The entire hockey world expected Matthew Schaefer to become the Calder Trophy winner for 2026 NHL Rookie of the Year.

But how Schaefer learned of his honor came as a surprise.

The New York Islanders rookie defenseman was named the unanimous winner of the 2026 Calder Trophy and was walked out of the honor when his brother and father surprised him on the set of “GMA3” on Wednesday.

On September 5, despite only turning 18, Schaefer tied the NHL record for single-season goals by a rookie defenseman (23). Schafer led the team, finished second on the team in goals and points (59), and was fifth in the NHL in average time on ice per game (24:41).

Schaefer became the fifth Islanders player to win the Calder Trophy and the third Islanders defenseman to earn Rookie of the Year honors, joining Brian Berard (1996) and Denis Potvin (1974). He is the first Islanders player to earn Calder Trophy honors since teammate Mathew Barzal in 2018.

Matthew Schaefer wins Calder Trophy

Not only was Schaefer selected first overall at the age of 17, but he made the team right out of training camp, adding immense pressure to the native of Hamilton, Ontario, just 50 miles southwest of Toronto.

But after a long season, Schaefer earned all 198 first-place votes among members of the Pro Hockey Writers Association. His 1,980 points surpassed Ivan Demidov of the Montreal Canadiens, Bennett Seneca of the Anaheim Ducks and Canadiens goaltender Jacob Dobbs.

“It’s definitely an honor to see so many great names on that trophy,” Schaefer told NHL.com. “It’s definitely a dream come true. Obviously, Demidov and Seneca, they’re great players and they could have won it. I think any of us could have won it, because we all had great years, especially him. They’ve done great things for the league.

“It’s definitely an honor and a privilege to receive this trophy.”

It was ‘amazing’ for Matthew Schaeffer to have his family with him

Schaefer is extremely close to her family, especially after her mother Jennifer died of breast cancer in February 2024 at the age of 56.

So having his father, brother and girlfriend there, as well as Matt Martin and his wife Sydney and their daughters, with whom Schaefer lived during his rookie season, was a huge feeling for Schaefer.

“My two ‘sisters,'” Schaefer said fighting back tears on “GMA3,” referring to Martin’s daughters Sydney and Winnie. “Obviously, this year has been very important to me. I wanted to do it for my mom and my family. It’s definitely an honor.”

His father Todd and brother Johnathan also flew in from outside Toronto to be there for Schaefer.

“It was amazing,” Schaefer said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. It was great to have my dad and brother and all of them come down [from Canada]”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Ryan Pulock could not help the New York Islanders reach the Stanley Cup playoffs despite his injuries.

Pulock reflected on his injury-plagued 2025–26 campaign and explained why multiple ailments hampered him during this period, even though he still played his final nine games. He made regular changes as the Isles lost seven of their final eight games and fell out of making the playoffs.

The 31-year-old defenseman played in 76 games and finished with three goals and 27 points. He finished second on the Islanders in average time on ice (20:49), behind rookie Matthew Schaefer.

Ryan Pulock battling knee, shoulder injuries

Pulock admitted to dealing with an upper body injury, which GM Matthew Darche confirmed as a shoulder injury that affected him throughout the season. But Pulock also suffered a knee injury during the Islanders’ 7–3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 21, causing him to miss two games and the rest of the season.

“I give Ryan Pulock credit, because he hung on by a thread at the end,” Darche said during his season-ending media availability on Wednesday. “He was playing with a knee brace and a shoulder brace. So he didn’t play [the Isles’ season finale vs Carolina]”

Although he was disappointed with how the Islanders’ season ended – they missed the playoffs, losing seven of their final 10 games – Pulock seemed grateful to recover before taking the ice again.

When Pulock was asked Wednesday how he was feeling, he said, “It’s still not a good day, but I have time to take care of things.” “Obviously, this is going to be an important offseason for me to recover, rehab and get myself stronger in a good place to start next year.”

Neither Pulock nor Darche seemed concerned about the defenseman’s knee injury, but the shoulder was still a different story. They were still assessing whether he would need a surgical procedure or whether he could do with rehabilitation alone.

“We are still evaluating whether [surgery] “Needs to be done,” Darche said. “But again, all credit to him, because he missed a game here and there, but you see what he does to play because we needed him.”

Ryan Pulock ‘hopes to be ready’ for Islanders training camp

Shoulder surgery may require several months of recovery time, but Pulock is not expected to miss the start of training camp in September.

“I haven’t had all these conversations or made any decisions or anything,” Pulock said. “But whatever path I take, I hope I’ll be prepared.”

