The Washington Capitals are set to break new ground in 2026-27 with their first full-time emergency backup goalie, and the job will go to Connor Leslie.
Leslie, 24, just finished at Amherst College, where he earned a double major in psychology and political science. Over four seasons in NCAA Division III, he put up an .901 save percentage and a 2.65 goals-against average, going 18-13-4 in 39 games.
The fit carries a local angle, too. Leslie grew up in Leesburg, VA, rooting for the Capitals and looking up to Braden Holtby. He also came through the Washington Little Caps, a local triple-A program, from U14 through U18 before moving on to the Twin City Thunder in the NCDC.
The role is part of the new CBA that begins this season, with all 32 NHL teams now required to carry an EBUG. In the ideal setup, that goalie also works as a staff member, travels with the club, and can step in if a team is unable to dress two healthy goaltenders. The Bruins, Sabres, Wild, Predators, Kraken, Sharks, and Jets have already named their EBUGs for this season.
Around the league, Olivier Nadeau is headed to Växjö in the SHL, according to a team announcement. The 23-year-old forward was a 2021 fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres and spent the three years of his entry-level deal bouncing between the AHL and ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen.
This past season was his first full year in the AHL, and he produced 13 goals and 26 points in 56 games for the Rochester Americans. Nadeau also won a QMJHL championship in 2022 with Shawnigan.
The Islanders also made an ownership move, announcing that David Shuman, founder of Lateralus Holdings, has acquired a minority stake in the franchise. The investment still needs NHL approval and won’t affect day-to-day operations. Shuman, a lifelong Islanders fan, is also chairman of Oura and webAI.
“Hockey has been a constant in my life since childhood, both as a fan and a player,” Shuman said. “And the 1980 Miracle on Ice combined with the Islanders’ four consecutive Stanley Cup championships, cemented a lifelong passion.
My childhood bedroom was covered in newspaper photos and magazine covers of Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, John Tonelli, and Bobby Nystrom. Being part of this organization today is a full-circle moment.
I’m honored to help support the Islanders’ future and their drive for a fifth Cup.”
Shuman becomes the third executive to join the Islanders ownership group in recent years, alongside John Collins and Oliver Haarmann, the German financier who bought a 10% stake.
In Other News...
Pete DeBoer Thinks The Islanders Are Getting A Different Coach Now
Pete DeBoers unexpected time away from an NHL bench during the 2025-26 season gave him a different view of the job hes about to take on with the Islanders. The pause reminded him how rare these opportunities are, and he used the stretch to keep learning while away from the daily grind of coaching, a perspective he now carries into his first full season in New York.
DeBoer has framed the break as more than a detour, treating it as a chance to refine his approach before landing on Long Island. He enters the Islanders season believing the time away made him a stronger coach than he was in his previous stops, which is part of why this next chapter feels different even before the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Mat Barzals Summer Says A Lot About These Islanders
Mat Barzals summer itinerary looked a lot like the life of a veteran core player trying to balance downtime with responsibility. He split time between Vancouver and Long Island, took trips to Germany and Spain, even lent a hand as a coach at the Toronto Exposure Cup youth hockey event. He also showed up as a groomsman at Anthony Beauvilliers wedding, a reminder that the Islanders locker room bond still runs deeper than a single season or a single roster move.
Barzals comments also offered a useful peek at where the teams mindset sits heading into the new season. He backed Tony DeAngelos two-year extension as a move that helps the group both on and off the ice, and he spoke with clear optimism about what the Islanders can build under head coach Pete DeBoer. For a player who already carries so much of the offensive load, the more interesting part may be how much Barzal believes he can still grow from that setup. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Have One Big Reason To Watch This Jersey Reveal
The Islanders finally have their fan-designed third jersey contest settled, and the result came down to a navy lighthouse concept edging out a navy Islanders wordmark. For a team with one of the sports most recognizable visual identities, the choice gives the next alternate look a clear nod to Long Island without straying too far from the franchises traditional navy-heavy palette.
There is still a little suspense left, though, because the winning concept is only expected to serve as the basis for the clubs third jersey in the 2027-28 season. The teams contest rules leave room for changes before anything hits the ice, so the design fans voted for may not be exactly what shows up when the Islanders eventually unveil the finished product. [Read more 🡒]