New York Islanders’ 2026 Offseason Choices Will be Massive and Shape the Franchise For Years To Come
The Islanders have some big choices to make now that they have entered the 2026 offseason. The crux of the issue is the battle between veterans and youngsters. The Isles also have several free agents, restricted free agents, and players on long-term injured reserve. Between all these players, the players on the team, and the youngsters who are ready to get called up, there are too many to roster. There will be changes.
It will be fascinating to see who is on the roster and who is not in 2026. The Islanders have several prospects who may be ready for the National Hockey League. Also, their captain is a free agent. The new coach, Peter DeBoer, is rumored to favor veterans, so maybe the team will keep and play veterans. However, prospect Victor Eklund debuted in the last game of the season for the Islanders.
This article will list all the free agents, restricted free agents, and those on long-term injured reserve. Which direction do you think the Islanders will go?
Islanders 2027 Roster Questions
Islanders Unrestricted Free Agents (4)
An unrestricted free agent in hockey is a player who may sign with any team. This player is no longer under contract with the team, and the Islanders have a big one. Captain Anders Lee had his 7-year contract expire yesterday. He has been the Islanders’ captain for the last 8 seasons, and he may have played his last game with the team in their final game of the 2025-26 regular season.
Lee is joined as an unrestricted free agent by backup Goaltender David Rittich, and Defensemen Tony DeAngelo and Carson Soucy. Soucy and Rittich have said they want to return to the team. Rittich’s fate is likely tied up with that of Semyon Varlamov. The Islanders need only one backup goaltender. DeAngelo proved how valuable he was to the team down the stretch. Soucy, on the other hand, is slow and very likely done with the team.
Islanders Restricted Free Agents (3)
The restricted free agents for the team are just as interesting. What a restricted free agent means is that the players, who are no longer under contract with the team, however, the team has the right to match offers from other teams and receive compensation if the player signs with another team.
The most interesting restricted free agent, or RFA, for the Islanders is Maxim Shabanov. He was the most highly sought-after Russian player on the market last offseason. He is quick and has impressed the new head coach, but it is safe to say that his debut this season was a little disappointing. Because the new head coach has expressed interest in him, he should be back with the team.
Another interesting one is Marc Gatcomb. He provides good bang (quite literally) for the buck and should be back. He is one of the few on the team who hit players this season, and his line was a high-energy, high-pressure line. He should be back. The final restricted free agent for the Islanders is Defenseman Adam Boqvist. He is mobile, but was the seventh or eighth defenseman on the team. It is unlikely he will be back.
Key Islanders Players On Long-Term Injured Reserve (4)
There are important players on long-term injured reserve for the Islanders. The first is Varlamov. He missed all of this season and most of the last season. He had both of his knees replaced. However, he was loaned to the Bridgeport Islanders yesterday and will likely play for them this season. If he can come back and be an effective backup goaltender, then the team does not need Rittich.
The second important player the Isles have on long-term injured reserve is Kyle Palmieri. He tore his ACL after a potential dirty hit. He is a potent goal-scorer whose return could help the Isles. His return, and he started skating two days ago, puts a question mark over Lee’s return.
Defenseman Aleksander Romanov has missed most of this season after hurting his shoulder. When healthy, he is a top-four defenseman for the team, and his injury hurt the team. With him coming back, the team probably does not need Boqvist.
The last player on long-term injured reserve is Pierre Engvall. He has missed the entire year. The forward has been a disappointment for the Islanders. He is under contract until the 2030-31 season, so he is wed to the team for a long time. He’d better find his game. It may come down to a competition between him and Eklund.
