Matthew Schaefer has a message for anyone doubting the NY Islanders

Matthew Schaefer believes the New York Islanders should have been a playoff team last season, and he has little interest in hearing why they cannot be one this year.

The Islanders' front office may acknowledge the organization is in a transitional phase and describe the goal as becoming a "playoff-contending team." Schaefer's standard is higher. For the players in the room, simply being competitive in the race is not enough. "I think we should have been in the playoffs," Schaefer said. "Obviously, we were in a spot the whole time, and then that last stretch kind of killed us there."

Schaefer also put some of the responsibility on himself, saying both he and the team need to be better after falling short. "It's not acceptable, obviously, for our fans, for our team, for our organization," he said. "I think we got a lot more to show."

And for those already skeptical of the Islanders' chances, Schaefer had a message. "I think people are doubting us, and you know what? I love when haters hate," he said. "We're gonna do our thing. We're gonna worry about us." Schaefer said the Islanders are focused on their own group and building a stronger identity rather than paying attention to outside expectations.

He is also looking forward to a full training camp under coach Pete DeBoer, believing the Islanders still have plenty to prove. "I think we have so much to show of Islanders hockey," Schaefer said. The front office may be willing to frame this season as part of a transition, but the players who matter most are aiming higher. For Schaefer, the expectation is clear: The Islanders should be in the playoffs.

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