The Islanders have found a way to make August feel a little less empty: a new third jersey is coming, and it’s a navy blue look with the old lighthouse shoulder patch logo.
That sweater is set for the 2027-28 season, even if the mockup showed the number 26. So yes, the date matters more than the graphic.
It may not have been Mat Barzal’s first pick, but he’s going to be wearing it anyway because the Islanders said so.
The announcement gave the team something to talk about during a quiet stretch of the summer, and it also put the focus on a design that leans into the franchise’s familiar visual identity.
Elsewhere around the league, the expansion conversation in Texas has moved from speculation to timing. According to the reporting, it’s no longer a question of if, but when, with 2029-30 mentioned as the earliest possible window and Austin or Houston listed as the likely landing spots. Bill Daly also took a shot at the other pro sports franchises in or headed to Las Vegas, which was noted as both funny and deserved.
Daly also discussed the possibility of an outdoor game in Europe.
On the player front, Nikita Kucherov’s next extension is expected to be complicated after his huge Hart-winning season. The source also joked about the phrase “no income taxes.”
There was bad news in Columbus as Elvis Merzlikins underwent shoulder surgery, with no timetable for his return.
And in Edmonton, Leon Draisaitl said Mike Babcock will hold him and Connor McDavid, and may not even give them access to their phones while doing it.
Finally, Zdeno Chara wrapped up his tribute game and fundraiser back home in Trencin by taking off his skates and walking off the ice in his socks, a quieter finish than Kevin Keegan’s helicopter exit, but still a ceremonial one.
In Other News...
Islanders Prospects Enter Seasons That Could Define The Teams Future
Cole Eiserman, Jesse Pulkkinen and Josh Kotai are all at different points in their development, but each is approaching a season that could shape where he fits in the Islanders plans by 2026-27. Eiserman has already flashed the goal-scoring touch that made him a notable prospect, while also showing a little more distribution when he got a taste of pro hockey. Pulkkinen remains the kind of big defenseman the organization hopes can grow into more than a project as he continues adjusting to North American ice and the demands that come with it.
Kotais path is a little different, because the goalie picture can change quickly and create openings nobody saw coming. He is expected to battle for time in the AHL, with the kind of long-term upside that keeps him on the radar if the depth chart gets shaken up. For the Islanders, the bigger question is not just which of these prospects takes a step forward, but which one turns a promising season into a real argument for an NHL role. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Just Gained One Edge The Metro Cant Ignore
The Islanders made one of their most consequential offseason moves on the bench, bringing in Peter DeBoer to guide the next phase of the franchise. DeBoer arrives with a lengthy coaching rsum and a track record that includes multiple deep playoff runs, the kind of experience that immediately changes how a team is viewed inside its own division. In a summer when several NHL clubs went looking for new voices, New York landed a coach whose name carries real weight.
For an Islanders team trying to keep pace in a crowded Metropolitan Division, the addition matters because it raises the standard from day one. DeBoers history of getting teams to the Stanley Cup Final and Conference Finals gives New York a level of credibility the rest of the division has to account for, especially with so many rivals also reshaping behind the bench. The bigger question now is how quickly that reputation turns into results once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]