Islanders Mailbag: Matthew Schaefer's Next Contract, Patrick Kane & Alexander Romanov's Future
The latest Islanders mailbag covers Matthew Schaefer's future contract, Patrick Kane speculation, Alexander Romanov's outlook, top prospects, cap space, and more.
Now that the 2026 NHL Draft, free agency, and development camp are in the books, the Islanders’ offseason is entering a different phase—but that doesn’t mean the news cycle is slowing down.
With the season long over and the biggest summer events behind us, Free Friday is shifting back into offseason mode, with a weekly New York Islanders mailbag where your questions take center stage.
And don’t get it twisted: there’s still plenty happening.
From exclusive interviews and insider reporting to in-depth analysis and behind-the-scenes access, The Elmonters isn’t going anywhere. We’ll be tracking every roster move, contract negotiation, prospect development, and storyline that shapes the months ahead.
So let’s dive into this week’s mailbag.
ROSNER: Seeing Leo Carlsson become an $18 million man, it’s understandable to think that Matthew Schaefer could seek that kind of money on his next contract. Like Macklin Celebrini, Schaefer is the type of player you hand a blank check to.
To clarify, while Schaefer is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, 2027, he’ll still have one year remaining on his entry-level contract. But to your point, I don’t think Schaefer is going to nickel-and-dime the Islanders. I could see him signing a long-term extension worth somewhere in the $12 million to $14 million range annually. A bridge deal doesn’t make much sense for either side.
As for your second question about creating additional cap space, beyond the pending unrestricted free agents — Kyle Palmieri, Ondrej Palat, Casey Cizikas, Kyle MacLean, and Semyon Varlamov — the Islanders will also have to decide on Alexander Romanov before his full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, 2027.
We may see a veteran defenseman moved by next summer. Maybe Anthony Duclair gets moved. If Calum Ritchie establishes himself as an NHL center, perhaps Jean-Gabriel Pageau becomes a trade candidate despite recently signing a three-year extension.
Ultimately, a lot will depend on where the Islanders are in their competitive cycle by the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline.
ROSNER: I like the creativity here. I don’t think Cole Eiserman makes the team out of training camp this fall.
I do agree that Emil Heineman starts the season on the fourth line, but I don’t think Jean-Gabriel Pageau is headed there just yet. Not until Calum Ritchie proves he’s ready to handle center duties at the NHL level. Based on Pete DeBoer’s comments, it didn’t sound like the plan was to slot Ritchie into a full-time center role yet.
I do think Matias Maccelli gets a look in the top six during training camp, but I’m not convinced he sticks there by opening night. DeBoer made it sound like the Ritchie-Barzal-Schenn line could remain together, at least initially.
As for the blue line, I don’t think Alexander Romanov, coming off injury and an inconsistent season, is going to be thrust into a top-pairing role right away. I do think Schaefer could play his off-side, but only if Isaiah George makes the opening-night roster. I could see Schaefer alongside Ryan Pulock or even George, with Adam Pelech continuing to handle a large share of the defensive-zone and late-game responsibilities.
As for the goaltending situation, I don’t think the Islanders will carry three goalies. I expect that Vitek Vanecek will be placed on waivers the day before rosters are finalized. With teams around the league trying to clear cap space and finalize their own rosters at that point, I’d be surprised if anyone put in a claim.
ROSNER: I do think Darche is going to learn from this past deadline. I think he’ll be more likely to move veterans this time around — not bring them in — if the Islanders aren’t safely in a playoff spot. Even then, I’d see a buy move as more of a long-term fit, like when Lou Lamoriello acquired Bo Horvat, than a short-term move to acquire an aging veteran who steals a youngster’s spot.
Kyle Palmieri, as long as he proves that he can still play his game coming off a torn ACL, will have a ton of suitors. For as much slack as Ondrej Palat has gotten and where his game is at, you never know the appetite a playoff team could have for him, especially if the Islanders retain money on a deal. I don’t think there’s been a huge market for Casey Cizikas. Still, at $2.5 million annually for a guy who is an impeccable forechecker, who wins face-offs and kills penalties, playoff teams will likely have interest. Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield’s full no-trade clauses will be modified next July 1, so that’s something to keep in mind.
ROSNER: While I do agree that the Islanders lack some muscle, especially after losing Anders Lee, that’s part of the reason I suggested they explore a deal with the Anaheim Ducks involving Alex Killorn and a draft pick. Perhaps the Islanders could send Anthony Duclair the other way, helping Anaheim create some flexibility while addressing a need of their own.
That said, much like last season, protecting Matthew Schaefer and the team’s younger players will likely be a group effort. Veterans such as Scott Mayfield, Alexander Romanov, Brayden Schenn, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Bo Horvat will be expected to help carry that responsibility.