Neither he nor Darche will use injuries as an excuse for their struggles in 2025-26. Although Pulock finished with his most single-season points since 2019–20, he scored his fewest goals in a season of more than 60 games and had only one power-play point.

“You’re never really 100 percent healthy; you’re always struggling with little things,” Pulock said. “For me, trying to compete every night was a little tough sometimes. I had to play through some things, but I’m not going to sit here and make any excuses.

“I wish I was better, especially at the lower levels.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The New York Islanders’ 2025-26 season may be over, but everyone who had to be talked about on breakup day was Matthew Schaefer.

The 18-year-old defenseman’s historic rookie season is still generating the kind of attention and excitement among his teammates, who can’t wait to see his development in the years to come.

Schaefer is still five months shy of his 19th birthday, but he has tied Brian Leach’s nearly four-decade-old rookie record for goals by a rookie defenseman (23). The first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft played all 82 games, finishing second on the Isles in points (59) and leading the team in average time on ice (24:41). He was fourth in the NHL in TOI this season.

Matthew Schaefer had ‘an amazing year’ with the Islanders

Going from the first overall pick to the Stanley Cup playoffs is tough. But the islanders did almost the same.

After winning the NHL Draft Lottery and landing arguably the most impressive top-selected defenseman of all time, the Islanders were in playoff position for most of the season, largely due to Schaefer’s historic performances.

Although the Isles’ team faltered, Schaefer expressed surprise at his experience after completing his first NHL season.

“It was an amazing year,” Schaefer said. “Obviously, we wish we could have gone to the playoffs, but for me, overall, I’ve learned a lot and everyone has helped me a lot. I really enjoyed my first year on the island.”

Schaefer rightly said he began his year not knowing whether he would stay with the Islanders or return to junior with the Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. He was considered for Canada at the Milan/Cortina Olympics, but was ultimately passed over. They faced a coaching change from Patrick Roy to Peter DeBoer, who took over with only four games remaining in the regular season.

Throughout it all, Schaefer was brilliant on the ice; He was unquestionably the Islanders’ best skater throughout the season. At the age of 18 years and 36 days, he became the fourth-youngest player to score his first NHL goal since 2000, and then on April 9 equaled Leach’s record in the Islanders’ final win of the season – set in 1988–89, nearly 20 years before Schaefer was born.

Despite everything he’s been through, he’s still able to play mentally and physically.

“Obviously, there will be bumps and bruises,” Schaefer said, “but I still feel like I can play another 82.” [games]”

GM says Islanders ‘fortunate’ to have Matthew Schaefer

Islanders general manager Matthew Darche confirmed that Schaefer was ineligible to join Bridgeport of the AHL due to age restrictions. Schaefer called playing at the IIHF World Championships in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland “a possibility” and Darche indicated it would be his choice whether to represent his home country in Europe later this month.

Still, Schaefer is excited to have a little free time after a whirlwind year focusing on getting stronger.

“I don’t think this summer will be as busy as last summer,” Schaefer said. “I was everywhere last summer; last summer I couldn’t stay home for a week. This will be a good summer.”

Darche himself expressed hope that Schaefer could live the life of a normal teenager this off-season in Ontario.

“It’s almost like he’s going to ride bikes with his friends and buy gum at the convenience store,” Darche said.

But his teammates can’t wait to see Schaefer back on the ice after his breakout rookie season. The Islanders’ team full of experienced players – they had the seventh-oldest team in the NHL, even with newcomer Schaefer playing every game – got a jolt of youth this season.

“He’s an incredible kid,” said center Casey Cizikas, the Islanders’ longest-tenured starter with 35 years and 978 games. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders, and what he did this year was incredible. It was so fun to watch.

“It was so fun to be a part of, and to see his confidence in himself and his game was amazing, and there’s no one better than the person he is off the ice. He comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face, and he’s a lot of fun to be around. I’m glad he’s here.”

Cizikas isn’t the only one who appreciates what the islands have in Schaefer.

“To be honest, it’s pretty rare to see a young guy go through a year like this,” Darche said. “He’s been great. We’re lucky to have him.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Anders Lee spent 14 of his NHL seasons wearing a New York Islanders sweater. This may be about to change soon.

Lee spoke about his future on Islanders breakup day on Wednesday and why his exit interview with GM Matthew Darche was important.

The Islanders captain recently completed a seven-year, $49 million contract, which he signed on July 1, 2019, the first day he was eligible for a contract extension. The Isles’ sixth-round choice in the 2009 NHL Draft is coming off a 19-goal, 42-point season in which he played all 82 games.

