The Islanders are headed into the 2026-27 season with a clean, settled opening-night roster - and the biggest roster storyline is a 19-year-old who forced his way onto it.
New York announced its final 23-man group ahead of Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline, and there were no late twists. Vitek Vanecek cleared waivers, the Islanders made no other moves, and the roster stayed exactly where it was expected to land.
Victor Eklund is the headline addition. The 19-year-old forward has earned a spot right out of camp after appearing in one game last season, giving the Islanders a young piece up front as they go into opening night with 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies.
Matthew Barzal is not counted on the roster because he is listed as Injured Non-Roster. That designation means he did not pass his physical, but he can be activated at any time and play the same day. For now, his status lets the Islanders stay at the 23-player limit without including him in the count.
There’s also a fresh wrinkle on the blue line after Sunday’s signing of Logan Stanley to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. With Stanley added, the expectation is that Matt Kessel will go on waivers the day before the Islanders plan to activate Barzal.
There is no timeline yet for Barzal’s return, though he is expected to resume skating soon.
Here’s how the Islanders line up for opening night:
Forwards: Bo Horvat, Simon Holmstrom, Kyle Palmieri, Matias Maccelli, Cal Ritchie, Brayden Schenn, Victor Eklund, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Emil Heineman, Anthony Duclair, Casey Cizikas, Ondrej Palat, Kyle MacLean
D: Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech, Alexander Romanov, Ryan Pulock, Logan Stanley, Tony DeAngelo, Scott Mayfield, Matthew Kessel
G: Ilya Sorokin, Semyon Varlamov
In Other News...
Mathew Barzals Status Just Put Islanders Fans On Opening Night Watch
Mathew Barzals status has become one of the Islanders early camp storylines, and for good reason. The center has missed the preseason after not passing his physical at the start of training camp, leaving the team to manage his recovery while keeping an eye on the start of the regular season. Even so, the setup is not as ominous as it first sounds, because the Islanders still have a path to getting him back into the lineup quickly once he is ready.
Barzal is currently designated as injured non roster because of a left knee injury, a label that keeps him off the active group for now but does not close the door on a fast return. He is eligible to play the same day he is placed on the roster, which is why opening night now feels like the date to watch. For the Islanders, the hope is straightforward: have one of their most important players ready when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Enter The Season With One Debate Fans Cant Ignore
The Islanders wrapped up their preseason with a few final roster calls that helped clarify the shape of the group heading into opening night. Logan Stanley was signed, while Cole Eiserman and Kashawn Aitcheson were assigned to Hamilton, a reminder that the club is still sorting through its depth even as it moves from exhibition mode to the regular season under coach Pete DeBoer.
New York also closed the preseason with a loss to New Jersey, so the focus now shifts to how the lineup pieces fit once the games count. Bo Horvat, Ryan Pulock, Matthew Schaefer, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov and Semyon Varlamov are all expected to play key roles, but the bigger question around the Islanders remains how the roster settles after those last decisions and what it means for the tone of the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Added A New Twist To Their Off-Ice Rise
The Islanders off-ice ascent took another notable step this week, with the franchise agreeing to bring in a new group of investors as the team continues to build around the business boom that has followed UBS Arena and the surrounding development. The pending NHL-approved transaction comes as the clubs valuation has climbed sharply from where it stood in 2014, underscoring how much the organizations footprint has grown beyond the ice.
Scott Malkin is expected to remain the controlling owner, and the move is not expected to alter the teams daily operations. Still, any time a franchise like this opens the door to outside capital, it invites attention to what comes next, especially for a club whose rise in value has mirrored its push to establish a more stable long-term home on Long Island. [Read more 🡒]