The NY Islanders are younger but are still one of the NHL's oldest teams

If you watched the New York Islanders last season and listened to the narrative surrounding the organization, you probably came away thinking this team finally turned the page.

Matthew Schaefer delivered one of the greatest rookie seasons by a defenseman in NHL history, immediately becoming the face of the franchise. Cal Ritchie proved he belongs after spending nearly the entire season in the NHL lineup. Isaiah George took another step forward, and the prospect pipeline suddenly looks deeper than it has in years.

Throw in Brock Nelson's departure at the 2025 trade deadline, captain Anders Lee leaving for Utah in free agency, and longtime fan favorites Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck transitioning into front office and broadcast roles when they're not appearing in the club's viral schedule release video, and it certainly feels like a changing of the guard.

So why are the Islanders still one of the oldest teams in hockey?

According to PuckPedia, New York enters next season with an average roster age of 30.0, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the sixth-oldest team in the NHL. Only the Kings (31.0), Panthers (30.9), Avalanche (30.6), Maple Leafs (30.3), and Golden Knights rank older.

It's a reminder that while the Islanders have injected elite young talent into the organization, the core remains veteran-heavy.

Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Brayden Schenn, Casey Cizikas, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Ilya Sorokin continue to make up the backbone of the roster. Schaefer and Ritchie may have become everyday contributors, but they're still surrounded by one of the league's most experienced groups.

The encouraging part for Islanders fans is that this ranking may represent the final chapter of an era.

Schaefer isn't just another young player, he's already on his way to being a superstar. Ritchie has cemented himself as an NHL regular. George is going to be given an opportunity to stick around all season, and prospects like Victor Eklund, Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson and Kashawn Aitcheson aren't far behind.

The Islanders may still be one of the NHL's oldest teams on paper, but for the first time in a long time, they no longer feel like one.

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