The New York Islanders are heading into a season with a fresh face behind the bench and a new place to watch the games.
Peter DeBoer will coach his first full season with the Islanders after taking over for Patrick Roy late last spring, and he’ll have a roster that gives fans plenty to keep an eye on. Ilya Sorokin remains the steady presence in goal, Bo Horvat is now the captain, and Matthew Schaefer is one of the younger names giving the team some built-in intrigue.
For viewers, though, the biggest change is off the ice. All Islanders games that are not picked up for exclusive national broadcasts will stream regionally on DAZN, the new direct-to-consumer home for the MSG networks. Along with live games, the service will also offer on-demand viewing, highlights, studio programming, original series and behind-the-scenes coverage around the team.
DAZN, pronounced da-zone, is a sports streaming platform that delivers live and on-demand events without a cable subscription. It is available in more than 200 countries and territories and first built its reputation through combat sports, especially boxing, MMA and pay-per-view fight nights. In 2026, it added regional NHL streaming rights for several teams, including the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, Sabres, Capitals and Kings.
The appeal is straightforward: fans can use the DAZN app on smart TVs, phones, tablets, computers and connected devices instead of tying themselves to a cable or satellite package.
For New York sports fans, the current subscription options include separate packages for MSG+ and the Gotham Bundle, which also includes YES Network programming. Monthly plans, season-long passes and annual passes are available, along with individual game passes for MSG+.
The Season Pass is listed at $119 per year or $19.99 for the first month, then $29.99 per month. That package includes every locally produced preseason and regular-season Islanders, Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Sabres game live and on-demand, plus pregame, halftime and postgame shows. It also allows streaming on up to three devices in three locations, downloads for viewing on the go and access to other DAZN content for free, including international soccer and boxing.
There is also a $9.99 Game Pass for one Islanders, Knicks, Rangers, Devils or Sabres game, including pregame and postgame coverage.
For viewers who want both MSG+ and YES, the Gotham Bundle is priced at $299.99 per year or $34.99 per month. That plan includes every locally produced preseason and regular-season Yankees, Knicks, Yankees, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Sabres game live and on-demand, along with pregame, halftime and postgame shows, streaming on up to three devices in three locations, downloads for mobile viewing and additional DAZN content at no extra cost.
Signing up means going to the DAZN website or opening the app, choosing a location if prompted, selecting a plan, creating an account, entering payment information and reviewing the order before confirming. DAZN says content and pricing can vary by country, so users should make sure they are looking at the correct version for their region.
In Other News...
Islanders Were In On Kirill Marchenko But One Big Hurdle Loomed
The Islanders were among the teams circling Kirill Marchenko before Columbus finally moved him to Toronto in the deal that brought Matthew Knies into the mix. Marchenko drew widespread attention across the league, with Montreal, Boston, Seattle and Tampa Bay also checking in, and the Canadiens reportedly staying in the conversation right down to the end. For New York, it was another sign the club was willing to explore a notable winger upgrade if the price and fit made sense.
The obstacle, though, was always going to be more than just interest. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said Marchenko preferred to play elsewhere, but never offered a clear explanation for that desire, leaving clubs to read between the lines on whether a trade partner could actually make the move stick. In a market like that, the Islanders had to weigh not only what it would take to get him, but whether the situation would truly be a temporary rental or something more stable down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Added A Wild UBS Arena Twist Fans Will Debate
UBS Arena is getting a fresh menu shakeup for the 2026-27 season, with the Islanders, the building and Delaware North Sportservice rolling out a new batch of food items designed to give fans something to talk about long before puck drop. The lineup leans into the kind of arena creativity that has become part of the game-night experience, mixing familiar comfort food with a few offbeat twists.
Among the offerings is an Uncrustable Pulled Pork Tostada and a Burrata Boat, but the item that will likely get the most attention is a viral grilled cheese built around brie and Nerds Gummy Clusters on toasted sourdough. The novelty of it should be enough to fuel plenty of debate in the concourse, and the real question is how quickly Islanders fans embrace a menu that seems determined to make dining at the rink as memorable as the hockey itself. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Sent A Clear Message About Matthew Schaefer
The Islanders have started drawing a clearer picture of their leadership group for the 2026-27 season, and it includes a notable nod to one of the youngest players in the room. Along with Bo Horvat staying on as captain, the team named Ryan Pulock, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn as alternate captains, while also putting Matthew Schaefer in that mix as the organization continues to build around the No. 1 pick from the 2025 NHL Draft.
For a team looking to establish its next core, the move says as much about Schaefers standing inside the room as it does about his future on the ice. Giving a 19-year-old an alternate captaincy is not a routine gesture, and the Islanders clearly see a player they want to accelerate as a leader as much as a cornerstone, even as the rest of the leadership group stays anchored by established veterans. [Read more 🡒]