3 bold predictions that could define the Islanders’ 2025-26 season

With the NHL season right on the horizon, it's time to get bold about the New York Islanders on what they will bring to the table in Year 1 of the Mathieu Darche era. One good offseason showed us that this is a different Islanders team than during the Lou Lamoriello era, so fan optimism should be at a premium.

Some recent additions will help fuel that optimism, and it will send such a ripple effect through the team that it will also impact them defensively. Here are three bold but not unrealistic predictions for the Isles this season.

1 - Matthew Schaefer takes the Calder Trophy

Matthew Schaefer looks like he's on the fast track to earn a spot in the Islanders' lineup, and it's something we should have expected. The burning question with Schaefer was: Is he fully 100 percent healthy to take on the physical demands of the NHL? So far in the preseason, he's answered that question for us.

Schaefer will have his ups and downs like all rookies, but he's a brewing playmaker who will put up solid numbers once he's acclimated to the NHL. While he won't put up record-breaking numbers this season, don't be surprised when he pushes 50 points that will include a few goals and roughly 42 to 45 assists.

His productivity alone, especially when he knows what to expect during the second half of the season, will help the Islanders transform into a more effective scoring unit.

2 - Ilya Sorokin finishes in the top three for the Vezina

While he's always in Vezina contention, Ilya Sorokin has put up back-to-back subpar seasons by his own standards. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, Sorokin has just a 0.908 save percentage and a 2.86 GAA, with six shutouts and a 0.617 quality starts percentage.

Not bad numbers, and anyone routinely putting them up in today's game is No. 1 goaltender material. But Sorokin's on another level, something he displayed during his first three seasons in the NHL. This year, look for him to get back there as the Islanders look better on paper than they have over the past two years.

They will spend more time in the offensive zone, and that will give Sorokin time to reset. You can also be optimistic that they won't allow as many defensive breakdowns, which will also let Sorokin show signs of his old self returning. While he won't put up the same legendary numbers we've all gotten used to, expect Sorokin to snag a 0.920 save percentage, five shutouts, and a 2.50 GAA.

3 - Islanders put up their best scoring mark since 2017-18

2017-18 was the last time the Isles had a decent year finding the net, and since then, it's been a lot of defense-first hockey that would set the Isles up to win by a goal or two. This season, they have a new-look unit with forward Jonathan Drouin and blueliner Matthew Schaefer, both of whom will lead the scoring onslaught.

Don't forget that Bo Horvat is still a threat to find the net every time he's on the ice, and Matt Barzal will also be back in the lineup after missing a significant amount of time last year. All four players will set the stage for a more high-octane group that will land in the top 16 this season in scoring goals.

You also can't rule out Anthony Duclair's potential impact. Duclair, when healthy, has shown numerous times that he can put up at least 24 goals. If he regains form, the Isles will be deep enough to score big on almost anyone in hockey. 

Matthew Schaefer's progress will kickstart the Islanders' scoring, and he's one of the few missing pieces that will move them up a rung. That will also help Ilya Sorokin in the net, as the Isles won't be stuck in their own zone as often, meaning these three bold predictions can easily come to fruition.