Victor Eklund’s first opening-night assignment with the New York Islanders comes with a new number on his back.
After cracking the 23-man roster, the rookie winger will wear No. 38 for the Islanders. According to Hockey Reference, 18 players have worn the number before him, with Travis Mitchell the most recent in 2026. The first Islander to use No. 38 was reportedly Mick Vukota in 1988-1989.
The number reveal arrives on the heels of a strong camp for Eklund, who was taken No. 16 overall in 2025 as the second of the team’s three first-round picks. He made his NHL debut on April 14, 2026, in the season finale and picked up one point in that game.
Eklund has kept pushing his case for a bigger role heading into the 2026-27 season. He scored in both rookie scrimmages against the New Jersey Devils during Islanders Rookie Camp and stood out across Training Camp with his competitive edge.
“My expectation is that I work as hard as I can,” Eklund previously said following his first practice of rookie camp. “[I want to] give myself a shot at the team this year. Whatever happens, I want to make sure I’m giving 100 percent."
He also brings some AHL production with him, posting 10 points - three goals and seven assists - in nine games with Bridgeport last season. The Islanders’ affiliate is now known as the Hamilton Hammers.
The Islanders are carrying 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders to start the season. The forward group includes Casey Cizikas, Anthony Duclair, Victor Eklund, Emil Heineman, Simon Holmstrom, Bo Horvat, Matias Maccelli, Kyle MacLean, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ondrej Palat, Kyle Palmieri, Calum Ritchie and Brayden Schenn.
On defense, the roster lists Tony DeAngelo, Matt Kessel, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, Alexander Romanov, Matthew Schaefer and Logan Stanley.
The roster announcement also noted that Mathew Barzal has been placed on the injured non-roster.
Bo Horvat had already been announced as captain, and on the morning of Sept. 29, Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn were added as Alternate Captains. They join Kyle Palmieri and Ryan Pulock in that role.
The updates come just before NHL Opening Night, after the Islanders won only one of their four preseason games. New York opens the regular season on Sept. 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Palmieris place in the group is a notable one as the Islanders head into opening night with a few moving parts still worth watching. The lineup also suggests there may be more to sort out among the bottom six than first glance indicates, and Anthony Duclairs placement on the fourth line adds another layer to the early-season picture as DeBoer settles on his first combination choices. [Read more 🡒]
Mathew Barzals Setback Wont End The Season Islanders Fans Want
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Islanders Face A Brutal Metro Reality Few Fans Wanted
The Islanders are heading into the 2026-27 season with a group that looks awfully familiar, even after a summer that saw Anders Lee leave and Matias Maccelli arrive in free agency. Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov and Ryan Pulock are back after injury absences, and young Victor Eklund has cracked the roster, giving the team at least a few fresh faces around a core that still looks largely intact.
For all of that, the early outside view is hardly flattering. The changes were modest, the roles are still being sorted out, and there is enough uncertainty around the lineup to leave the Islanders projecting as a team with more questions than momentum. In a division that rarely offers much room to hide, that kind of lukewarm outlook is exactly the sort of reality fans were hoping to avoid. [Read more 🡒]