Projecting the 2025-26 lineup of New York Islanders – Hockey Writer – New York Islanders

It’s September and the weather is starting to cool (this year, which happened early in the New York area for some reason). This means hockey is coming and now is the time to make predictions and forecasts.

Related: Islanders have 4 duos that can make or break 2025-26

The Islanders on New York Island entered the season with an unpredictable roster for the first time in some time, an unpredictable roster. There are a lot of moving parts and some potential clients that can get the team out of the door immediately. That’s why Islanders can launch multiple squads throughout the 2025-26 season.

forward

Taking a step back and looking at the forward, the Islanders have a lot of deep skateboarders, but not many for the top six. This is why even ideal lines look messy and show obvious problems.

Ideal front line

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Matthew Balzal

Simon Holmstrom – Jonathan Drouin – Kyle Palmieri

Anthony Duclair – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Maxim Shabanov

Maxim Tsyplakov – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman

There are two things about these lines. First it leans on the top line carrying the offense, while Barzal and Horvat connect leads. The other is Pierre Engvall being abandoned. Engvall signed a seven-year contract in the 2023 offseason, which is in the same category as Duclair, who signed a bad contract and will strengthen or withdraw from the roster until he is injured.

The most likely front line

Anders Lee – Bo Horwatt – Simon Holmstrom

Jonathan Drouin – Matthew Barzal

Maxim Tsyplakov – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Maxim Shabanov

Anthony Duclair – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman

Palmieri is a top skater, of course on this roster. But if the Islander separates Barzal and Horvat, it makes sense to play him in the same line as Barzal, the best organizer, and can provide him with a lot of open looks. Another note is for Duclair, who is not the fourth liner, expected to rebound from the tough season. That said, it’s hard to see him take over anyone in front of him on the left.

Sliding door to the front line

Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Matthew Balzal

Jonathan Drouin – Calum Ritchie – Kyle Palmiri

Simon Holmstrom – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Maxim Shabanov

Maxim Tsyplakov – Casey Cizikas – Emil Heineman

These are due to Calum Ritchie. If he is ready, he will force many skaters to walk around in the top six. The Islander’s Ritchie, whom the Brock Nelson trade, is a center that by becoming an NHL roster, would bump into Barzal back to the top wing (and then move someone out of the top six).

There is a good question as Ritchie is probably a big upgrade to the forward group and gets the most out of the senior wingers. This also allows some skaters to disappear, especially Duclair and Engwal, who have been struggling since joining the team and have failed to find consistent roles.

defense

The big question in defense is whether Matthew Schaefer is ready and whether he can make an impact in the door. The ideal defensive pairing involves the islanders becoming the first choice for stars immediately.

Ideal defense pairing

Alexander Romanov – Matthew Schaefer

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock

Tony Deangelo – Scott Mayfield

If Schaefer was a star, he projected at some point, it would provide the islanders with the ideal top-level pairing. They will have a two-way player who can play in all situations while having a full-time option in Romanov. This pairing also makes other pairings better, as it allows Deangelo to move downwards in the lineup and make a bigger impact as a depth defender.

Expected defense pairing

Alexander Romanov – Tony Deangelo

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock

Adam Bowckvist/Matthew Schafer-Scott Mayfield

Suppose that 18-year-old Schaefer won’t be ready for the NHL immediately, and if so, he won’t be an influential player. So if he was on the lineup, he might start a third pair with veterans like Mayfield, which would be very useful for his development.

The above two predictions ignore a player who can join the roster and add a young performance to the roster. This is where potential youth movements can come into play.

Islander Youth Sports Matching

Alexander Romanov – Matthew Schaefer

Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock

Isaiah George – Scott Mayfield

George showed a shiny last season and was an excellent skater. That’s why he immediately joined the team and added spark to the department. Arguably, the ideal situation would be to have the highest partner in the third pair with George, making the Islanders a faster team that could look better off the offensive end.

These pairs exclude two veterans from the lineup. Boqvist is expected to surround the unit, while Ethan Bear is an islander who signed additional defenders in the offseason. The defense has two defenders who play in the U.S. Hockey League team next season, but they will likely add depth to the NHL roster and be prepared for the inevitable injury attack.

Other notes on the Islander lineup

Goalkeepers deserve to be remembered. The prediction is simple, as Ilya Sorokin will be the starter and David Rittich will be the backup that Semyon Varlamov returns to before. The question is whether Sorokin will start with backup or whether the Islanders will rely on him throughout the season.

The big chart on the Islanders lineup is that they have enough depth skateboarders in both forward and defense. The question is whether players can form powerful chemistry. That’s why two players with similar skills, Tsyplakov and Shabanov, who adapted to the NHL (Shabanov played his first season in Kontinental Hockey League) make sense.

What do you think the lines and matching will look like next season? Let us know in the comments section below!