The NY Islanders are done shopping for the NHL roster, but the organization is still adding pieces down below as Hamilton gets ready for its first year back in the AHL.
The latest move came today, when the team announced a one-year deal for Chas Sharpe. The 22-year-old right-shot defenseman stands 6'3" and spent the last two seasons in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
Sharpe’s junior résumé was strong, too. As captain of the Mississauga Steelheads in his final OHL season, he put up 53 points and led the club in both points and goals among defensemen with 19.
He went undrafted before landing with Toronto after his OHL career ended, then split time between the Toronto Marlies and the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL. His 2024-25 season was a tale of two stops: only four games with the Marlies, but a huge run in Cincinnati, where he finished with 46 points in 53 games. Even more eye-catching, his 25 goals were 13 more than the rest of the Cyclones’ defensemen combined.
“The strength of Sharpe's game is definitely his shot. He has a cannon for a slapshot that he has scored most of his goals with,” Pension Plan Puppets says of Sharpe. “It's not just that it's heavy and has some velocity to it; it's that he can get it off quickly, it is pretty darn accurate considering the shot type, and he's got a knack for choosing when to shoot when it's more likely to get through from the point instead of just getting easily blocked by someone's shin pads.”
In Other News...
Former Islanders First-Round Pick Nears A Career Turn He Never Wanted
Oliver Wahlstroms career has reached a familiar and uncomfortable crossroads for a former Islanders first-round pick who was once expected to become a long-term piece on Long Island. After the Islanders moved on from him, he was claimed off waivers by the Bruins and later spent time in the AHL, where he led the San Jose Barracuda in goals last season. Now, with an NHL spot still not materializing, his next move may be taking shape far from the league he first entered as a high pick.
For the Islanders, it is another reminder of how quickly once-promising draft capital can drift into uncertainty. Matt Maggio recently signed with Salavat Yulaev of the KHL after not receiving a qualifying offer from New York, and Wahlstrom appears to be on a similar path as reports link him to the same league. It is not the destination anyone in his camp would have preferred, but it is becoming harder to ignore as the market for NHL openings keeps shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Gave Fans Two Big Reasons To Circle UBS Dates
The Islanders are already giving fans a reason to start eyeing the 2026-27 calendar, with the club rolling out a promotional schedule at UBS Arena built around theme nights, giveaways and the kind of small extras that help turn a random home date into a must-see outing. Military Appreciation Night, GOAT USA Night and other specialty events are part of the mix as the team looks to keep the building feeling busy and connected all season long.
Two of the bigger draw nights stand out immediately for fans planning ahead, with bobblehead giveaways on tap for Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer. There is also a Star Wars Day celebration set for March 7, marking the 50th anniversary of the franchise with a limited-edition bucket hat giveaway, giving Islanders supporters a few early markers to circle before the puck even drops on the season. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Have A Young Star In The Hart Conversation
Noah Schaefers rookie year already put him on the map in a big way, and now the attention is moving well beyond ordinary rookie hype. The Islanders defenseman closed his first season with 59 points and tied the NHL rookie record for goals by a defenseman, a start that has turned him into one of the more interesting names to watch heading into 2026-27.
What makes the conversation around Schaefer so unusual is the ceiling attached to it. If the Islanders put together a successful season, his two-way impact could carry him from emerging cornerstone to legitimate Hart Trophy contender, a rare lane for a defenseman in an award that has not gone to one since 1999-2000. For a team looking for a young star to anchor its next push, that is a storyline worth keeping close. [Read more 🡒]