3 NY Islanders who have been pleasant surprises this season

The New York Islanders have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season. Going into the year, the expectation was to be a competitive team, but not a playoff lock. They are on the bubble, fighting for that final wild card spot. So far, the Islanders have blown those expectations out of the water. They are currently 32-21-5 and sit third in the Metro. A major reason for this is that several players stepped up and performed better than expected. Here are three Islanders who have outprefromed there expectations.

1) Matthew Schaefer

No one has shocked the NHL world as much as Matthew Schaefer has. Despite being the first overall pick at this past NHL draft, Schaefer was not a lock to make the Opening Night roster. The Islanders wanted to see how he looked during camp before making that decision. But Schaefer has proven the front office was smart to put him on the roster. In 58 games this season, he has racked up 16 goals and 23 assists for 58 points. He ranks in the top three on the Islanders in each category.

Not only do these stats rank in the top three among Islanders, but NHL rookies as well. Sure, he does not lead the way in any category, but to be that high up in those stats as a defenseman is very impressive. Schaefer is also the current favorite to take home the Calder Trophy at the end of the season. Even the most optimistic Islanders fan could not have predicted what Schaefer has done.

Schaefer's performance is a large reason why the Islanders are a threat to make a deep playoff run. His energy and ability to produce the way he has are something the Islanders have been missing for years. It feels like where the Islanders finish in the standings and how far they go in the playoffs hinges on what Shaefer is able to do coming out of the break. If he can keep this up, there is no team the Islanders cannot beat.