Anders Lee wants to re-sign with the Islanders

Lee will turn 36 on July 3, two days after he can become an unrestricted free agent, and he is interested in returning to the Islanders for his 15th NHL season. New York’s captain is the team’s second-longest-tenured player behind fourth-line center Casey Cizikas.

He said before the team’s season finale on Tuesday that he was looking forward to accomplishing the Islanders’ goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.

“I’ve given this organization my all,” Lee said before the Islanders’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes. “This is where I’ve played my entire career. This is where I’ve played the best I can.”

He said Wednesday that he expects he doesn’t get free agency — and he plans to begin his potential talks with Darche during his exit interview.

“I think it’s very important,” Lee said of the conversation with Darche. “We can start figuring things out here and having conversations and seeing where he is at and similarly with me.

“We’re at the point where we can do that now.”

Darche said he had spoken to some members of the Islanders for their exit interviews, but had not done so at the time of their post-season media availability. But he reiterated Lee’s importance.

“I have the utmost respect for Anders Lee,” Darche said. “I told Anders I would love to see him play 1,000 games for the Islanders. What does that look like, and are we able to find something that is a good fit for us and him, we will discuss.”

According to Darche, Lee is just 77 games away from playing 1,000 games in the NHL. Given that he has missed just one game over the last four seasons, Lee is likely to reach that milestone sometime in April 2027.

Still, it remains to be seen if he does the same in an Islanders uniform.

“I know he’s not far away [1,000 games],” Darche said. “I would love to see it, but I’m always waiting to see what other options we have [and] What do we need to do to move this roster forward?

“But the way Anders played this year, I think he can still help us.”

Anders Lee’s teammates call him ‘the savior’

Lee’s expiring contract will create roster flexibility, and if he returns at a lower salary-cap fee, the Islanders may have a chance to make a financial decision that could ultimately make them better.

But Lee’s teammates also know what the Islanders would lose if he were allowed to leave in free agency.

“He’s been a team captain and leader for most of my career,” defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “He’s been a key guy here, a key part of our success, a leader, a protector for a lot of people here. He’s really done it all, and I’m proud to be his teammate.

“He’s given everything he’s got every night for what he’s done for this franchise, for the Island.”

Lee’s contributions included more than 308 goals and 549 points in 923 games. Amid a growing trend for captains to shy away from the media, Lee is one of the Islanders players most often speaking after wins and losses.

His teammates also find him approachable and easy to talk to about things going on in their lives.

“He stands up for everybody here, not only on the ice but off the ice,” center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “Sometimes when you need to talk to someone, he’s very easy to talk to. That’s why he’s a great captain and leader.”

So the uncertainty is going to weigh heavily on both players and fans, even if Lee and the Islanders are likely to reach a one- or two-year contract at a low salary-cap number. Despite Darche’s laudatory comments about his captain, the one thing he didn’t say when asked if Lee would return next season was “yes.”

Nor did Lee mention what kind of pay cut/hometown discount he would be willing to sign.

“They’re hard to talk about,” Pulock said. “You don’t know when your contract is up, you never know what can happen.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some ups and downs… but most of them happened before the puck even dropped at UBS Arena.

On Monday, the Hurricanes recalled two players from the Chicago Wolves, Felix Unger Sorum – who was Chicago’s leading scorer, and Pyotr Kochetkov – the goaltender projected to miss the remainder of the season.

Then, on the morning of the game, defensemen Joel Nystrom and Ronan Seely were recalled.

Roster dilemma leads to emergency backup goaltender assignment

Two hours before the game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media and confirmed that all three skaters – and Kochetkov – would play against the Islanders. However, a monkey wrench was thrown into that plan less than an hour before puck drop.

Kochetkov was pulled from the ice shortly after warmups began, as it was then announced that he would not be able to start due to roster technicalities. Furthermore, the problem came with an additional issue, as Frederik Andersen was unavailable to play.

Thus, Long Island native Brandon Bussey took the crease for the second consecutive night. The emergency backup goaltender was 28-year-old Thomas Sullivan, who played seven games for nearby Stony Brook University between the ACHA’s 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, and previously warmed the bench as an emergency goaltender for the Washington Capitals in a game against the Islanders during the 2022–23 season.

game highlights

Early in the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the game, with the primary assist coming from Unger Sörum, making his second-inning of his NHL career. It was a good frame for the 20-year-old forward, who also hit the post on a shot from the right face-off circle. You could see he was enjoying the occasion too.

“It’s been really fun,” he said during the first intermission. “I’ve just been smiling all day, and just waiting for this moment, so it’s been really fun.”

