The New York Islanders have announced their opening night roster for the start of the 2025-26 season. The franchise looks to rebound after missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. The club will carry 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders as they open up the season in Pittsburgh vs the Penguins on Thursday.
Forwards (14)
Mathew Barzal
Casey Cizikas
Jonathan Drouin
Anthony Duclair
Marc Gatcomb
Emil Heineman
Simon Holmstrom
Bo Horvat
Anders Lee
Kyle MacLean
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Kyle Palmieri
Max Shabanov
Max Tsyplakov
Forward lines in Tuesday’s practice
Drouin-Horvat-Heineman Lee-Barzal-Palmieri Shabanov-Pageau-Holmstrom Duclair-Cizikas-Tsyplakov
Perhaps the biggest surprise with the forward combinations is Emil Heineman’s spot on the top line. Heineman was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in the Noah Dobson trade back in June. On Monday morning, New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche shared his thoughts with the media on why the team decided on Heineman’s role.
“When I told you guys from the start, I want players that compete, that battle, that’s what he does. He plays that straight game: stop and start on pucks. He doesn’t go for the big loop. He goes on the forecheck. That’s why he’s a good fit right now with where we have him to go get the puck for those guys, and when you give him an opportunity, he can score.”
Mat Barzal returns to center after playing alongside Bo Horvat in his injury-shortened 2024-25 season. “That’s how we’re going to start. It doesn’t mean that during games, sometimes when Patrick plays with the lines, he doesn’t go a shift on the wing here or there” Darche Explained. “I think he’s done it one or two games like that. Mathew can use his speed. He’s an elite player, so we’re comfortable having him at center.”
Sportsnet’s NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has a bold prediction for Barzal’s season.
Defensemen (7)
Adam Boqvist
Tony DeAngelo
Scott Mayfield
Adam Pelech
Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov
Matthew Schaefer
Defensive pairs in Tuesday’s practice
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Pulock
Schaefer-Mayfield
2025 NHL Draft top pick Matthew Schaefer will make his NHL debut on Thursday. Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy sang his praises following Tuesday’s practice. “When you watch (Cale) Makar play, it’s exciting. I think Schaefer has that gift. Time will tell, but when I see him move with the puck, it’s exciting not just for me or the players, but I think our fans are going to have fun too.”
Schaefer is the youngest player on an opening-day roster. Schaefer will be 18 years, 34 days when the Islanders play their season opener Thursday and will become the youngest defenseman selected first overall in the NHL Draft to debut, the second-youngest No. 1 pick at any position to debut (Nathan MacKinnon: 18 years, 31 days on Oct. 2, 2013) and the second-youngest defenseman in the past 70 years to debut (Chris Joseph: 18 years, 28 days on Oct. 8, 1987, with the Penguins).
How about an obscure stat? Schaefer will become the eighth player to compete against Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in their first two career games (any order) and first since Cameron Hughes (Nov. 4, 2019 and May 11, 2021). The Islanders host the Washington Capitals in their home opener on Saturday.
Goaltenders (2)
Ilya Sorokin
David Rittich
Rittich, who signed a one-year deal in July, beat out Marcus Hogberg as the Islanders backup. Rittich had some shaky moments this preseason but Roy likes his experience. “He’s been in the league for a long time. We thought that was the need for our team. They both played really well. I think Marcus did a really good job last year, maybe a little more difficult toward the end. He had a pretty good training camp. Sometimes there are decisions to make.” Semyon Varlamov, who had surgery last December is still skating on his own. There is no timetable for his return.
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