Matthew Barzal has a pretty clear vision for what the Islanders should wear next.
As New York continues sorting through a flood of fan-made third jersey concepts, the Islanders star weighed in on the team’s alternate look at Fanatics Fan Fest, and his preference lines up with a lot of what supporters have already been pushing online. Barzal said he’d lean toward a dark navy base with orange and white striping.
"I would go dark navy," Barzal said. "I like the idea of white and orange stripes on the bottom of the jersey."
He also didn’t sound interested in choosing between the franchise’s two most talked-about identity pieces. When asked whether the lighthouse or the fisherman should be the centerpiece, Barzal said he likes both.
"I like the idea of the lighthouse. I think probably the fisherman for me," Barzal said.
"I've actually kind of messed around a little bit. I've seen some good ones."
That comes as the Islanders’ fan design contest keeps pulling in huge interest across Long Island and beyond. The team said entries are approaching 70,000, a number that shows just how much energy has gone into the search for a new third jersey.
Supporters have already filled social media with mockups ranging from updated Fisherman concepts to cleaner lighthouse-inspired designs. The team hasn’t said which ideas might shape the final result, but the contest has clearly become one of the club’s most active fan-driven projects in recent years.
A dark navy jersey with orange and white trim would fit neatly into the mix of submissions, giving the Islanders a look that feels fresh while still staying tied to the franchise’s colors. Whether the final answer is the Fisherman, the lighthouse, or something entirely different, the fan base has made its voice loud and clear.
And if Barzal gets his way, that next Islanders sweater could be a dark navy one built around the team’s most familiar elements, ready for the 2027-28 season.
In Other News...
Islanders Aging Core May Be Headed For A Bigger Reckoning
The Islanders are heading into the 2026-27 season with a roster that looks a lot like the one they already had, and that is the point. Aside from Anders Lee moving on and Matias Maccelli coming in, the group has barely changed, leaving New York as the sixth-oldest team in the league by average age, even before factoring in 19-year-old Victor Eklund, who is expected to push for a spot out of camp or be among the final cuts.
The bigger issue is what comes next. Ondrej Palat, Kyle Palmieri and Casey Cizikas are all set to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, Semyon Varlamov is in the same position, and the trade protection on Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield is about to loosen. With Kashawn Aitcheson also knocking on the door of a larger role, the Islanders may soon have to decide whether to keep leaning on the same core or start making harder choices about how long that core can stay intact. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Already Have One Contract Problem They Need To Fix
Ondrej Palats place on the Islanders books is one of those lingering roster issues that can quietly shape a season. New York took on his contract from the Devils last season, and while his contribution was modest, the bigger challenge now is the price tag attached to it. A $6 million cap hit is tough to move when the production has not matched it, which leaves the Islanders with a familiar kind of NHL problem: a useful enough player, but a contract that makes every decision around him more complicated.
For now, the Islanders may simply hold the line and carry Palat through this season while they see whether his play can justify the commitment. There is at least an end point in sight, with Palat set to become a free agent next summer, so the team is not locked into this arrangement for the long haul. Still, until his value on the ice starts to look more in line with the cap number, the Islanders are going to have to work around a deal that does not fit especially cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Schaefer Already Sounds Like The Islanders Cornerstone Fans Wanted
Matthew Schaefer is already talking like a player who understands the weight of being watched, and that matters for the Islanders as much as any highlight-reel play. In a recent interview, the young defenseman offered Gavin McKenna a simple message about the next step in his own path: enjoy the experience, keep working hard and stay present. It was the kind of advice that comes from someone who has had to navigate his own growth and appreciates how quickly a promising career can start to feel real.
Schaefer also made clear he was happy for McKenna and looking ahead to their early-season meeting, which is expected to come in Toronto. For a player trying to establish himself as a cornerstone, there is something telling about the way Schaefer is already framing these moments. He is not just thinking about his own rise, but about the pressure, the spotlight and the chance to meet it head-on when the schedule brings the two together. [Read more 🡒]