To make the moment even more special for the young winger, he was joined in the stands by his family, who had traveled from Norway and Sweden.

“This is very special,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot on my journey so far, and I have a lot to thank them for. So, it’s been really fun to have them visit here.”

In the second period, the Islanders went to work during a delayed penalty, with Bo Horvat finding the back of the net to hold the Hurricanes to 54 seconds, tying the game and scoring the 300th NHL goal of his career in the process. Additionally, the second assist came from Victor Eklund, younger brother of San Jose Sharks top-six forward William Eklund, in his NHL debut.

In the third period, Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. This proved to be the game-winner, as neither team was able to score after the Islanders pulled their goaltender.

A rare occurrence, the Hurricanes fell behind 29–21, but ultimately won 2–1.

storm notes

No clear explanation was ever given regarding the roster issue other than a ‘roster technicality’. After the trade deadline, teams do not have a roster limit and are limited only by salary cap rules. Thus, the impression is created that this was merely a matter of paperwork.

With the Boston Bruins clinching the top Eastern Conference wild card with a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring their 113th point with the win over the Islanders, the Hurricanes finished second in the entire league, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs over the top-place Colorado Avalanche.

During the third period, William Carrier took a blow to the face while on the bench. He left the game after some time.

Not only was Felix Unger Sorum’s family present during the game, but Ronan Seely’s father as well as Brandon Bussey’s family were also confirmed to be in attendance.

On Tuesday, it was the first time since April 13, 2023 that the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a win, when they defeated the Florida Panthers 6–4.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the only player to skate in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The last one. After six difficult months of a shortened schedule due to the Olympics, a schedule featuring three games in four days (with travel), the regular season has ended. With that last game, the Carolina Hurricanes will face the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.

The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT.

In the Hurricanes’ last game, they took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference by scoring one point in a shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. With the Flyers’ win, they clinched their spot in the playoffs – third in the Metropolitan Division – and have their only matchup set for the postseason, as they will play the Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished second in the division.

However, an hour before the start of the last game, it was announced that two players had been recalled from the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves: the goaltender long believed to miss the entire season, and the Wolves’ top scorer.

After only being in the crease for three periods through two games in the AHL, Pyotr Kochetkov’s conditioning stint came to an end. Meanwhile, two-way forward and playmaker, Felix Unger Sorum may get his NHL debut in the upcoming game.

As far as the islanders are concerned, they have had to face it very badly. The day after the last game with the Hurricanes, he removed Patrick Roy from the head coach role, and brought in former Dallas Stars head coach, Peter DeBoer, to fill his place behind the bench.

If that wasn’t enough of a blow, their playoff dreams vanished just 55 seconds into their last game, as the Montreal Canadiens became their nightmare in the second round. In the end, the Islanders scored a goal, but it was not enough. The momentum was claimed by the Canadiens, spurred by chants of Olé, Olé, Olé from fans arriving at UBS Arena. It was honestly pretty sad – and I don’t mean it sarcastic.

in the crease

For Carolina, it’s not certain who will be in net. However, there is a general expectation that the position will be filled by the same man who was just recalled on Monday, Pyotr Kochetkov. In his time with Wolves, he looked quite sharp, but even so, he did not play the full sixty minutes.

As usual, Frederik Andersen will get the start. However, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Kochetkov come to the crease. This season, Kochetkov has a save percentage of .899 with a goals-against average of 2.33, en route to a 6-2-0 record.

As for the Islanders, they have relied heavily on Ilya Sorokin, who has started 54 of their 81 games. I think they’ll probably turn to him to finish with game numbers. 82. This season, he has a save percentage of .906 with a goals-against average of 2.68 with a 29-24-2 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jespri Kotkaniemi – Bradley Nadeau

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Nicolas Deslauriers

Eric Robinson – Skylar Brind’Amour – Felix Unger Sorum

protect

K’Andre Miller – Jalen Chatfield

Alexander Nikishin – Shawn Walker

Mike Reilly – Charles-Alexis Legault

goaltender

Pyotr Kochetkov / Frederick Anderson

Expected New York Islanders Lines

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Simon Holmstrom

Brayden Schenn – Mathew Barzal – Callum Ritchie

Anthony Duclair – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Emile Heinemann

Kyle McLean – Casey Cizikas – Mark Gatcomb

protect

Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pullock

Adam Pelech – Tony DeAngelo

Carson Soucy – Scott Mayfield

goaltender

Ilya Sorokin / David Rittich

special teams

Carolina Hurricanes Power Play: 25.0% (4th, up two spots from last game)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.3% (11th)

New York Islanders Power Play: 16.7% (30th)
New York Islanders Penalty Kill: 80.8% (9th)

storm game notes

Due to absent practices and frequent player swaps at this point in the season, the Hurricanes’ lineup for Tuesday’s game remains uncertain.

