Islanders face big decisions on Noah Dobson and 9 others in free agency

Mathieu Darche has his work cut out for him in his first season as general manager of the New York Islanders. In addition to receiving the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Islanders also have a full slate of restricted and unrestricted free agents whose fates must be decided this summer.

The club has already gotten a head start on their free agency dealings, inking defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Kyle Palmieri to one- and two-year contracts, respectively. Here are the nine remaining RFAs and UFAs from the Islanders' 2024-25 roster who await new contracts heading into next season.

Islanders unrestricted free agents

Matt Martin

Due to a lower-body injury that landed him on Injured Reserve, 36-year-old Matt Martin appeared in just 32 games in what may have been his final season with the Islanders in 2024-25. The veteran forward has spent 14 of his 16 NHL seasons on Long Island, and while he hasn't officially announced his retirement, his expiring contract has led to speculation about his future.

Hudson Fasching

Depth winger Hudson Fasching just completed his third and likely last season with the Islanders, registering four points in just 43 games while averaging just over 11 minutes of ice time. Assuming New York lets him walk, he's unlikely to garner a ton of interest in free agency unless it's on a two-way deal.

Mike Reilly

Defenseman Mike Reilly missed most of the 2024-25 season after undergoing a heart procedure in November. While the 31-year-old may be cheap to re-sign, the Islanders have a bit of a logjam on the blue line that may make Reilly expendable heading into next season.

Tony DeAngelo

Tony DeAngelo resurrected his NHL career with the Islanders after playing half a season in the KHL. Due to multiple injuries on their blue line, the Islanders played DeAngelo nearly 23 minutes a night, and he recorded 19 points in 35 games.

Islanders restricted free agents

Simon Holmstrom

Former first-round pick Simon Holmstrom has seen his production increase steadily in each of his first three seasons with the Islanders. He has carved out a spot in the lineup as a contributor on the penalty kill, power play, and 5-on-5. The 24-year-old Holmstrom is due for an increase in minutes – and a corresponding increase in pay – next season.

Maxim Tsyplakov

Former KHL forward Maxim Tsyplakov enjoyed a promising rookie season with the Islanders, logging 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 77 games. He finished ninth among all NHL rookies in scoring, and he will look to continue to develop into a top-six forward next season.

Marc Gatcomb

Marc Gatcomb was a pleasant surprise in his rookie campaign, scoring eight goals in 39 games for the Islanders after making his NHL debut on January 14 against the Ottawa Senators. His energy and physicality make him a strong addition to the Islanders' bottom-six forward group.

Noah Dobson

Noah Dobson is the proverbial "big fish" in the Islanders' RFA pool. A big, right-shot defenseman He has shown flashes of offensive ability and found himself at the center of plenty of trade and offer sheet rumors as free agency approaches. However, Darche singled out Dobson as one of the young players he believes to be part of the Islanders' core group going forward, meaning he probably re-signs on a long-term deal this summer.

Alexander Romanov

Alexander Romanov is another defenseman who made strides in his offensive game this season, and he handled a top-four role extremely well when injuries ravaged the Islanders' blue line. Likely another core piece alongside Dobson, Romanov is another deal the Islanders will want to prioritize this offseason.

Scott Perunovich

Scott Perunovich provided the Islanders with solid defensive depth after a trade from the St. Louis Blues, averaging a career-high 19 minutes of ice time during his 11-game stint on Long Island. The 26-year-old turned out to be a steal and could carve out a role for himself as a bottom-pairing or even a seventh defenseman.