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Here’s one major positive for the Islanders in 2026-27

Despite a tough 2025-26 season, the New York Islanders have a major positive moving forward, one that could save the current core.
ByNestor Quixtan|
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Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer speaks to the media after their game against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer speaks to the media after their game against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images | Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images

The New York Islanders 2025-26 season was largely positive. Despite the playoff miss, the Isles exceeded expectations. Yes, it was painful to see the team fade down the stretch, but just being there in the playoff race down to the end pretty squashed rebuild talk.

That said, it’s also understandable that Islanders fans would feel down in the dumps with this season. But a recent piece in The Athletic shed light on a major positive heading forward. Yes, Matthew Schaefer counts as a major positive.

But that positive sign moving forward is Peter DeBoer.

Now, we’re not necessarily knocking Patrick Roy. But there is a point where some coaches just don’t resonate with the room anymore. It’s nothing personal against Roy, and it’s not necessarily a hockey thing.

It happens in all sports. Just about every pro sport sees coaches go through a boom-and-bust cycle before seeing their tenures come to an end. In fact, it’s rare to see coaches last a long time with a single team. Coaches like Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay and Jared Bednar in Colorado are the exception, not the rule (perhaps it helps if your name starts with a ‘J’).

That said, a full season of Peter DeBoer should make a significant impact on the Islanders moving forward. The expectation is that impact will happen defensively. As covered earlier here at Eyes on Isles, DeBoer declared that fixing the team’s defensive structure is a must.

Considering how well Ilya Sorokin has played over the last couple of seasons, it’s a crime that the Isles haven’t tightened up in front of him.

That’s something about to change under DeBoer. The good news is that he’s got the entire summer and the training camp to establish a system. From there, it’s all a matter of the team buying into the method and maintaining consistency throughout the year.

Is a return to the postseason possible?

It certainly is. It’s all a matter now of rounding out the roster through trades and free agency.

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