Islanders News

EASTERN METROPOLITAN

Pierre Engvall • LW • Islanders

Pierre Engvall Good to Go for 2026-27

New York Islanders left wing Pierre Engvall (ankle) is at 100 percent ahead of the new NHL campaign, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. The Swedish forward missed the entire 2025-26 season due to hip and ankle issues. Even with him now available, Engvall's future with the Islanders looks uncertain. He hasn't lived up to his seven-year, $21 million contract and spent part of the 2024-25 season in the AHL after being waived. With a healthy lineup, it's hard to see where he would fit.

Sep 3

Kyle Palmieri • C • Islanders

Kyle Palmieri Looking "Great" Ahead of Training Camp

New York Islanders right wing Kyle Palmieri (knee) has fully recovered from a right ACL tear, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. "Kyle Palmieri's been skating all summer. He's been here all summer," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Wednesday. "He looks great, fully healthy." Palmieri injured his right knee in late November and played only 25 times in 2025-26. He tallied six goals and 12 assists. It remains to be seen how the injury affects Palmieri's performance. Before tearing his ACL, the veteran forward didn't miss a single game in back-to-back seasons, posting over 100 points.

Sep 3

Semyon Varlamov • G • Islanders

Semyon Varlamov Ready for Comeback Campaign

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (knee) is healthy and ready for training camp, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. Varlamov has undergone two knee procedures and hasn't played since Nov. 29, 2024. "He's doing great, actually. It's almost a miracle," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Wednesday. "Well, it's not a miracle because he's really put in the work. He's been back here for at least a month. He's on the ice four to five times a week, no medication, no pain, anything like that." Throughout his 18-year career, Varlamov has been a solid netminder. He will compete with Vitek Vanecek for playing opportunities in 2026-27, with Ilya Sorokin firmly holding the starting role on Long Island.

Sep 3

Alexander Romanov • D • Islanders

Alexander Romanov Healthy After Shoulder Surgery

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) is healthy for training camp, Jon Lane of NHL.com reports. The Russian rearguard underwent shoulder surgery in November and played in only 15 games last season. But he has recovered in time for the new campaign. Romanov has averaged 1.9 blocks and 2.4 hits in his NHL career. The Islanders' defense will receive a big boost with him healthy. However, Romanov has never posted more than 22 points in a season, meaning he only has limited fantasy value.

Aug 20

Anders Lee • C • Islanders

Anders Lee Set to Hit Open Market

New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee is heading toward free agency, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. While the Islanders want to keep their captain, talks over a new contract haven't progressed. Lee, who has spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Islanders, is coming off a seven-year, $49 million contract. His production has declined with age, but Lee managed a respectable 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 82 games this season. Lee will turn 36 in a month, but he still appears to have some gas left and could attract plenty of interest in the open market.

Jun 4

Matthew Schaefer • D • Islanders

Matthew Schaefer Wins Calder Trophy

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer was named the 2025-26 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's best rookie on Wednesday. The 18-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, became the first defenseman in NHL history to be the unanimous Rookie of the Year. Schaefer set many records during his maiden campaign, finishing with 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 82 games. He's only the fourth defenseman to lead rookies in goals. Overall, he finished third in scoring among first-year players. Schaefer made a huge impact during his rookie campaign, and it's scary to think about what he will be capable of with more experience.

May 13

Ryan Pulock • D • Islanders

Ryan Pulock Unavailable for Season Finale

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (undisclosed) will miss Tuesday's season finale against the Carolina Hurricanes. The team announced that Pulock has recently played through several injuries. With the team now out of the playoff race, Pulock can drop out of the lineup to focus on his health. The 31-year-old will finish the campaign with 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) in 76 outings, marking his best offensive return in six seasons. Defensively, he contributed a team-high 147 blocks. Isaiah George will replace Pulock on defense, making his fourth appearance of the season.

Apr 14

Tony DeAngelo • D • Islanders

Tony DeAngelo Expected to Return Thursday

New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower body) is expected to be available on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Rachel Luscher of the Islanders' official site reports. He has missed six games due to a lower-body injury but returned to practice on Wednesday, skating with Adam Pelech. The Islanders' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and DeAngelo's creative spark could help the team end a four-game skid. He is third on the team with 28 assists and has collected 33 points in 72 appearances. DeAngelo has recorded an assist in both of his encounters with the Maple Leafs this season.

Apr 8

Simon Holmstrom • RW • Islanders

Simon Holmstrom Misses Tuesday's Action

New York Islanders right wing Simon Holmstrom (upper body) won't be available on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres and is considered day-to-day, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports. Holmstrom is one point shy of having his second straight 40-point season. He has tallied 19 goals and 20 assists across 73 outings. As a result of Holmstrom's absence, Mathew Barzal will move back to the first power-play unit. Anthony Duclair will take his spot in the lineup. Things haven't gone well for Duclair in 2025-26, and he isn't a good fantasy option. Barzal's move to the top power-play unit might also have only a limited impact on his fantasy value, as Buffalo is one of the NHL's best penalty-killing teams.

Mar 31

Tony DeAngelo • D • Islanders

Tony DeAngelo to Miss 1-2 Weeks

New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower body) will be unavailable for 1-2 weeks, the team announced. He sat out his first game of the season on Thursday night against Dallas and is expected to be sidelined for at least three more contests. Losing DeAngelo is a significant setback for the playoff-chasing Islanders. The 30-year-old has contributed five goals and 28 assists in 72 games. On the bright side, Ryan Pulock (lower body) was back on the blue line against Dallas, which helps ease the impact of DeAngelo's absence.

