When the New York Islanders were awarded the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on May 5th, practically nobody thought they’d be where they are just eight months later. A lot of the team’s success can be attributed to newcomer Matthew Schaefer, the re-emergence of Bo Horvat, and Mathew Barzal lending a helping hand.
With the Islanders having been part of the playoff picture for most of the 2025-26 season, fans have witnessed a new age of New York hockey. Only time will tell how well they fare in the long term, but the future looks promising for the team as they head into the second half of the season.
The biggest story of the season for the Islanders has been none other than first overall pick Matthew Schaefer, and the kid has lived up to the hype so far. The 18-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, leads all rookie defensemen in points (28) and goals (12), showcasing his ability to perform at a high level as a young talent.
Schaefer is also among the top three performers in every major offensive category on his own team. He’s provided a much-needed boost for a club that struggled in 2024-25. It’s not often that fans see the first overall pick make the playoffs as a rookie, but he is trending towards making his first appearance early in his career. There are a lot of games left to play, but he is steadily improving and emerging as the future of Long Island.
With most of the attention on Schaefer to open the 2025-26 campaign, Horvat’s success has been a great surprise for Islanders fans and players alike. The Ontario native leads the team in both goals (21) and points (33), a performance that has kept New York in the playoff hunt.
Horvat’s success has also been recognized outside of New York, with the 12-year veteran being named to Canada’s Olympic team on December 31st. The roster selection has reaffirmed what Islanders fans seem to already know: Horvat’s resurgence was only a matter of time.
The selection to the national team is well-deserved for Horvat, especially considering how much his play has impacted the Islanders. It’ll be interesting to see how he gels with the team after being one of the additions for the 4 Nations Face-Off roster. His experience points to a positive outlook. The club has a lot of youth in terms of national team experience, so I’d expect Horvat to have a huge impact on the team as the Olympics get rolling.
Most of the headlines around New York have been due to the play of Horvat and Schaefer, but Barzal and Lee cannot be forgotten. The two players’ performances have been the backbone of the Islanders’ success this season, with each of them lending a helping hand during crucial games.
Barzal’s 32 points in 41 games entering play Monday are the second-most among New York players behind Horvat (33). Of those 32 points, he has assisted a total of 22 times to lead the Islanders. His ability to produce off the puck and put his teammates in positions to score is an underrated ability of his that has been on full display in 2025-26. He has become somewhat of an underrated player in New York thanks to the success of Horvat and Schaefer, but it’s paying off for the 10-year veteran.
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the Islanders this season, a spotlight well deserved given how the team is performing. New York has played quality hockey at a consistent rate in one of the best divisions all season long, a good sign for things to come if they can keep it up.
The Islanders haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2021, but it’s looking like this might be the year that changes. The team has the tools it needs to make a run at the Cup if it can stay healthy, which will shake up the Eastern Conference.
It’ll be a ride for New York if the team makes the playoffs at all, and I can’t wait to see that play out. They have come a long way in just a few months’ time, and it seems like they’re only getting better. Who knows, this could be the start of something special out on the island, and only time will tell.
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