With the new CBA, the Hurricanes’ schedule will include two additional regular season games and only four preseason games next season. This is expected to be the final 82-game season league-wide.

The last time the Hurricanes finished top of the Eastern Conference was in the 2005–06 season.

how to see

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

One reason the New York Islanders hired Pete DeBoer at the end of the season was because of the potential new coach conflict.

mission accomplished.

The Islanders put 24 shots on the beleaguered Toronto Maple Leafs net in the first period and snapped their four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory at UBS Arena on Thursday.

The Isles’ win, coupled with a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Detroit and a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in Buffalo, pushed them ahead of Columbus and one point behind Philadelphia for the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division.

New York defeated Toronto 44–16, and five different Islanders scored, including Matthew Schaefer’s 23rd goal, which tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman. Callum Ritchie earned the game’s No. 1 star with one goal and one assist.

Islanders came out flying against Toronto

The Islanders had 16 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in their last game under Patrick Roy.

It took him 12:04 to record that many shots against Artur Akhtyamov and the Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

In a must-win game against an opponent that was already out of the playoff race, the Isles took their most shots in the first period in 18 years. New York outshot Toronto 24–3 in the first period and scored the first two goals of the game, the first when Brayden Schenn scored just 128 seconds in and the second by JG Pazo at 4:55.

“A lot of good things,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been talking all week about playoff habits, and you’ve got to adopt them this time of year to have a chance to get to the playoffs, and I thought he worked on that.”

The new-coach bump delivered much-needed results. The Isles had taken 40 shots in their previous two games, losses to the Hurricanes and Flyers on Friday and Saturday, yet attempted 39 shots in the first period and 60 in the first 40 minutes.

“I think we were just excited to have Pete back there,” Schaefer said. “We really wanted to show him what a great team we are and what a great group we’ve got here.”

It was the second time this year the Islanders had 24 shots on goal in a period. But since it was the first period since changing their head coach in a game they needed to win, the Islanders’ first period felt different Thursday.

“I thought we played fast, and it seemed like a seamless transition into some of the things we were trying to do,” DeBoer said.

matthew schaffer was brilliant again

DeBoer is famously tough on young players, but he had nothing negative to say about the Islanders’ 18-year-old defenseman.

“For me, it’s great to see him live like that off the bench,” DeBoer said. “To see him live at the age he’s at and how dynamic he is, on both ends of the rink… he’s really a special player.”

Schaefer once again led all Islanders skaters in time on ice (24:49) and certainly broke the 2-all tie with his record-tying goal, which tied him with Brian Leach in 1988–89.

“I can’t say enough about him and the way he plays,” Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo said. “Just a special player, a special talent.”

Also, on a night when Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin made just 13 saves and allowed some very poor goals, Schaefer also supported his netminder by calmly making a goal-line save on Toronto’s first shot of the game.

“Sorokin doesn’t let many of them in. He’s the best goalie in the world,” Schaefer said. “I think we should help him when something like this happens. He supports us a lot… If I can do that, I can do the same.”

Islanders’ power play saved the day

Although they completely dominated the shot clock, the Isles found themselves in a tied game after Easton Cowen’s power-play goal early in the second period.

But New York’s moribund power play came alive in the second half of the game. Emil Heineman scored his 22nd goal and fourth on the power play, which was ultimately the game-winning goal, and Ritchie gave the Isles some relief at 10:20 to give them a 5–2 lead.

“We have a great staff at PP,” Schaefer said. “I think we went there and we thought ‘let’s try to do something.'”

The Islanders’ man-advantage was a major talking point in DeBoer’s first days as head coach. New York entered the game with a 16.7% man-advantage, the 30th-best mark, and had scored on only three of their last 16 ppg (15%).

But Isles’ power play on Thursday was lethal. Mathew Barzal set up the goal for Heinemann after moving the puck around in the offensive zone, and Heinemann fired a laser past Akhtyamov, giving the Isles a 4–2 advantage.

“I thought we just walked [the puck] All around,” Schaefer said. “I guess we were waiting. We have that in the tank. We just had to highlight it.

Ritchie’s goal, which came at five-on-three in the third, came after a spectacular left pad stop by Akhtyamov on Shen. But the puck bounced straight off Ritchie’s stick, giving New York a 5–2 advantage.

