Islanders add depth pieces, bank on Schaefer's sophomore leap

The Islanders finished 43-34-5 for 91 points, one spot and one point out of a playoff berth in the Metropolitan Division. They added a few depth pieces this summer but made no transformative moves. The bet is that Matthew Schaefer's development and better health can push them over the line.

Last season in review

New York scored 233 goals and allowed 241, a narrow negative margin that reflected their place just outside the cut. Mathew Barzal led the team with 72 points on 19 goals and 53 assists. Schaefer, the 2025 first overall pick, posted 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in his Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign, per nhl.com. Bo Horvat chipped in 31 goals and 26 assists for 57 points. Ilya Sorokin went 29-24-2 with a .906 save percentage, solid but not elite. The Islanders were competitive but lacked the finishing punch or defensive consistency to separate from the pack.

Ins and outs

• In: Tony DeAngelo (signed to a two-year deal, per nhl.com)
• In: Matt Luff (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Vitek Vanecek (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Mitchell Chaffee (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Phil Kessel (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Noah Gustafsson (signed to a three-year entry-level contract, per nhl.com)

No major departures have been confirmed. The roster picture remains largely intact from last season's playoff miss.

The big question

Can the Islanders squeeze enough improvement from internal development and depth additions to close a one-point gap? They are banking on Schaefer taking another step and on better health or performance from their core. If those bets don't pay off, this is the same team that finished sixth.

X-factor

Matthew Schaefer. He won the Calder Trophy last season with 59 points as a rookie defenseman. If he pushes toward 70 or 75 points and tightens up his own end, the Islanders have a legitimate difference maker. A sophomore slump or plateau leaves them treading water.

Bold prediction

The Islanders will finish fourth in the Metropolitan Division and return to the playoffs. Schaefer's growth and DeAngelo's power-play quarterbacking will be enough to flip a handful of close games.

The outlook

New York is threading a narrow path. They didn't tear it down, but they didn't make a splash either. The hope is that Schaefer's trajectory, a deeper forward group, and Sorokin's reliability can push them from 91 points to 95 or 96. That might be enough in a tight Metro race. If it's not, the front office will face harder questions next summer.