Islanders’ Biggest Roster Concern Must Be Solved Before 2026-27
The New York Islanders head into the 2026-27 NHL season with several promising pieces, but one major weakness remains unresolved: a lack of offensive production.
New York pushed hard to reach the playoffs last season. The Islanders made additions at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline and even made a coaching change with just a few games left in the regular season. Patrick Roy was dismissed, with experienced coach Pete DeBoer taking over.
Neither move was enough to get the Islanders into the postseason. New York missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, marking the third time in five seasons that the team finished without playoff hockey. That falls well short of the expectations surrounding the franchise.
There were, however, some significant positives to build around.
The biggest was Matthew Schaefer, who captured the Calder Trophy after an outstanding rookie campaign. The young defenseman produced one of the most impressive first seasons ever by an NHL defenseman and matched Brian Leetch’s rookie record for goals at the position. His importance to the Islanders was evident throughout the season.
New York also continues to have an elite goaltender in Ilya Sorokin. He posted a .906 save percentage in 2025-26 and remained one of the league’s top netminders. According to HockeyStats.com, Sorokin ranked second among NHL goaltenders in both Goals Saved Above Expected and WAR.
With Schaefer on defense and Sorokin in net, the Islanders have two foundational pieces in place. They also have talented forwards, including Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Emil Heineman.
Still, the offense remains a glaring weakness.
Islanders Need More Firepower Up Front
The Islanders have plenty of individual talent among their forwards, but they struggled to generate enough offense as a team.
Heineman scored 22 goals last season, which was a respectable total, but he contributed only nine assists. His lack of playmaking is not necessarily a major problem by itself, but it highlights the Islanders’ broader need for players who can consistently create scoring opportunities.
New York also had serious problems putting the puck in the net. The Islanders finished with the eighth-lowest Goals For Per Game in the NHL, according to ESPN. Among Eastern Conference teams, only the New Jersey Devils averaged fewer goals per game.
That issue could remain a problem in 2026-27.
The Islanders lost captain Anders Lee during free agency, with the veteran forward signing a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth. More concerning for New York, the team did little to replace his offensive contribution.
In fact, the Islanders made only one notable addition to their forward group during free agency. Matias Maccelli signed a one-year contract with New York in July. He spent the previous season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and struggled after being acquired from the Mammoth the summer before.
That leaves the Islanders relying heavily on their existing players to improve.
Maccelli will need to rebound. Schaefer will have to build on his historic rookie season. Meanwhile, players such as Heineman, Calum Ritchie, and Simon Holmstrom will be expected to make noticeable strides.
The Islanders clearly have confidence in the talent already on their roster. The problem is that much of their 2026-27 success could depend on those players taking significant steps forward.
If the Islanders want to return to the playoffs, they will need more offense. Their goaltending and defense give them a strong foundation, but without a major improvement in scoring, New York could once again find itself on the outside looking in when the postseason arrives.
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