The New York Islanders are heading toward training camp with a leadership void hanging over the roster, and the biggest question is simple: who wears the captain’s “C” now that Anders Lee is gone?
Lee, who had been the captain since John Tavares left in the summer of 2018, signed a new contract with the Utah Mammoth this summer. His departure leaves a hole that goes beyond the score sheet. He was a fixture in the room as much as on the ice, and the Islanders will have to replace that presence as well as his production.
General manager Mathieu Darche did add some veteran leadership this offseason, including Brayden Schenn, but the organization still needs a new voice at the top. The coaching change late last season only sharpened that conversation. Peter DeBoer took over after Patrick Roy was relieved of his duties, and it would make sense for him to set the tone with a new captain as he settles into the job.
For now, the more immediate issue may be whether the Islanders keep the rest of the leadership group intact. Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock have served as assistant captains, and it remains to be seen if they stay in those roles or if DeBoer decides to reset the whole structure.
DeBoer did get a late-season runway last spring, which gave him time to get comfortable with the group even though the Islanders missed the playoffs. That stretch also allowed him to assess the room before training camp arrives. A captain probably won’t be named before camp opens, but it figures to become one of the major storylines once camp gets going.
Matthew Schaefer is the obvious long-term answer. He is the face of the franchise and will become captain at some point, though this season may be too soon for that step. The better fit right now could be an “A,” not the full responsibility of the “C.”
Bo Horvat also belongs in the conversation. He looked like the natural successor when the Islanders acquired him from the Vancouver Canucks, where he was already captain, and he has settled in as both a player and a leader on Long Island. He would fit cleanly into the DeBoer era.
Then there is Casey Cizikas, a player who has spent years in the organization and rarely gets mentioned in this kind of discussion. This may be his final season, with his production down and one year left on his contract. Handing him a leadership role would be a fitting way to close out his career, while also leaving room for Schaefer to take over more responsibility in year three.
In Other News...
Islanders Season May Hinge On A Few Comebacks Actually Delivering
The Islanders head into 2026-27 with little in the way of splashy outside help, so much of their outlook is tied to familiar faces getting back to form. Team executive Mathieu Darche has already pointed to the importance of injured regulars returning, and the organization is banking on a healthier roster to provide the lift that a quiet offseason did not.
Kyle Palmieri, Alex Romanov and Semyon Varlamov loom especially large in that equation, with the club optimistic about where each stands entering camp. There is also a different kind of void hanging over the team after Anders Lees departure, leaving the Islanders without a captain and adding another layer of uncertainty to a season built around comebacks rather than reinforcements. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Have A Pierre Engvall Roster Decision To Make
Pierre Engvall is back in the picture for the Islanders at just the right time, with general manager Mathieu Darche confirming the winger is healthy and will be at training camp after missing the entire previous season because of hip and ankle surgeries. For a team entering camp with a new coach in Pete DeBoer and a tighter race for jobs than usual, that alone adds another layer to the roster conversation.
Engvalls return gives the Islanders another experienced body to sort through as rookies and free-agent additions push for winger spots, and the competition should be especially pointed in the bottom six. Victor Eklund and Cole Eiserman are among the younger players trying to break through, so Engvalls place on the depth chart will be one of the more interesting decisions hanging over camp. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Schaefer Just Drew A Projection Islanders Fans Can't Ignore
Matthew Schaefers first season with the Islanders already gave fans plenty to dream on. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft became a historic rookie, winning the Calder Trophy as the youngest recipient in league history and immediately looking like a foundational piece on Long Island. For a team that has spent years searching for a true difference-making blue-liner, that kind of debut changes the conversation fast.
Now the projection game is getting even louder. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic slotted Schaefer in Tier 1B among NHL defensemen prospects, a sign that his ceiling is viewed as something far beyond the usual top-pair expectation. Wheelers assessment points to a player who could eventually sit at the very top of the position, and for Islanders fans, the only question left is how quickly that kind of future starts to feel real. [Read more 🡒]