The pending New York Islanders free agents cause some tricky roster decisions to be made this offseason. After missing the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team needs work. That job will be in the hands of general manager Mathieu Darche. He will need to build a roster best suited to play under new head coach Peter DeBoer and his style of play.
Which New York Islanders Free Agents Are Likely to Stay This Offseason?
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Who Mathieu Darche ultimately chooses to bring back will be his and DeBoer’s decision. However, this list will give you players who we think are likely to stay. Players who we think have done enough to be brought back. Productive players who have had or have potential for some kind of team success and earned a chance to come back for next season.
1: Anders Lee (Position: LW)
Could this have been the last season on the Island for the captain, Anders Lee? He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and after 14 years, could he be headed elsewhere? If the price is right, we think the team would love to have him back. He had a semi-productive season, totaling 42 points in 82 games. With 19 goals, this was the first time in four seasons that he had been under 20 goals.
While his best seasons may be behind him, he is a solid middle-six forward who is a good power play piece with his net-front presence. He plays a tough game and goes to the dirty areas where most players won’t go. As the team’s captain, that might be more incentive for the two sides to work together to bring him back. That, along with the fact that he has great availability, as this is his second season in a row appearing in all 82 games.
2: David Rittich (Position: G)
Another of the New York Islanders free agents, and it was a solid season for backup goaltender David Rittich. After just one season, Big Save Dave will be an unrestricted free agent when free agency opens. This past season, he started 28 games, holding a 14-10-3 record and an .894 save percentage. His play in the first half of the season helped the team immensely. It allowed Ilya Sorokin to rest more games, and his numbers benefited from it. The two were a strong goalie duo for most of last season.
While he wasn’t as strong down the stretch, equal blame could go to the guys in front of him. The team allowed the second-most high-danger chances in the league last season. With Peter DeBoer’s defensive style, they should be able to clean that up. Rittich did well enough to be brought back as the backup goalie for next season, and could be better playing in a different system.
3: Tony DeAngelo (Position: D)
For the former first-round draft pick, Tony DeAngelo, the Islanders gave him a second chance in the NHL. He has not disappointed in his tenure with the team. Over the last season and a half, DeAngelo has reestablished himself as a solid middle-pairing defenceman. This past season, his first full one with the team, he appeared in 76 games and had five goals and 30 assists for 35 points in 76 games.
DeAngelo was a key contributor to the team this season. He logged heavy minutes and played in all situations. He averaged 19 minutes a game in ice time, playing on the second pair and quarterbacking the second power play unit. With the Islanders giving DeAngelo that second chance, and him taking advantage of it. That could be an incentive for both sides to stick together moving forward. This seems like a value-add among the New York Islanders free agents.
4: Max Shabanov (Position: F)
It was not an ideal start to the NHL career of Max Shabanov. The former KHL star made his transition to the NHL last season, and it could have gone better. He struggled to carve out a full-time spot and was scratched a decent bit. He appeared in only 44 games and recorded five goals and 13 assists for 18 points this season.
Shabanov still has a lot of potential. His speed and skill showed in the games he did get to play. The transition from the KHL to the NHL takes time, and his career won’t be defined by one season. The Islanders gave another Russian, Maxim Tsyplakov, at least a chance in his second season to prove himself. Shabanov deserves that at least. He will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. He should be affordable if the Islanders feel there is a spot for him.
Main Photo Credit: Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
