The Islanders have one of the NHL’s best answers in goal with Ilya Sorokin, but the picture gets a lot murkier the moment you look beyond him.
Sorokin, ranked No. 4 by NHL Network, remains the backbone of the team and a big reason the Islanders stayed in the playoff chase as long as they did last season. Even so, there’s a real concern about what happens if the net has to be handed off for any length of time.
Semyon Varlamov looks like the favorite to keep the backup job, but the 38-year-old is reportedly working back from a double knee replacement and hasn’t played in an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024. That uncertainty is why Mathieu Darche brought in Vitek Vanecek on a one-year, $1M deal as protection.
The problem is that Vanecek hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. Over the past three seasons, he has bounced around the league and posted a save percentage below .900, while picking up just nine wins in his last 43 starts.
That would be manageable if the team in front of him were cleaning things up, but the numbers say otherwise. The Islanders allowed 716 high-danger shots against last season, according to Natural Stat Trick, the third-most in the NHL. That kind of pressure leaves any goalie exposed, and it puts even more weight on a depth chart that already looks thin.
If Sorokin were to miss a meaningful stretch, the Islanders could find themselves asking a lot from their third option in goal. For a team with playoff ambitions, that’s a dangerous place to be.
There is, at least, one possible way this gets better. With Pete DeBoer behind the bench, the Islanders could make a noticeable jump defensively if the system clicks. They’re going to need that kind of turnaround if they want to give their goaltenders a fair shot.
In Other News...
Islanders Prospect Debate Just Got More Interesting Than Fans Expected
A pair of prospect rankings released this week gave Islanders fans a fresh look at the organizations next wave, and the differences were enough to make the debate feel a little sharper than usual. NHL.com and The Athletics Corey Pronman both put together lists for the 2026-27 season, leaning on draft pedigree, development curves and projected NHL upside to sort out a group that still has plenty of time to change shape.
NHL.com put Victor Eklund at No. 1, with Malte Gustafsson and Kashawn Aitcheson close behind, while Pronmans board took a different view of the pecking order and added another name into the mix as a player to watch. For an Islanders system trying to define its future core, those variations matter because they show how wide the range of opinion remains on which prospects are closest to becoming real NHL pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Now Face The Final Call On Team Identity
The Islanders have already whittled their third-jersey fan contest down to two blue finalists for the 2027-28 season, and both carry a distinctly Long Island feel. One leans into the lighthouse theme that has long been part of the franchises visual identity, while the other keeps things simpler with ISLANDERS stretched across the chest, a look that puts the name front and center and leaves little room for confusion.
Mathew Barzal made his preference clear in a team video, backing the wordmark concept as the final vote approaches. Fans will get the last say on the teams website, with the winner set to be announced later, and the choice now feels like more than just a jersey decision. It is a small but revealing test of what Islanders supporters want the brand to say when the new sweater finally arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Calum Ritchie Is Giving Islanders Fans Real Hope For More Scoring
Calum Ritchies first full look with the Islanders gave fans something theyve been waiting to see more of: a young forward who can tilt the ice toward offense. In 65 games during the 2025-26 season, he put up 13 goals and 17 assists, and the numbers behind the numbers suggest he created more scoring chances than his final point total captured. For a team always hunting for more finish up front, that kind of production from a developing player is the sort of sign that can matter beyond the raw totals.
The next step, though, is where the story gets interesting. Ritchies offensive promise is clear, but the defensive side of his game still needs work, and how he responds under coach Pete DeBoer will shape what kind of role he earns in the upcoming season. If he keeps building on the chances hes already generating, the Islanders may have more than a useful young contributor on their hands - they may have a player who starts changing the way opponents have to defend them. [Read more 🡒]