Matias Maccelli wasted no time showing the New York Islanders what they hoped they were getting.
In his first game action with the club, Maccelli scored twice and picked up an assist in a 4-3 preseason win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, offering an early look at the kind of skill and creativity that made him such an interesting addition.
That said, Maccelli isn’t letting one strong night turn into a bigger story than it should. He was quick to keep the moment in perspective.
“It’s a good start, but it’s still early,” Maccelli said. “It’s preseason.
They’re not playing their full roster. I don’t think we are either.”
That’s the right kind of caution. One exhibition game doesn’t hand out jobs, and Maccelli knows it.
Still, the Islanders were looking for more playmaking and offensive pop in their forward group, and Tuesday night gave them a taste of it. Maccelli was active at five-on-five and also helped a new-look power play generate chances, finishing with three points on the night.
Even there, he pointed to the obvious reality: chemistry takes time.
“We made some good plays, couple not so good plays,” he said. “Still trying to figure out how the guys move out there, how they play and what they like.”
The same uncertainty hangs over his own role, too. Maccelli made it clear what he’s after when asked about winning a top-six spot. He called that “the goal,” while also saying he doesn’t want to spend too much time dwelling on it.
In Other News...
Islanders Just Gave UBS Arena Fans A Wild New Reason To Talk
UBS Arena is getting another round of concession stand experimentation, and this one is aimed squarely at the fans who like their game-night food with a little surprise. During the 2026-27 NHL season, the Islanders and Delaware North plan to roll out a new sandwich that mixes familiar arena staples with a candy-shop twist, part of the ongoing push to make the building a destination well beyond the ice.
Also coming to the menu is a different kind of mashup built around a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pulled pork and grape jelly barbecue sauce. Between the two items, the Islanders are leaning into the kind of over-the-top food identity that gets people talking in the concourse before they ever get to their seats, and maybe even keeps them talking long after the final horn. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Camp Could Reshape Roles Faster Than Veterans Want
Training camp has opened with Peter DeBoer running the show for the first time, and the early tone is clear: the Islanders are treating these days as much more than a tune-up. The staff is leaning hard into younger players, using the camp sessions to sort out who can handle a real NHL role while the veterans are being watched closely in the process.
There is already a layer of urgency because the group needs to absorb DeBoers system quickly and stay healthy while doing it. For a roster that could be reshaped faster than some veterans would like, the coming practices and preseason games are likely to carry real weight as the coaching staff sorts through the decisions still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Eklund Is Already Forcing His Way Into Islanders Camp Buzz
Victor Eklunds first Islanders training camp has already given the organization a glimpse of why theres so much curiosity around the young Swede. He has had familiar help easing the transition to North America, with fellow countrymen Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman both nearby as he settles in, and hes wasted little time making a solid first impression while working in rookie scrimmages and around established NHL players.
The early reviews have centered on the same traits: skill, intensity and a knack for creating offense in tight spaces. Holmstrom and Heineman have both praised the way Eklund reads the ice and finds seams, which is exactly the sort of attribute that can stand out in camp when the pace picks up and every shift starts to look like a test. For now, hes giving the Islanders plenty to talk about, and plenty to watch as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]