Islanders don’t need a blockbuster—just one more smart addition

The New York Islanders have had an offseason to remember. After ending the season on a thud, the Isles bounced back into the picture by nailing the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Then, the Isles added two more first-rounders in the Noah Dobson blockbuster.

In NHL free agency, the Islanders added Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov from the KHL. Goaltender David Rittich was a depth addition as concerns linger regarding Semyon Varlamov’s health.

The Islanders have set themselves up for a strong season. The savvy additions in Mathieu Darche’s first run as team GM have the potential to pay off big time.

But there are still questions surrounding the club. The team doesn’t have a clear-cut second-line center, and depth on the blue line could be a concern.

Of course, those issues could be swept aside if Calum Ritchie can step into a meaningful role or if Matthew Schaefer hits the ground running in his first season.

But then again, the Islanders can’t afford to sit still during the remainder of the summer. The Isles must look into making one more smart move. There’s no need to blow the roof off the offseason.

That was already accomplished in the Dobson trade.

All the Islanders need at this point is a smart move. The kind that typically flies under the radar but pays off in droves.

New York Islanders must bolster blue line depth

While the forward group could certainly use some punch, the Islanders have options. Shabanov, Ritchie, Emil Heineman, and someone like Matt Maggio or Alex Jefferies could step up to make a meaningful contribution.

But it’s the blue line where things could get dicey. Schaefer is not a shoo-in to play this upcoming season. He might need some more seasoning before leaping into the Islanders’ full-time lineup.

Isaiah George could run with a spot this season. He showed plenty of promise last season, but still showed signs of needing a little more time to fully develop into an NHL mainstay.

So, why not target remaining UFAs? There are several players who could come into the mix on PTOs. Players like recently-bought-out Marc-Edouard Vlasic or T.J. Brodie could be low-cost, under-the-radar options to provide additional blue line depth.

These aren’t the types of players who’ll set the world on fire. But they will provide enough depth to support regulars. Even someone like Matt Grzelcyk could come in and solidify the blue line. While he wouldn’t join the club on a PTO, he could, nonetheless, give the Islanders a strong presence in the bottom four.

Overall, the Islanders don’t need to pull off a late-summer blockbuster. There might be one brewing mid-season. But now is not the time for it. The Islanders must, instead, focus on building depth. If they do, this upcoming season could be much easier for the core to lead the way.