“There were some signs of it turning around and going the right way before I got here,” DeBoer said. “Like any of your systems, you need to be rewarded to build on trust. … We have to build on that.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Big changes are coming for the New York Islanders. The main focus is on their new head coach, but they are also considering recalling their top prospect.

Addressing the Islanders media regarding the firing of Patrick Roy and the hiring of Peter DeBoer, general manager Matthew Darche did not rule out recalling top prospect Victor Eklund.

“We’re looking at everything,” Darche said. “Every day we want to have the best roster we have [on the ice]”

As his season in Sweden ended, on March 26, Eklund was reassigned by the Islanders from Djurgården of the SHL to the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. Since then, he has recorded six assists in four games while showing exceptional offensive creativity.

“It was really fun,” Eklund said. “I wanted to play as soon as possible because I was so excited.”

Eklund’s brief sample of AHL success comes off the back of a solid SHL season in which he scored six goals and 24 points in 43 games as a 19-year-old.

Now, the Islanders have tightened their belts after falling out of playoff position as a result of a four-game slump and a 3-7-0 record in their last 10 games.

Thus, Roy is out, and DeBoer is in, as Darche is not going to let the season he is having go to waste by acquiring Brayden Schenn at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

The Islanders are out of playoff position with 89 after they were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. The Flyers have a game in hand on the Islanders, so Darche and company, and sidelining Eklund with four games left in the season and the Stanley Cup playoffs on the line, will speak volumes about the confidence the Islanders organization has in Eklund.

The Islanders drafted Eklund in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the first of back-to-back selections they received from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Noah Dobson.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New York Islanders shocked the hockey world by hiring Patrick Roy in January 2024. So it’s no surprise that Roy’s departure from Long Island would be equally surprising.

General manager Matthew Darche spoke openly about his decision to fire Roy with four games left and hire Pete DeBoer to try to salvage the rapidly ending season.

“I felt it was time to move the group forward,” Darche said. “Now is the time to make change.”

The Islanders (42-31-5) have lost four consecutive games in regulation, still trail the Philadelphia Flyers by just one point for the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division with four games remaining. New York is also just one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the East’s second wild card.

But hockey analytics site Manipuk gives the Islanders only a 29.6% chance of reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs. That’s because both Ottawa and Philadelphia have a game in hand.

Roy went 97-78-22 in three years for the Islanders.

Matthew Darche thinks Islanders’ season is ‘slipping away’

The Islanders have only seven regulation wins in their last 24 games. They have lost nine points in the standings to the Flyers since the Olympic break.

They have 20 goals in a four-game losing streak, including eight goals in a home match against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 30. The Flyers outshot the Islanders 12-2 in the first round in a devastating 4-1 loss at UBS Arena on Friday.

But Darche decided to make a move based on New York’s recent struggles.

“It’s never just a moment,” Darche said. “I just felt a little bit in this moment, and last time here, that we were slipping a little bit here, and it’s not just about this year.

“Moving on, I felt [replacing the coach] Put us in a better position and a better opportunity to win those games, get to the playoffs and move on.

Darche acknowledged that Ilya Sorokin’s recent struggles had a role in Roy’s firing. Sorokin has a .909 save% and 19.09 goals saved – above average in all situations, but over the last four games he has a .852 save% and a minus-3.60 GSAA.

“I felt it last time here, where we weren’t as fast, we didn’t escape it as well as we used to,” Darche said. “Let’s face it, we accomplished some things during the year where our goaltender excelled.”

Mathieu Darche hired Peter DeBoer because he’s ‘a very structured coach’

DeBoer has a reputation for struggling to develop young players, and he was let go by the Dallas Stars after publicly criticizing franchise goaltender Jake Oettinger following a loss in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals to the Edmonton Oilers last May.

But that was DeBoer’s third consecutive WCF appearance for Dallas, and he’s eager to find quick success at the places where he coaches. He led the New Jersey Devils (2011–12) and San Jose Sharks (2015–16) to the Stanley Cup Finals in Year 1 in both stops, and took the Vegas Golden Knights (2019–20) and Dallas Stars (2022–23) to the Western Conference Finals in his first season coaching.

“Guys like Pete DeBoer don’t last very long in the market,” Darche said. “He’s been to five of the last six conference finals. Wherever he’s gone, he’s had success. He’s a very structured coach.”

The last piece may be the most important for the Islanders, as they are reeling on their current skid defensively. Sorokin has faced the most danger shots (151) since the Olympic break, an average of 8.88 per game.

Darche said that when the decision was made to replace Roy, he had only DeBoer in mind. He came to this conclusion after watching the Isles lose 40–16 in a 4–3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

“It’s like grabbing the No. 1 free agent on the market,” Darche said. “Pete is an excellent coach. … His success speaks volumes for itself.”

