who is running rookie camp, wanted to keep the intensity up.

“A lot of these players are new to us, so you want to get to know the guys and make them feel comfortable,” McKee said. “But we wanted to have some compete. They're going to be playing a game in a couple of days, an afternoon game. So we didn't want to go too hard, but we certainly wanted to grind them a little bit. I really like the tempo of the practice and the compete, and guys are always nervous on day one, so we try to ease into it a little bit with some flow early on, and then get them competing.”

McKee spoke about a few prospects.

Here’s what he said about Victor Eklund:

“He’s a highly talented player who has a really good brain for the game. He’s very shifty, obviously not overly big in stature, but he's very strong on his feet. We could see in some of the compete drills out there protects the puck very well. There’s unlimited potential with him. He's going to be a very exciting player to watch for a long time.

Here’s what he said about Cole Eiserman:

“He’s a skilled forward. What I like about him is that, in one of my first conversations, he acknowledged the things he needs to improve on, and that's a step of maturity right there. A lot of young guys won't address those issues. They'll just talk about the things that they're good at and want to work on those things, but he's addressed that, and that's a great start. For me, things [he wants to work on] are easily fixable. But he's a highly skilled forward, has a good pace to his game, and has a fantastic shot. You can't teach that. I certainly can't. He's got a great shot. I mean, it's a weapon. He's dangerous. We want him shooting, and if you're on his line, you should be getting to the net because you know that he can pull the trigger, and it's a unique ability that not a lot of guys have. So, it’s certainly a weapon that he needs to use.”

Now, onto Kashawn Aitcheson:

“He's got to pick his spots. He's a very talented defenseman. Obviously, another heavy, heavy shot and can make plays. He can jump up in the play, and he can make the bone-crushing hits. He may have that energy where he's out running around right away, but he's a complete player as well. So, he’s not just a guy that I want or expect to go out and start running around right at the drop of the puck. Obviously, he has no fear of stepping up and protecting teammates and things like that. But he's a great all-around player, and if he lays some big hits, which at some point he will — I don't know if it'll be game one or not, but he's going to lay some big ones for sure.

And we’ll close with what he said about Isaiah George:

“He's really impressed me. I thought, at development camp, he was exceptional. I didn't see him a lot when he was in junior. We were in a different conference, but he's impressed me a lot. I'm seeing more than I expected with him. Obviously, he’s got great feet, makes some great plays with the puck, and has his head up. So he's another exciting player for this organization.”

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Takeaways From Day 1:

• Victor Eklund was seamless and smooth. Of all the forwards on the ice, he was the standout for me. There’s just an ease to the way he moves around the ice and with the puck.

• Isaiah George got BIG. While he said he didn’t put on a ton of weight this offseason, you can certainly tell he gained muscle. He looks much bigger than he did a year ago.

• Luca Romano is so shifty. There was one play in particular where he pulled off a spin move in transition as he came over the blue line. His skating and skill were noticeable.

• Kashawn Aitcheson’s skating has improved. We know about the physicality and the shot. Now, it’s about him continuing to become a complete player, which McKee touched on above.

• Speaking of Aitcheson’s physicality, he absolutely bodied the gigantic Daniil Prokhorov. The two then battled together in front of the goal. If you were wondering whether Aitcheson would tone down the physicality against fellow prospects, you got your answer pretty quickly.

• Quinn Finley (shoulder) isn’t cleared to practice yet, but he said he’s at the finish line when it comes to getting cleared.

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There are plenty of great events on the hockey calendar every year, but I’m not sure anything quite compares to the Matt Martin Foundation’s annual Poker Night at Opus Steakhouse.

Thursday night was another reminder of why.

The place was packed, with around 60 tables and over 30 Islanders players, past and present, sitting and playing, giving fans an opportunity you really don’t get anywhere else.

You’re not walking into a ballroom, sitting through dinner and watching hockey players from across the room.

You’re sitting with them. You’re talking hockey. You’re talking life. You’re laughing.

You’re meeting people you might only know from social media or from seeing them around UBS Arena.

If you knocked out one of the Islanders players at your table, you got a signed jersey, which is pretty cool.

I’ve been fortunate to attend many events over the years, and this one remains one of my favorites —maybe the coolest one of the year.

It was great catching up with so many friends, including my dear pal Jonny Lazarus, a closeted Islanders fan who walks around pretending to be a Rangers guy.

It was also awesome to see so many familiar faces and meet a ton of Islanders fans throughout the night.

But as much fun as everyone has, the most important part is why everyone is there in the first place.

