7:00 Home Starts Have Returned

Earlier today, the Islanders schedule for 2025/2026 NHL season was released.  You can view the full schedule here.  Something notable on the schedule is that home games for the most part will be starting at 7:00 this season.  Since moving to UBS Arena for the 2021/2022 season, home games primarily started at 7:30.

Other notable items on the schedule include 14 games that start at a time other then 7:00.  Additionally, 10 of the Islanders final 12 games will be at home this season.  If they are in the thick of a playoff race this could be a big advantage for them. 

Islanders Sign Eklund To 3 Year Entry Level Contract

Today, the Islanders announced they have signed forward Victor Eklund to a 3 years entry level contract. 

The Islanders selected Eklund with the 16th overall pick in the draft last month.  That pick was of course part of the package the Islanders acquired from Montreal in exchange for Noah Dobson on draft day.

As I said in my earlier post today, Mathieu Darche has a clear plan for the Islanders going forward.  He hasn't only executed that through his moves for the NHL team but through his picks at the draft as well.  Eklund is a player that plays with tempo but is also highly skilled and tenacious which is the exact type of player head coach Patrick Roy likes.

While I don't expect him in the NHL anytime soon, I am definitely excited to see his development as he works toward the NHL in a few years.  

We are Back!!

This title has a double meaning as this is the first post here in over 9 years, so we are back posting again.  On top of that though, our New York Islanders are back as well.  

What I mean by that is for the last several years the Islanders have been spinning the wheels of perpetual mediocrity under GM & President of Hockey Ops Lou Lamoriello.  However, that all changed on April 22nd, just a few weeks after the regular season ended when the Islanders announced Lamoriello would not be returning in his positions.  After an extensive search, the Islanders landed on Tampa Bay Lightning executive Mathieu Darche to replace Lamoriello.

The biggest change in the organization since Darche took over is that it now feels like it has a direction.  For the last few years under Lamoriello the team seemed rudderless just content spinning in place.  That is not the case anymore, Darche has a clear plan and has been executing it very well since taking over.  The type of players he has brought in align well with the system Patrick Roy wants to implement which we learned was a bone of contention last season between Roy & Lamoriello.  

Another big change was the appearance of #1 overall pick Matthew Schaffer on the Spittin Chiclets podcast last week on Youtube.  Under Lamoriello, players were not allowed to make appearances like that.  This appearance further showed Schaffers personality and his quick witted nature creating a bigger connection to fans.  

Now I am not saying I expect the Islanders to contend for the Stanley Cup next year.  That is unrealistic!  However, for the first time in a while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we know where management wants to go and how they intend on getting there.  If early returns on Darches tenure are any indication, we should have a fun entertaining team to watch next season.

FREE AGENT FRENZY

As we do every year, you can find the latest rumors and moves below for the next few hours.  Any credible Islander rooms will be italicized.  Meanwhile, Islander signings will be in bold.

3:35 - Matt Martin signs 4 year deal with Toronto worth 2.5 per season

2:42 - Colorado signs Fedor Tyutin to a one year deal worth 2 million

2:33 - Colorado signs Joe Colborne to a 2 year deal worth 2.5 per season

2:28 - Colorado signs Patrick Wiercioch to a 1 year deal worth 800k

2:27 - Brett Connolly signs 1 year deal with Washington worth 850k

2:20 - Lee Stempniak signs a 2 year deal with Carolina worth 2.5 per season

2:06 - Rangers sign Nathan Gerbe to a 1 year deal worth 600k

2:03 - Rangers sign Michael Grabner to 2 year deal worth 1.65 per season

1:46 - Dallas signs Dan Hamhuis to a 2 year deal worth 3.75 per season

1:45 - Montreal signs Alex Radulov to a 1 year deal worth 5.75 million

1:37 - Shawn Matthias signs 2 year deal with the Jets worth 2.125 per season

1:27 - Montreal signs Al Montoya to a 1 year deal worth 950k

1:16 - Viktor Stalberg signs 1 year deal with Carolina worth 1.5 million

1:02 - Dale Weise signs 4 year deal with the Flyers worth 2.35 per

12:56 - David Schlemko signs 4 year deal worth 2.1 per with San Jose

12:43 - Jamie McGinn signs 3 year deal with Arizona worth 10 million

12:36 - Ben Lovejoy signs a 3 year deal with the Devils

12:35 - Calgary signs Chad Johnson to a 1 year deal worth 1.7

12:29 - Jason Chimera signs a 2 year deal with Islanders worth 2.25 per

12:25 - Minnesota gives Eric Staal 3 years 3.5 per season

12:22 - Troy Brower signs 4 year deal worth 4.5 per season with the Flames

12:17 - Kyle Okposo signs 7 year deal with Buffalo worth 6 per

12:16 - Blackhawks sign Brian Campbell to 1 year deal

12:14 - Bruins sign David Backes to a 5 year deal worth 6 million per season

12:10 - Red Wings sign Frans Nielsen to 6 year deal worth 5.25 per season

12:07 - David Perron signs 2 year deal worth 7.75 total

12:03 - James Reimer signs 5 year deal with Panthers worth 3.4 per year

12:02 - Milan Lucic signs with Edmonton

12:02 - Andrew Ladd signs 7 year deal with Islanders worth 5.5 per season.

12:02 - Loui Eriksson signed a 6 year deal with Vancouver

11:56 - Alexander Radulov signing with Montreal

11:52 - James Reimer getting 5 years from an Eastern Conference team.

11:50 - Sounds like Frans Nielsen will be the Red Wings replacement for Steven Stamkos

11:49 - Andrew Ladd reportedly gets 7 years from the Islanders

11:45 - Kyle Okposo is expected to sign with Buffalo rejoining Matt Moulson

11:00am - Arthur Staple confirming the Islanders and Frans Nielsen are parting way.

Barclays Center Striking Out Yet Again With Isles Fans

To say it hasn't been easy for Barclays Center officials to welcome the Islanders and their fans to Brooklyn would be quite the understatement.  Sure, growing pains were expected, but since they had years to prepare for this it seems like a lot of time was wasted.  The latest cases came from an interview Brett Yormark gave recently with Sports Illustrated.  That was followed up by an exclusive report earlier today from nyislesblog about how Barclays Center pretty much lied to season ticket holders.

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the topic of the obstructed seats at Barclays Center was brought up.  In response, Mr. Yormark suggested Islander fans actually stream the game on their phones or simply watch on the big screen.  So fans should buy tickets, take the 45 min + train ride to the arena to watch the game on their phones?  The amount of sense this lacks is astonishing especially coming from someone in the position of Mr. Yormark.  Sell the arena and experience all you want and as you should, but don't insult our intelligence!

Following that fiasco, came today when nyislesblog dropped their exclusive report that some season ticket holders in the obstructed sections will see a ticket increase of 66% next season.  This isn't in the premium seats, these are the obstructed seats where in some spots you can't see as much as half the zone right in front of you.  This increase is coming roughly a month after Barclays Center told the same season ticket holders that as a perk for renewing their season tickets they would not pay a price increase for next season.  For more details check out the report here.

In order for the Islanders to grow in Brooklyn like we all hoped and expected, Brett Yormark needs leave the Isles to someone who can handle them because although he had gotten better the last month or so he obviously is in over his head..