Islanders GM believes they still have time to make playoffs

The schedule is currently against the Islanders. He has played the most games in the East and will be inactive until hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

But the teams around him have helped. Going 3-7 over a 10-game span, and failing to pick up a single point in four games, would have been a death sentence in years past. But Ottawa (2-3-1), Columbus (1-6-1) and Detroit (4-8-1) are also struggling.

Additionally, the schedule also motivated Darche to act when she did.

“We have three days to practice before the first game [with DeBoer]”Darché said.

Darche spoke directly to the team and members of the Isles leadership group on Sunday. He felt energized by this step.

“Everyone is excited,” Darache said. “They know what work needs to be done this year and what needs to be done next.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

On Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes begin a back-to-back set during the Easter holidays, starting with the New York Islanders at home, and traveling to face the Ottawa Senators less than 24 hours later.

The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT.

The Hurricanes’ last game was one of their most impressive games of the season, as they tied the franchise record for fewest shots allowed (10) in a game. They won 5–1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets and clinched their spot in the playoffs.

The game also included a shorthanded goal from Alexander Nikishin, becoming the first rookie defenseman in franchise history to do so, tying Jamie McBain for the most points by a rookie defenseman in Hurricanes history, and tying the team for the most shorthanded goals this season with the Calgary Flames. You can read all about the game here!

On Friday, the Hurricanes did not practice, and thus, there is little time left for the projected lineup. However, now that the Hurricanes have clinched a postseason berth, there is a strong possibility that a few different guys will log ice time while the more productive players get rest over the next seven games.

Meanwhile, the Islanders continue to fight for their spot in the playoffs after missing out last season. They will head into Raleigh with a loss after their Metropolitan Division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated them 4-1 on Friday. While they are in third place in the Metro Division, they are only one point ahead of the Blue Jackets, who are not even in the wild-card position.

in the crease

For the Hurricanes, they will likely start Brandon Bussey in net. After some decline in numbers and performance, he came up with the catch in his last start – keeping the Hurricanes in the game in a loss against the Blue Jackets. His save percentage this season is .895, with a goals-against average of 2.44, en route to a 28-6-1 record.

As for the Islanders, they are expected to start David Rittich, as Ilya Sorokin did on Friday against the Flyers. This season, Rittich has a save percentage of .894 with a goals against average of 2.78 with a 14-9-3 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Brandon Bussey/Frederick Anderson

Expected New York Islanders Lines

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Emil Heinemann

Callum Ritchie – Brayden Schenn – Mathew Barzal

Ondrej Palat – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Simon Holmström

Kyle McLean – Casey Cizikas – Mark Gatcomb

protect

Matthew Schaefer – Ryan Pullock

Adam Pelech – Carson Sauci

Scott Mayfield – Adam Boquist

goaltender

David Rittich / Ilya Sorokin

special teams

Carolina Hurricanes power play: 24.8% (4th, up one spot from last game)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.8% (12th, up one spot from last game)

New York Islanders Power Play: 17.0% (30th)
New York Islanders Penalty Kill: 81.0% (10th)

storm game notes

In the Hurricanes’ last game, they clinched their eighth consecutive playoff berth. Of all the teams in the league, only the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs have longer active playoff appearance streaks (though the Leafs will finish at nine, as they were eliminated from contention by the San Jose Sharks on Thursday).

After Saturday, the Hurricanes will play only one more game at Lenovo Center this regular season, on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, the Hurricanes’ annual Fan Appreciation Night.

how to see

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The New York Islanders missed a big opportunity to keep their playoff hopes alive, losing 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night.

Despite being outshot by the Sabers most of the night, they were tied 2–2 when Anders Lee’s pass from the goal line to the right of Buffalo goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen went off the skate of Sabers defenseman Owen Power and into the net with 6:21 remaining. But poor defensive coverage cost the Pittsburgh Penguins an 8-3 loss on Monday, causing them to suffer again when Alex Tuch drove down the left sideline, circled the net and found a wide-open Peyton Krebs.

Seeing some fouls, Krebs hit a shot over Ilya Sorokin with 3:01 remaining to put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

“I think Bo (Horvat) or (Matthew) Schaefer could have stayed in front of the net and defended there,” coach Patrick Roy said.

Bowen Byram’s empty-netter with 1:42 remaining proved to be the game-winner when Brayden Schenn scored with two seconds remaining.

