NY Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer won't rush to judgement on captain decision

The New York Islanders will enter training camp without a captain for the first time in seven years, and new head coach Pete DeBoer isn't ready to say whether that will change before opening night.

With Anders Lee departing in free agency after serving as captain since the 2018-19 season, the Islanders suddenly have one of the NHL's most recognizable leadership vacancies. Veterans such as Bo Horvat, who captained the Vancouver Canucks before being traded to Long Island, headline the list of potential successors, while several other respected veterans could also make a credible case.

For now, however, DeBoer is keeping his options open.

"I want to spend training camp with the group again, get a little more feel for the players and the options," DeBoer told The Athletic. "Then we'll make some decisions."

Sounds similar to the approach Barry Trotz took when he named Lee captain hours before the start of the 2018-19 season in Carolina.

While the captaincy remains undecided, DeBoer already sees one player who could someday wear the "C" for a long time.

Matthew Schaefer may only be entering his second NHL season, but the 2025 No. 1 overall pick has already established himself as a respected presence inside the Islanders' dressing room. DeBoer believes the 18-year-old possesses all the qualities of a future captain, even if that responsibility won't come immediately.

"I think he's already a respected voice in that dressing room," DeBoer said. "Having said that, he's an 18, 19-year-old player, and he's got an awful lot on his plate individually. Will he be part of our leadership group? Absolutely, he will, and I think he's got future captain written all over him. But I think we have to be very careful not to put too much on his plate too early."

Lee's departure leaves more than just a letter vacant on the Islanders' jerseys. It creates an opportunity for new voices to emerge as the organization transitions into its next era.

Whether that results in a new captain this season remains to be seen.

What appears far more certain is that DeBoer already envisions Schaefer playing a significant leadership role in the future. The Islanders may not be ready to name their next captain just yet, but the coach believes one of the franchise's brightest young stars already has the qualities to eventually earn that honor.

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