The NY Islanders ink Matias Maccelli, Vitek Vanecek, and Matt Kessel to 1-year deals

In what was expected to be a quiet day for the NY Islanders in the first day of free agency, Mathieu Darche has made two signings in the first hour-and-a-half, inking forward Matias Maccelli and goaltender Vitek Vanecek to one-year deals.

Maccelli, who spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, agreed to terms for the 2026-27 season on a deal worth $2.25M. He struggled during his only season with the Leafs, recording 14 goals while adding 25 assists in 75 games, while being a -23.

Two seasons earlier with the Arizona Coyotes, he had his best season in the NHL, scoring 17 times and registering 40 assists.

Turning 26 just before the start of the 2026-27 season, Maccelli is a safe bet for the Islanders, as he can add secondary scoring. If he struggles, the Islanders can cut ties with him at the end of the season.

Vanecek, 30, has been a bit of a nomad over the past three seasons, spending time with the NJ Devils, SJ Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Utah Mammoth.

The netminder will earn $1M next season, and will serve as an insurance policy to Semyon Varlamov.

Matt Kessel agreed to an $850k deal, where the right-shot defenseman will likely slot in as a seventh defenseman. He played 29 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, scoring twice and adding an assist. But at 6’3”, Kessel’s value comes from his size and ability on the defensive end.

Through the early parts of free agency, Darche has made three signings already, and we'll see if there are more to come.

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