The Matt Martin Foundation has used this event to help fund service animals for those in need, including members of local law enforcement and the FDNY.

Over the years, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with those funds making a real difference in people’s lives.

With the event taking place on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, there was added significance to a night centered on giving back to the Long Island community and supporting those who serve it.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives lost, the families forever impacted, and the first responders who ran toward danger when others were running away.

That’s what makes a night like Thursday about much more than getting a chance to sit at a table with your favorite hockey player.

Martin has always understood the connection between Islanders players and the Long Island community, and Thursday night was another example of just how strong that connection is.

Hundreds of people packed Opus. Players were everywhere. Fans got to spend the night alongside some of the people they watch and root for all season.

And it was all for a great cause.

PRE-ROOKIE CAMP TWITTER SPACE

I hosted a Twitter Space to answer your questions, comments, and concerns ahead of rookie camp.

Click the image below to listen!

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We are a day away from New York Islanders hockey returning, in some capacity.

Although the season doesn’t open until Sept. 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs north of the border, rookie camp opens, and there’s much to discuss before the prospects hit the ice.

Before diving in, check out the latest stories:

LATEST STORIES

Ok, let’s get to 20 thoughts ahead of rookie camp, shall we, along with what their rookie camp roster could look like.

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New York Islanders fans get up in arms about why they haven’t or can’t get the guy.

A gritty guy who crashes the net, scores goals, is a leader, and can fly up the ice is a player the Islanders could use.

However, on the off chance that Chris Kreider did want to come to Long Island — he chose the Montreal Canadiens due to New York Rangers’ connections — here’s why a move for Kreider wouldn’t have made much sense for the Islanders right now.

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It’s Isaiah George’s time to shine.

The 22-year-old — yes, he’s still only 22 — didn’t get much of an opportunity last season due to injuries after playing 33 games at the NHL level in 2024-25, but he’s viewed as an NHL-caliber defenseman.

New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche wants him to make the team. Head coach Pete DeBoer is in the same boat.

Despite the addition of Matthew Kessel and others in the pipeline like Marshall Warren, it seems like an NHL job this fall is George’s to lose.

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New York Islanders forward prospect Victor Eklund will be gunning for a spot on the NHL roster this fall.

Given the “thrive, not survive” sentiments from general manager Mathieu Darche, the belief is that Eklund will have to leave no doubts in the organization’s mind that he’s ready.

The reason is simple. The Islanders, who are in the midst of a transition, can’t mess this up, and how they handle Eklund is the first brick in building what will hopefully be a new age of Islanders hockey.

There’s no question that Eklund’s game is best suited for a top-six role, but will he be able to earn one?

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New York Islanders rookie camp opens later this week.

When you look at the Islanders’ NHL roster, for as much as we’ve talked about a transition, there’s not much room for young prospects to leave their mark right out of the gate.

Of course, if the Islanders do end up selling at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, more opportunities could arise for young players.

But that doesn’t mean rookie camp isn’t tremendously important.

This is where prospects can start putting themselves in position for those opportunities before they ever arrive.

It’s a chance to make an impression on the coaching staff, climb the organizational depth chart, and show just how close they are to being ready when the Islanders eventually need help.

And with limited spots available at NHL training camp — and even fewer opportunities once the preseason begins — what happens over these next few days could go a long way toward determining which prospects get a longer look.

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BELLEROSE, NY — Kelly Cheeseman thought 1,500 submissions would make the New York Islanders’ third-jersey contest a success.

They got 80,000.

The Islanders’ President of Business Operations spoke with reporters about the overwhelming response, James Doyle’s winning Lighthouse design, what the organization learned from the process and his relationship with general manager Mathieu Darche.

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With New York Islanders rookie camp and training camp right around the corner, there are plenty of questions surrounding the roster, position battles and which young players could push for NHL jobs.

In this final edition of our Islanders Free Friday Mailbag, we take a look at some of those roster decisions, potential X-factors and more.

But first, here’s the latest stories to check out:

LATEST STORIES

Ok, now to the mailbag. Thank you to everyone who has been sending in questions all summer long.

Q: Darche’s Appetite

ROSNER: Actions speak louder than words, but the feeling I get is that we very well could see some veterans either not make the team or lose their spot in the starting lineup, depending on how certain prospects perform in training camp. When it comes to Ondrej Palat, he can’t be bought, but could he find himself out of the starting lineup? Absolutely.

Despite Pierre Engvall being one of the Islanders’ fastest players in transition — Anthony Duclair belongs in that conversation, too — Pete DeBoer has spoken about his non-negotiables, and that’s an area that has gotten in the way of both players earning consistent minutes during their time on Long Island.