And who knows? A few years from now, maybe we’re talking about Daniil Prokhorov becoming that type of player for the Islanders.
ROSNER: Well, that’s because I mentioned it on Thursday. While I don’t know how far the discussions progressed, I was told by two sources on July 1 that the Islanders spoke with Patrick Kane’s camp. As of today, he remains unsigned.
The Islanders are not rebuilding, at least not on the surface. The expectation remains the same as it always has been: make the playoffs. Contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t change simply because the organization is in the middle of a retool. There’s little value in missing the playoffs, which is why Mathieu Darche pushed his chips in at the trade deadline, even if the moves ultimately didn’t work out as planned.
That’s also why Kane makes sense as a potential fit. On a one-year, bonus-laden contract, he could provide value without impacting the organization’s long-term flexibility. The caveat is that a move like that can’t come at the expense of a young player such as Victor Eklund. If Kane were brought in, he would need to take someone else’s spot in the lineup.
From a hockey standpoint, the fit is obvious. Kane would help the Islanders’ power play, improve their transition game, and add another high-end playmaker to the forward group.
ROSNER: I don’t think “underwhelming” is the right word because, outside of the 4-on-4 scrimmage, it’s difficult to truly evaluate these players based solely on the drills that make up most of development camp.
I did think No. 13 overall pick Malte Gustafsson looked a bit nervous during the first couple of days, but he seemed to settle in and come out of his shell, both on and off the ice, as the week progressed. I felt the same way about goaltender Joshua Kotai, who appeared more comfortable and confident as camp went on.
ROSNER: I think Cole Eiserman could get a look at some point this season, though probably not until later in the year at the earliest.
As for Danny Nelson, I expect him to turn pro following his senior season at Notre Dame and then compete for an NHL roster spot in the fall of 2027.
Kashawn Aitcheson’s path is a bit more complicated. Any NHL opportunity for him depends on openings developing on the left side of the Islanders’ blue line, which is currently a logjam. Right now, I’d project him to get his first NHL action at some point during the 2027-28 season.
I could see Daniil Prokhorov emerging as a call-up option at some point this year, particularly if he continues the progression he showed last season.
As for Dmitry Gamzin, I don’t expect him to come to North America until next summer, when his two-year KHL extension expires. At this point, I’d be surprised if he signs another extension in Russia.
ROSNER: The Islanders do have just under $4 million in available cap space if Vitek Vanecek starts the season in the minors. However, unless it’s a one-year deal for someone like Patrick Kane or Patrik Laine, I think they’re probably done making NHL additions this summer.
There are still some internal matters that need attention, including signing their remaining restricted free agents, getting Ryan Healey under contract before the Aug. 15 deadline, and continuing to build out the roster in Hamilton.
The available cap space also serves another purpose. By keeping room available this season, the Islanders can absorb the $3.5 million in performance bonuses Matthew Schaefer is likely to earn for a second straight year. Doing so would allow them to avoid carrying a bonus overage penalty into the following season, as they’re doing now.
ROSNER: I mean, there’s always a chance. This is a huge season for Alexander Romanov to prove he can be the player Mathieu Darche believed he was getting when he signed him to an eight-year contract worth $6.25 million annually last summer.
As mentioned, Darche has until July 1, 2027, to decide on Romanov’s future with the organization before his full no-trade clause takes effect.
Right now, Romanov’s value is lower than it was a year ago because of what transpired this past season. The hope has to be that he bounces back and either proves he’s a long-term piece of the Islanders’ future or raises his value to the point where, if the organization decides to move him, he’s viewed around the league as an asset rather than a contract teams are hesitant to take on.
ROSNER: I am incredibly grateful to have the job that I have. One of the best parts of the job is interacting with all of you, even if the conversations are more often negative than positive. That’s sports. Not everyone will like my coverage or the way I go about things, but I am unapologetically myself.
I do think that in a world full of negativity 24/7, sports are meant to be fun and that being passionate shouldn’t mean having to be negative about your favorite sports team.
DESIGN THE ISLANDERS 2027-28 THIRD JERSEY
I certainly think if Schaefer is going to be playing the right side Romanov should be his partner. If healthy he can be a super competitive defender. This should be the Islanders #1 D Pair. Romanov has to stay healthy and play at a very high level. I certainly think he can and wouldn’t think about trading him if he hits above’s goals. Let’s hope he is healthy the entire year. Second pair of Pelech and Pulock speaks for itself. Third pair of George and Tony D, with Scotty in a seventh man role rounds out the D depth chart for the start of the season. Aitcheson and George are supposedly very comfortable on the Right Side like Schaefer. This makes the shortage on the right side less acute then advertised. Of course we should always look for right handed D prospects.