The New York Islanders (7-4-2) are 13 games into the 2026-27 season, and there’s already plenty to discuss.
From Matthew Schaefer continuing to establish himself as one of the NHL’s brightest young stars to Pete DeBoer getting his players to buy into his system, there have been plenty of positives.
But some concern remains, especially as injuries test the Islanders’ depth and the team still searches for greater consistency in certain areas.
With that said, here are 13 thoughts after 13 games:
Pete DeBoer Knows How To Manage A Bench: Whether it was losing two forwards during a game against Toronto, going with 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Nashville Predators, or losing a defenseman just 27 seconds into Thursday’s game against Minnesota, the veteran bench boss has kept his group composed and poised. In both games where the Islanders lost players to injury, those injuries occurred in the first period. Yet, the Islanders are now 2-0-0 in games where they’ve lost a player to injury.
When The Islanders Play DeBoer’s Brand Of Hockey, They Can Hang With Anyone: Yes, part of that is Matthew Schaefer, but the reality is that Schaefer is an Islander. As long as he’s on the ice, this team can beat anyone in the National Hockey League. But it’s not just one player. DeBoer has earned full buy-in from his group, and you can see it most nights, even in losses. When the Islanders execute his system, they’re a difficult team to play against.
Matthew Schaefer Is Generational: After watching the magic Schaefer produced during his rookie season, there was little reason to believe he wouldn’t pick up right where he left off. What was harder to imagine was him getting even better. Yet, that’s exactly what’s happened. He’s stronger, understands the NHL game better, and keeps making the extraordinary look routine. It’s incredible to watch.
Victor Eklund Is A Rottweiler: Eklund wasn’t a shoo-in to make this team out of training camp, and perhaps he wouldn’t have if Mathew Barzal had been healthy. But his work ethic and commitment to the little things have made him such a valuable player. He’s a dog on every shift, constantly battling for pucks and making whatever line he’s on better. He’s also earning shifts later and later in games, a clear indication of just how much DeBoer trusts the young forward.
Ondrej Palat Looks Like A Different Player: Palat’s strong start isn’t simply a matter of getting a few favorable bounces. He genuinely looks like a different player. He won’t reveal exactly what he changed this summer, but something clearly clicked, whether physically, mentally, or both. He’s moving significantly quicker, getting involved in plays, using his pivots to escape pressure, and protecting pucks effectively with his body. Those details have earned him a consistent third-line role, and he’s making the most of it.
Scott Mayfield Deserves To Be A Consistent Starter Again: Mayfield has been forced to watch plenty of hockey this season, but he made the most of his opportunity against Nashville when DeBoer went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. His performance earned him another opportunity against Minnesota, with Matt Kessel coming out of the lineup. Once again, Mayfield was stellar on the penalty kill. With Ryan Pulock dealing with an upper-body injury and expected to miss at least a game, we’ll see what happens next. But if Mayfield continues playing the way he has over the last two games, he deserves to stay in the starting lineup. He’s earned that opportunity, especially considering how professionally he’s handled his situation since Logan Stanley’s arrival.
Logan Stanley Has Been The Gamble Of The Season: Stanley went unsigned over the summer, and the Islanders eventually took a chance on him. When Alexander Romanov went down with an injury, Stanley was elevated to the top pairing alongside Matthew Schaefer. And he’s done far more than simply hold his own. He’s been a difference-maker alongside the young superstar, proving he can handle significant minutes while playing an important role on the penalty kill. His ability to take on those shorthanded responsibilities has also allowed the Islanders to keep Schaefer off the penalty kill and preserve his energy for other situations.
A Healthy Anthony Duclair Is An Effective One: Duclair didn’t look like himself over the last few seasons. We know how much the groin injury impacted him, both physically and mentally. But after a healthy summer, he’s entered this season with a chip on his shoulder. He’s not just showing off his speed. His decisions have more purpose, and he’s playing with greater intent in all three zones. That’s allowed him to contribute much more consistently. This is the Duclair the Islanders envisioned when they brought him in. Now, the question is whether he can sustain it.
Rocky Thompson Is The Power-Play Whisperer: One of the Islanders’ biggest issues on the power play in recent years has been how stagnant they’ve looked. Under Thompson, all five players move, rotate positions, and create different looks for opposing penalty kills. That’s leading to more scoring opportunities and goals with the man advantage. Just as importantly, even when the Islanders don’t capitalize, their power play generates momentum that carries into 5-on-5 play. That’s something this team hasn’t consistently done in previous seasons.
Semyon Varlamov Is Starting To Shake Off the Rust: Varlamov’s return hasn’t been smooth, but signs suggest he’s starting to find his form. In his first few starts, he was off his angles, surrendering short-side goals and looking uncomfortable in his crease. But certain aspects of his game are improving. His rebound control has improved; he’s hugging his posts more effectively and playing more aggressively instead of getting lost in his crease. He’s still letting some pucks through, but this was always going to be a process. After earning his first win of the season on Tuesday, hopefully that confidence boost helps him keep building toward the level he knows he can reach.
Bob Boughner’s Penalty Kill Has Been A Major Strength: The Islanders’ penalty kill has been a weapon. They’re no longer consistently leaving the weak-side player wide open, and their structure has been much more disciplined. The F1 —strong-side forward — is doing a strong job getting his stick in the passing lanes and disrupting the point man, while the other penalty killers keep shots outside and limit dangerous opportunities. They’re accomplishing all of this without needing Schaefer to log shorthanded minutes. Even Eklund has started earning penalty-kill shifts, another sign of the trust he’s building with the coaching staff.
The Islanders’ Depth Is Being Tested: With Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli, and Cal Ritchie sidelined, the Islanders’ forward depth has been stretched thin. Kyle MacLean and Mitchell Chaffee have done what they can on the fourth line, while Tony DeAngelo, Scott Mayfield, and Matt Kessel have helped balance the defensive workload with Alexander Romanov out. But now Ryan Pulock is out with an upper-body injury. There are only so many adjustments DeBoer can make before the options become increasingly limited. The Islanders have stayed competitive through these injuries, but unless Mathieu Darche makes a trade, they’re running out of reliable reinforcements.
Ilya Sorokin Still Needs To Shore Up His Game: On paper, Sorokin is putting together numbers worthy of Vezina Trophy consideration. But the underlying performances haven’t always matched those statistics. Too often, it feels like he’s allowing at least one goal per game that he’s more than capable of stopping. The Dallas game was a prime example: the first two goals were shots he could have saved, despite the defensive breakdowns in front of him. Against Minnesota, he had a chance to stop all three goals. The Islanders already struggle to generate offense consistently. They need Sorokin to tighten up those areas and eliminate some preventable goals.