Despite the loss, the Islanders finished third in the Metropolitan Division as only one of the teams they were in contention for a playoff spot won their game. The Penguins moved three points ahead of the Islanders after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 5–1. But the Columbus Blue Jackets, who could have overtaken them with a win, lost 5–2 to the Carolina Hurricanes at home.

The Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators, who are struggling to overtake the Islanders in the playoff race, also lost.

The Islanders have a welcome two days off before the back-to-back matches. They’ll host the Flyers on Friday before traveling to Carolina for their final road game on Saturday.

Each team got a power play in the first three minutes, with Carson Soucy going for high-sticking 41 seconds into the game and Buffalo’s Josh Norris called for pass interference at 1:31.

Isles had four of the first six shots of the game before the Sabers began to take control, pushing the pace and forcing Sorokin to make some good saves. But Buffalo finally got on the board when Jack Quinn scored a power-play goal at 14:19.

With Adam Pelech ruled out of a high-sticking penalty, New York cleared at the right point; Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau appeared to get in each other’s way and lose the puck battle to Norris. He slid the puck to the open left point, where Quinn was entering the play on a line change. Nobody stepped up to Quinn, who raced into the left circle before hitting a shot to give Sorokin a 1–0 lead.

Sorokin cut the deficit to one just before the 15-minute mark when he denied Brent Malensteen on a wide-open backhander from the slot after another failed clear. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sabers held the Islanders without a goal for more than 11 minutes and had only four high-danger chances in the first 20 minutes. Buffalo finished the period with a 12-6 differential in shots and a 23-11 edge in attempts.

The Sabers controlled the game for the first few minutes of the second period, before Anders Lee was given a penalty shot at 6:34 after Power slashed him on a breakaway. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a great save on Lee’s backhander, but the play appeared to wake up the Isles, who began spending more time in the Sabres’ zone.

They got a break when under pressure defenseman Mattias Samuelsson backhanded the puck into the crowd for a delay of game penalty at 17:41. Ritchie tied the game 16 seconds later, taking a feed from Brayden Schenn off a perfect passing play initiated by Bo Horvat and scoring into the empty net to make the score 1–1. It remained that way until the end of the period, with the Isles outshooting Buffalo 9–7, although the Sabers had a 6–5 edge in high-danger chances.

Lee was not penalized for the late-period hit that sent Norris’ face into the glass, but he had to answer the bell when ex-Ranger Sam Carrick challenged him after a face-off early in the third period. Lee threw the former Rangers center on the ice and he went to the locker room with a shoulder injury. But this game seemed to put the pressure on the Sabers – especially when Soucy was sent off for holding at 1:28. Tage Thompson’s power-play goal at 2:40 put Buffalo ahead 3–2.

Lee’s fluke goal gave the Islanders the tie and gave them hope that they could go home with at least a point after overtime. Krebs’ goal dashed those hopes.

Key takeaways from the Islanders’ 4-3 loss to the Sabers

lucky losers/missed opportunities

All things considered, the Isles came away with a discouraging loss that they expected. They finished the night just as they started it – third in the Metro, one point ahead of Columbus (which has the second wild card in the East and has played one less game), and two points in front of Ottawa, Detroit and Philadelphia – though all three have two games in hand in New York.

None of the contenders play on Wednesday, but they are all back in action on Thursday.

The Islanders looked disorganized in the second half of their loss to the Penguins and were outplayed by the Sabers for long periods. The two-day break comes at a good time, but the Monday-Tuesday loss exposed the Isles’ defensive issues and their erratic special teams, and they have a lot of cleaning up to do before the Flyers come to UBS on Friday for the second half of a back-to-back.

Sorokin hit back

Roy surprised many observers by starting Sorokin one night after the Penguins allowed seven goals before being removed. He was at no fault for any of the three goals scored before the empty-netter – and that was the biggest reason the Islanders won.

“He was excellent,” Roy said. “He made some very good saves and unfortunately for us he gave up two goals on the power-play.”

The Sabers had a 12-3 advantage in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick (it was 15-9 in all situations). Sorokin was brilliant in the first round, when the Isles suffered a defeat and fell behind by only one goal.

He will certainly be happy with the two-day break, which could give him a chance to play against both the Flyers and Hurricanes.

PK was not good

The Islanders picked a bad night to give up their first power-play goal in six games – although they had only faced six opposition power plays over the course of their last five games.

Quinn’s goal came when he fell behind, failed to clear the area and allowed Quinn to run unimpeded down the left. Thompson, one of the NHL’s deadliest shooters, found a soft spot in the middle of the coverage and beat Sorokin – who had not seen the shot.

With one of the NHL’s worst power plays, the Islanders can’t afford another bad night by the penalty killer.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger