The New York Islanders’ quiet summer left them with a familiar kind of roster math: an older core, not much turnover, and a spot near the top of the NHL’s age rankings.
By average age, the Islanders are set to open the 2026-27 season as the league’s sixth-oldest team at 30.0. Only the LA Kings, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights rank older, with the Kings leading the way at 31.0.
The number is a snapshot of where the roster stands right now, but it does not include 19-year-old Victor Eklund. He is expected to make the Islanders out of training camp, or at the very least be one of the final cuts.
The offseason brought only a few notable changes. Anders Lee is gone, and Matias Maccelli arrived on a one-year deal. Beyond that, the summer stayed quiet, and the age profile of the team barely moved.
There is more change coming next summer. Ondrej Palat, Kyle Palmieri, and Casey Cizikas are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, and each of them will be 35 years old.
The defense could also keep shifting. Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield will see their trade protections go from full no-trade clauses to partial no-trade clauses, and Kashawn Aitcheson’s possible rise could create pressure to move Adam Pelech.
Semyon Varlamov is another looming free agent. At 38, he is set to hit unrestricted free agency as well, which would push the Islanders’ average age down again for the next season.
In Other News...
Islanders Already Have One Contract Problem They Need To Fix
Ondrej Palats place on the Islanders books is one of those lingering roster issues that can quietly shape a season. New York took on his contract from the Devils last season, and while his contribution was modest, the bigger challenge now is the price tag attached to it. A $6 million cap hit is tough to move when the production has not matched it, which leaves the Islanders with a familiar kind of NHL problem: a useful enough player, but a contract that makes every decision around him more complicated.
For now, the Islanders may simply hold the line and carry Palat through this season while they see whether his play can justify the commitment. There is at least an end point in sight, with Palat set to become a free agent next summer, so the team is not locked into this arrangement for the long haul. Still, until his value on the ice starts to look more in line with the cap number, the Islanders are going to have to work around a deal that does not fit especially cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Schaefer Already Sounds Like The Islanders Cornerstone Fans Wanted
Matthew Schaefer is already talking like a player who understands the weight of being watched, and that matters for the Islanders as much as any highlight-reel play. In a recent interview, the young defenseman offered Gavin McKenna a simple message about the next step in his own path: enjoy the experience, keep working hard and stay present. It was the kind of advice that comes from someone who has had to navigate his own growth and appreciates how quickly a promising career can start to feel real.
Schaefer also made clear he was happy for McKenna and looking ahead to their early-season meeting, which is expected to come in Toronto. For a player trying to establish himself as a cornerstone, there is something telling about the way Schaefer is already framing these moments. He is not just thinking about his own rise, but about the pressure, the spotlight and the chance to meet it head-on when the schedule brings the two together. [Read more 🡒]