The New York Islanders are serving up something few NHL arenas can match: a grilled cheese sandwich with candy in it.
Set to debut at UBS Arena during the 2026-27 season, the Nerds Gummy Cluster Grilled Cheese is the latest unusual food item to come out of the Islanders and Delaware North. The sandwich is built on sourdough, filled with brie cheese and Nerds Gummy Clusters, and it’s being billed as a “crunchy-sweet” twist on a classic.
That won’t be the only head-turning item on the menu. Concession stands are also expected to offer an Uncrustable pulled pork tostada, which takes a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich and tops it with pulled pork and grape jelly barbecue sauce.
The new offerings have already made the rounds online, where fans across the NHL have been quick to react. Some questioned whether a grilled cheese stuffed with candy could actually work, while others joked that the Islanders should keep the Nerds Gummy Cluster sandwich away from Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis.
For all the chatter around the food, the Islanders are also getting ready for a new season on the ice.
Earlier this month, the team announced that Bo Horvat will take over as captain from Anders Lee. New York is also close to wrapping up its preseason after a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
The Islanders have two preseason games left before opening the regular season on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 30. They’ll return to UBS Arena for their home opener on Oct. 3 against the Devils, when fans can find out whether the most memorable new addition is on the ice or at the concession stand.
In Other News...
Islanders Owner Shared The Wild Story Behind A Franchise-Changing Night
Jon Ledecky still sounds a little amazed when he talks about the night the Islanders changed course. The co-owner said he leaned into every bit of help he could find before the 2025 NHL draft lottery, and the result was one of those franchise-defining turns that can reshape everything from the prospect pipeline to the mood around the organization. With the No. 1 pick in hand, the Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer, who has quickly become one of the most visible young figures in the organization and a central part of the teams longer-term story.
Ledecky framed the moment as part of his job as a steward rather than a decision-maker on the hockey side, making clear that he lets the hockey people handle hockey decisions. The lottery win has taken on even more meaning because of what has followed around Schaefer, including his role in helping bring attention to a child support center named after his late mother. For an Islanders franchise that has spent years searching for the right pivot point, that one night now sits at the center of a lot more than draft order. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Camp Cuts Just Put Several Roster Hopefuls In Trouble
The Islanders kept trimming the training camp picture ahead of their second preseason game, a sign that the roster race is getting tighter by the day. Ethan Bear and Henrik Tikkanen were among the latest names moved off the active camp roster, while 12 others were sent to the clubs AHL affiliate in Hamilton as the team works toward getting its group in order before the regular season.
For a few hopefuls, the latest cuts make the path considerably steeper, especially with roster limits looming by September 28. The moves are part of the normal late-camp squeeze, but they also show how little margin there is left for players trying to force their way into the Islanders opening night plans. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Camp Could Reshape Roles Faster Than Veterans Want
The Islanders opened training camp with Peter DeBoer running the show for the first time, and the early emphasis is already clear: the staff wants to see which younger players can push for real NHL roles while also getting a sharper read on the veterans. With a new coach in charge, camp is less about settling into familiar habits and more about sorting out who fits quickly enough to matter when the roster gets trimmed.
There is also the practical matter of getting everyone comfortable in DeBoers system before the season arrives, all while trying to keep the group healthy through the grind of camp. That balance can be delicate in a camp built around evaluation, and it gives the Islanders a chance to redefine a few spots sooner than some veterans would prefer. [Read more 🡒]