The Islanders are heading into training camp with a rare opening at the top of the room, and Pete DeBoer isn’t in a hurry to fill it.
For the first time in seven years, New York will start camp without a captain after Anders Lee left in free agency. Lee had worn the “C” since the 2018-19 season, so his departure leaves a notable leadership void and a decision that could shape the tone of the season. Bo Horvat is one of the obvious names in the mix, especially after serving as captain of the Vancouver Canucks before his trade to Long Island, but he’s not the only veteran who could make a case.
DeBoer, though, wants more time before making anything official.
"I want to spend training camp with the group again, get a little more feel for the players and the options," DeBoer told The Athletic. "Then we'll make some decisions."
That approach echoes the way Barry Trotz handled the same job back in 2018, when Lee was named captain just hours before the opener in Carolina.
Even with the captaincy still up in the air, DeBoer already sees a player who could one day carry that responsibility for a long stretch. Matthew Schaefer, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, is only entering his second NHL season, but he’s already made an impression inside the dressing room.
"I think he's already a respected voice in that dressing room," DeBoer said. "Having said that, he's an 18, 19-year-old player, and he's got an awful lot on his plate individually.
Will he be part of our leadership group? Absolutely, he will, and I think he's got future captain written all over him.
But I think we have to be very careful not to put too much on his plate too early."
Lee’s exit does more than leave a vacancy on the jersey. It opens the door for new leadership to take shape as the Islanders move into a new phase. Whether that means naming a captain before opening night is still unclear, but DeBoer’s view of Schaefer is already obvious: the young star may not be ready for the “C” now, yet the coach sees that day coming.
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