Mar 27

Tony DeAngelo • D • Islanders

Tony DeAngelo Unavailable Thursday

New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower body) won't play on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. He will miss at least one game due to a lower-body injury suffered in Tuesday's loss to Chicago. DeAngelo has made a big impact offensively for the Islanders, registering 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 72 outings. Isaiah George will play on Thursday night if Ryan Pulock (lower body) isn't ready to return. He is considered a game-time call after missing two contests.

Mar 26

Tony DeAngelo • D • Islanders

Tony DeAngelo Suffers Lower-Body Injury Tuesday

New York Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower body) was limited to 6:09 of ice time in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He sustained a lower-body injury in the first period as the Islanders' blue line suffered another blow. Ryan Pulock (lower body) was hurt last week and sat out a second straight game on Tuesday. DeAngelo is sixth in scoring on the Islanders roster, producing 33 points (five goals, 28 assists) in 72 games. Mathew Barzal (47) and Matthew Schaefer (30) are the only Islanders skaters with more assists than him. Pulock skated briefly on Tuesday morning and might be able to step in for DeAngelo if needed on Thursday against Dallas.

Mar 25

Ilya Sorokin • G • Islanders

Ilya Sorokin Earns Shutout Over Columbus

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in a key metropolitan matchup on Sunday. After Saturday night's tough loss in Montreal, it was a great bounce-back game for Sorokin and his club to earn a big two points as they fight for the playoffs. Ilya remains in the hunt for the Vezina trophy with a 25-17-2 record, a 2.53 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage.

Mar 22

Anthony Duclair • LW • Islanders

Anthony Duclair Misses Sunday's Game

New York Islanders left wing Anthony Duclair (lower body) won't be available on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will sit out a meeting with his former team due to a lower-body injury. Duclair has often been a healthy scratch lately, but he has played in four consecutive games. While he has improved his performance compared to last year, Duclair has still struggled to be effective on a consistent basis. In 60 appearances, he has recorded 12 goals and 15 assists. Kyle MacLean is set to take Duclair's place in the lineup, forcing the Islanders to reshuffle both their second line and second power-play unit.

Mar 22

Ryan Pulock • D • Islanders

Ryan Pulock Unavailable Sunday

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (lower body) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Islanders will be without Pulock for the fourth time this season. He's made an impact on both ends of the ice, totaling 25 points (three goals, 22 assists), 80 shots, 124 blocks, and 47 hits with a plus-14 rating in 67 games. Adam Boqvist is in line to replace Pulock on Sunday. In 21 outings, Boqvist has recorded zero goals and one assist, making him a non-factor in fantasy hockey. Tony DeAngelo and Scott Mayfield will see increased usage on the right side of the Islanders' defense.

Mar 22

Maxim Shabanov • C • Islanders

Maxim Shabanov Considered Day-to-Day

New York Islanders right wing Maxim Shabanov (lower body) is considered day-to-day after missing Monday's practice, Rachel Luscher of the Islanders' official site reports. Shabanov has seen very little action since February and might be unavailable for Tuesday's tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old rookie has tallied 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 42 games with the Islanders this season. 10 of his points were scored before the holiday break, so bringing in Shabanov from the KHL, where he was one of the league's top scorers, hasn't proven successful for the Islanders.

Mar 17

Emil Heineman • LW • Islanders

Emil Heineman Scores Twice Against the Kings

New York Islanders left winger Emil Heineman had two goals on Friday night, but it wasn't enough as his club lost a close 3-2 game versus the Los Angeles Kings. The first goal was a tip-in in the second period, and the next one came on a deflected shot in the third period. The Swedish second-year forward has had some solid production playing alongside Bo Horvat on the first line this year.

Mar 13

Semyon Varlamov • G • Islanders

Semyon Varlamov Won't Return This Season

New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. The 37-year-old Russian hasn't seen any action since undergoing knee surgery in December 2024. Varlamov has one more year left on a contract, which carries a $2.75 million cap hit. He has posted a 76-63-21 record with the Islanders and ranks 49th all-time with 289 career wins. Time will tell whether Varlamov will get an opportunity to add to his total in New York or elsewhere. With Varlamov unavailable, David Rittich has gone 13-9-3 as Ilya Sorokin's backup this season.

Mar 13

Alexander Romanov • D • Islanders

Alexander Romanov Could Return for Playoffs

New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) may be available for the team during the postseason, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Romanov could be back for the start of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Russian rearguard has been out since mid-November due to shoulder surgery. Before injuring his right shoulder, Romanov recorded one assist, 17 shots, 31 blocks, and 31 hits in 15 appearances. His physical presence could be a real asset for the Islanders during the postseason. In the meantime, Matthew Schaefer, Ryan Pulock, and Adam Pelech will continue to lead the blue line.

Mar 13

Brayden Schenn • C • Islanders

Islanders Trade for Brayden Schenn

The New York Islanders acquired center Brayden Schenn from the St Louis Blues for a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a prospect to be named later on Friday. Schenn is having a down year with just 12 goals and 28 points this season, but a change of scenery on a better team like the islanders can help improve his production. He will most likely be the second-line center behind Bo Horvat.

Mar 6

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