Isaiah George doesn't run with the opportunity given by the NY Islanders

In a move that shocked many, the NY Islanders announced this morning that they had signed defenseman Logan Stanley to a 1-year, $ 1.5 M deal.

Heading into camp, the Islanders made it known that they wanted Isaiah George to earn a spot on this team. Moving Matthew Schaefer to the right side opened up a spot on the left side, but George was unable to take the position and run with it.

Isaiah George assigned to Hamilton

“This isn’t a disappointment,” Peter DeBoer said of George following today’s practice. “It’s a journey to become an NHL defenseman. He took a step. I’m sure he learned a lot in training camp… You can’t rush those things, particularly with defensemen. There’s zero disappointment. It’s an opportunity for more growth, and hopefully next time he comes up, he’s a little better, and better, and then, you know, hopefully he’s a regular at some point.”

During the 2024-25 season, George was thrust into the lineup while the defensive core was decimated by injuries. He was incredibly effective over the 33 games he played, often looking like the Islanders’ best defenseman on the ice. Last season, George played just four games in the NHL and will once again start the season in the AHL. 

Starting the season with the Hamilton Hammers, George will earn plenty of ice time while working towards another NHL call-up. We’ll likely see him in an Islanders sweater at some point this season, and as DeBoer said, hopefully he’ll earn a permanent spot in the lineup at some point.

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