That said, Darche isn’t rushing any of his prospects, including Victor Eklund. If Eklund earns a spot, he’ll be on the roster. But if there’s any question, starting the season in Hamilton while the Islanders lean on their veterans is very much a possibility.

As for Cal Ritchie, he sustained a lower-body injury toward the end of camp last year, but yeah, he was likely starting the season in Bridgeport either way.

The Islanders have $4.159 million in available cap space, which includes Vitek Vanecek and his $1 million cap hit. So, they have cap space. Did they likely want more heading into the season? Yes, but they have some flexibility there.

Q: Roster Predictions

ROSNER: If I had to guess, before camp begins, here’s my opening-night 23-man roster:

F: Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, Cal Ritchie, Brayden Schenn, Simon Holmstrom, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Matias Maccelli, Victor Eklund, Anthony Duclair, Casey Cizikas, Emil Heineman, Ondrej Palat, Kyle MacLean

D: Matthew Schaefer, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Tony DeAngelo, Alexander Romanov, Scott Mayfield, Isaiah George

G: Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov

I think Matt Kessel will lose the seventh-defenseman battle to Isaiah George. I think Liam Foudy and Mitchell Chaffee will be difficult players to cut but will likely see NHL minutes this year as an injury call-up if they don’t make the team. I think Mathew Barzal is poised to have a big season back at center. I think Alexander Romanov, who has slimmed down and has his back healthy, is in need of a really stable season.

I think Simon Holmstrom has the ability to be one of the biggest X-factors for the team and finally establish himself as a true top-six forward.

Q: Cairns’ New Role

ROSNER: On June 30, the Islanders announced that Pascal Dupuis had been named the team’s Director of Player Development, taking over the role Eric Cairns had held since the 2013-14 season. I’m told Cairns is now serving as an alumni ambassador for the organization.

I ran into Cairns at the Islanders’ community event on Wednesday, where he was helping build a playground in Bellerose alongside other Islanders alumni and current players in partnership with KABOOM! and the Islanders Children’s Foundation.

Q: Rookie Outlook

ROSNER: If we’re being completely realistic, the only rookie I think has a true chance to crack the NHL roster out of training camp is Victor Eklund.

As for the first call-up, I’m not sure it would be a rookie. If a forward goes down, I think Liam Foudy would be the guy. If it’s a defenseman, I think Matt Kessel would get the call.

Q: Outside Perspective

ROSNER: Rival fan bases love to poke the bear, if you will, so of course they’re going to look at what the Islanders did negatively and focus on how it helped their own franchise. Certainly, Devils fans were ecstatic to see Ondrej Palat leave, which opened up cap space for New Jersey to upgrade its forward group and potentially add a Quinn Hughes or Connor Hellebuyck if either of those moves eventually comes to fruition.

I think GMs probably scratch their heads more at the Brayden Schenn deal than the Palat deal because it’s a fact that the Islanders were paid to take Palat off the Devils’ hands.

I also think other GMs are more understanding of both moves because they understand the pressure that comes with making trades and know that not every move is going to work out.

Q: Anders Lee Jersey Retirement?

ROSNER: When John Tonelli’s No. 27 went up to the rafters on Feb. 21, 2020, I did think about what could happen if Anders Lee spent his entire career with the Islanders and reached the 1,000-game mark in the process.

But with Lee choosing to sign with Utah rather than take a shorter-term deal with the Islanders this summer, I think that ultimately puts a damper on any chance of a jersey retirement. He was a great Islander and a tremendous leader. Still, even if he had finished his career on Long Island, I don’t know if he would have received that honor, especially without the Islanders winning a Stanley Cup during his tenure.

There’s no question, though, that he belongs in the Islanders Ring of Honor alongside Josh Bailey and the MC² Line, which I could see happening at some point in the future.

Q: GM Communications

ROSNER: Yes, I do believe there is a GM group chat where a GM can say that a player is available or that they’re looking for a certain position, etc. I think after that, the conversation leaves the chat, and the two sides talk one-on-one.

Ultimately, it depends on the situation. As we know, some trades, especially with Lou Lamoriello, may have gotten nixed because word got out. It depends on how each GM likes to do business.

ROSNER: Haha, thanks for asking. Wedding plans are going amazingly well, and we’ve set a date. I’ll keep that to myself for now, but it will be next summer, and I can’t wait.

My fiancée has been able to join me on a few trips throughout the year, but she’s a teacher, and unfortunately, that limits her availability. I’m very lucky, though, to have her support. This career comes with a lot of sacrifices, and I know I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without her being so understanding of everything that comes with it.

