3 predictions for the NY Islanders' 2026-27 season

The puck drops tonight on the NY Islanders' 2026-27 season. After faltering down the stretch and missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the Islanders will look to right the ship as we enter an 84-game slate. Not much is expected of this Islanders team according to the "experts," but this team seems to play better when they have doubters.

Here are three predictions for the Islanders this season.

Ritchie takes a big step

Entering his second season with the organization, Cal Ritchie is looking to take a big step forward in his development. The 21-year-old finished his rookie campaign with 30 points (13 G, 17 A) in 65 games. The 50-point mark isn't out of the realm of possibility, especially with Mat Barzal's status up in the air. He'll play his natural position of center during Barzal's absence, continuing to be a solid two-way forward in the top-6.

The Islanders will be sellers at the trade deadline

This is the one I hope I'm wrong about, but the Islanders are lacking in the firepower department while other teams in the Eastern Conference loaded up. If they are in the mix of things similar to last season, they could stand pat, but with players like Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas, Matias Maccelli, and Semyon Varlamov in the final year of their contracts, it'll be tough to let them walk for nothing. Unless securely in playoff position on March 1, Mathieu Darche will likely look to accrue prospects and draft capital.

Matthew Schaefer finishes the season as a Norris Trophy Candidate

As we saw in his rookie season, this team goes as Matthew Schaefer goes. Only 19 years old, Schaefer was phenomenal in his rookie year, doing things rookie defensemen just don't seem to do. With 59 points last season, Schaefer could finish the year with 70+ and be named a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL.

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