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On Tuesday, recently appointed New York Islanders assistant general manager and Hamilton Hammers general manager Evan Gold was asked by Jeff Marek on The Sheet how he viewed his new organization from afar while he was still with the Boston Bruins.

“I don’t know that it’s any different than how I see them now, really. They’re a transitional team, with some really good veterans, and what appears to be a generational defenseman. They have really strong goaltending and now with Pete [DeBoer] here, especially, a veteran coach who’s had tremendous success pretty much everywhere he’s gone, so that’s really exciting for me. Coming to work for a leader like Mathieu [Darche], who I’ve known personally for several years, all of that together, and what I think we could build here is what was really exciting for me.”

Apparently, the word “transitional” didn’t land too well with a certain portion of the fan base.

On Wednesday, my pal Joe Pantorno asked Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche about Gold’s comments and what exactly that transition looks like for the organization.

“Transitional doesn’t mean that you don’t think about today, either,” Darche said. “It’s just like, yes, we have some younger guys coming. We’re trying to incorporate some young guys, whether it’s this year right away, whether it’s halfway through the year, whether it’s next year.

“But I think in the last two years we’ve replenished our prospect pool. In the last two drafts, we drafted four times in the top 17—three last year and one this year. So we’re excited about those guys. And I even think we’ve had some good picks later on in the draft.”

That is really where this transition begins, because it’s hard to transition when you don’t have the prospect pipeline ready to do so.

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ELMONT, NY — With New York Islanders training camp right around the corner, general manager Mathieu Darche met with some of us on Wednesday and touched on just about everything surrounding the team entering the 2026-27 season.

From what the organization’s transition really means, to the health of several key players, the captaincy decision, potential PTOs and more, Darche offered plenty of insight into where the Islanders stand before camp opens.

Here are the biggest takeaways from his pre-training camp press conference:

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Yesterday, we kicked off our look ahead to the New York Islanders’ 2026-27 season with 15 questions surrounding Pete DeBoer’s team, from whether they can find the consistency needed to make the playoffs to Matthew Schaefer’s encore and plenty more.

But 15 questions weren’t enough.

With rookie camp and training camp right around the corner and plenty of roster battles and storylines still to dive into, we’re back with another 15 questions facing the Islanders ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Before we get to today’s 15 questions, check out some of our recent stories:

Ok, now let’s get into it.

1. Will Adam Pelech be able to mimic his 2025-26 season?

Pelech got himself back in the “elite shutdown defenseman” conversation last season after a few years away. A large part of that was him being healthy for the whole season. And that was huge in the team not having to put as much defensive pressure on Schaefer. The question is, can Pelech do it again? It’s hard to think Pelech being that good was an accident — it wasn’t — but the question will also be who his linemate is, as Tony DeAngelo deserves credit for being stable alongside No. 3.

2. How quickly can Kyle Palmieri get back to being himself after tearing his ACL?

The Islanders were never able to fill Palmieri’s role when he went down last season, and coming back, he’s going to be relied upon in all facets, from scoring goals to playing his underrated defense at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. But we can’t pretend that an ACL injury to a 35-year-old isn’t a concern. He can be cleared to play, but it’s more about the mental hurdle of trusting your body, your leg, to do the things you want to do. It took Lee a few years to look like himself after his ACL injury. Oliver Wahlstrom’s career was derailed because of it.

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The New York Islanders’ 2026-27 season officially gets underway on Sept. 30, and with the season opener now less than a month away, hockey is right around the corner.

Rookie camp and training camp will open in the coming weeks, giving us our first real look at Pete DeBoer’s team and some of the battles, changes, and storylines that will shape the season ahead.

So, as we gear up for the start of camp and a new season, here’s Part 1 of 30 questions surrounding the Islanders, with the first 15 today and 15 more coming tomorrow.

1. Can the Islanders be consistent enough to make the playoffs?

Under Patrick Roy, the Islanders were up and down, missing the playoffs in two of his three seasons due to that lack of consistency. I think under Pete DeBoer, the Islanders are going to be what they are. Of course, there are ebbs and flows, but I do think we’ll know the type of team we are going to have early on in the season.

2. Can Rocky Thompson and this coaching staff figure out how to end the decade-long power-play problems?

After mutually parting ways with Ray Bennett, the Islanders elected to appoint Rocky Thompson from Bridgeport and give him the power-play lead. He’s run the power play in Philadelphia — he didn’t have much success — and the Islanders are desperate to figure it out.

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