New York Islanders: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Islanders’ Calum Ritchie to return after six-game absence

A surprise return right before the Olympic break. When speaking to the media, New York Islanders forward Calum Ritchie stated that he will be in the lineup on Thursday night when the team goes up against the New Jersey Devils, the two rivals’ final contest before the league-wide pause.

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NHL Predictions: February 5th, New York Islanders vs New Jersey Devils

Welcome to another NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

NHL News / Field Level Media / February 4

As break arrives, Devils put it all on line vs. Islanders

With the NHL playoff race taking shape, the New York Islanders are once again in the thick of the action. The Islanders, as expected, have been in contention all season long, but their chances continue to get better as their captain Bo Horvat continues to get into the swing of things.

Mathew Barzal News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 4

Mathew Barzal details why Penguins win was a morale-booster for Islanders

The New York Islanders broke a two-game losing skid on Tuesday night. It was a comeback victory for the Islanders, with the help of Rally Bird. Bo Horvat nearly hit the bird on the ice on an assist in the third period, as he scored two goals and an assist in the game.

Patrick Kane News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'American-born NHL points leaders' quiz

How many of the 35 American-born NHL players to reach the 700-point milestone can you name in five minutes?

The 'NHL Maurice Richard Trophy winners' quiz

The 'NHL all-time goal leaders' quiz

The 'All-time points leader by NHL team' quiz

Bo Horvat News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 4

Islanders’ Bo Horvat notches assist while avoiding bird on the ice in hilarious mic’d-up moment

The New York Islanders are having a solid 2025-26 campaign. The team is right now in a position to be playing inthe Stanley Cup Playoffs, which could lead to the Islanders being aggressive at the trade deadline.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NHL teams who didn't win the Stanley Cup

In the lore of the NHL, it's the Stanley Cup-winning teams that are remembered the most from seasons past. Yet, when looking back on the best of the best

NHL News / Field Level Media / February 3

Bo Horvat nets OT winner as Islanders outlast Penguins

Bo Horvat scored a breakaway goal 52 seconds into overtime Tuesday night for the New York Islanders, who overcame a trio of deficits to edge the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-4, in Elmont, N.Y.

New York Islanders News / The Lead / February 3

Islanders Recent Trades Provide Depth and Stability

In the 2025-2026 NHL season, the New York Islanders exceeded the expectations of most fans. After selecting number one in the NHL Draft, the Islanders were expected to be in the midst of a retool.

New York Islanders News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 1

1 trade Islanders must make before NHL Olympic break

The New York Islanders and general manager Mathieu Darche have been active in the trade market in recent days. They added Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers and swapped Maxim Tsyplakov for Ondrej Palat in a deal with the New Jersey Devils.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / January 30

2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Midseason top 64

This is as fluid an NHL Draft as I’ve covered. The 2025 NHL Draft saw James Hagens start the season as the projected No. 1, only for Matthew Schaefer to overtake him by December.

NHL News / Field Level Media / January 29

Islanders complete season sweep against rival Rangers

Carson Soucy and rookie Matthew Schaefer scored 95 seconds apart late in the second period as the visiting New York Islanders completed a season sweep of the rival New York Rangers with a 2-1 victory on Thursday.

Mathieu Darche News / Total Pro Sports / January 29

'If It Makes Sense, I Would' – Islanders GM Mathieu Darche Not Ruling Out Moving First Round Pick In Trade

The New York Islanders have made a couple of key trades before the Olympic freeze, and it seems the team might make a few more before the March 6 trade deadline.

New York Islanders News / Breakaway on SI / January 29

Veteran Forward Scores Goal in First Islanders Game After Trade

For Ondrej Palat, his first-ever game with the New York Islanders resulted in him being named the contest's first star. Against the New York Rangers, the Islanders captured a dominant 5-2 win over a team that has been struggling all year.

Carson Soucy News / Total Pro Sports / January 29

'Kind Of Did Me A Favor' – Carson Soucy Reveals Why The Rangers Trading Him To Islanders ‘Made Sense’

Carson Soucy barely had to change his routine on Wednesday night. Instead of walking into the visitors’ locker room, he headed to the home side at UBS Arena as the New York Islanders faced the New York Rangers.

New York Islanders News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 28

Islanders Open To Moving A First-Round Pick

The Islanders were busy in the first round of the draft last season, adding Matthew Schaefer first overall while making back-to-back selections in the middle of the round as part of the trade return for Noah Dobson. Thanks to the Brock Nelson trade last season, they have an extra pick on the opening night of the draft again this season.

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The 'NFL playoff receptions leaders' quiz

The 'Super Bowl XLIX starters' quiz

The 'Skill-position Pro-Bowlers' quiz

The 'Super Bowl starting QBs' quiz

Ondrej Palat News / Daily Faceoff / January 28

Ondrej Palat will get a fresh start with Islanders

Ondrej Palat is on the move.

25 current NHL players who will end up in the Hall of Very Good

The 'Goalie Stanley Cup Playoff wins leaders' quiz

New York Islanders News / Daily Faceoff / January 28

The Islanders shouldn't be done on the trade front

The New York Islanders made the first big “splash” of the trade deadline season, but the team shouldn’t shy away from making more moves before March.

Why the timing of the Carson Soucy trade makes sense for the Islanders

The 25 best late-round NHL Draft picks

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

NHL News / Last Word On Sports / January 28

NHL Predictions: Jan 28 New York Rangers vs New York Islanders

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / January 27

Grading the Islanders & Devils’ Ondřej Palát Trade

There’s one week left until the NHL Olympic Break, and the trade market seems to be heating up. Earlier this evening, the New Jersey Devils acquired Maxim Tsyplakov from the New York Islanders in exchange for Ondřej Palát and a couple of draft picks.

Isaiah George News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 27

Islanders Reassign Isaiah George

The Islanders have reassigned defenseman Isaiah George to AHL Bridgeport, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. That opens an active roster spot for fellow rearguard Carson Soucy to join the team after being acquired from the Rangers last night.

Carson Soucy News / Breakaway on SI / January 27

Islanders Carson Soucy Trade Signals Stanley Cup Push Is On

In a normal world, a trade for a defenseman like Carson Soucy wouldn’t raise that many eyebrows. He’s not the type of player who single-handedly changes a roster, nor is he the type to be a hero on a given night.

New York Islanders News / Breakaway on SI / January 27

Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Running Away With Calder Race

The race for the Calder Trophy is all but over. Much like a marathon runner that has surged ahead of the pack after starting at a tremendous pace, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has separated himself from the rest of the rookie class.

NHL News / Last Word On Sports / January 27

New York Islanders Hedging Their Bets with Rare Trade

The New York Islanders are hedging their bets as they look to solidify their foothold on a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this season. On Monday, the Isles completed a rare trade with crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers, involving impending unrestricted free-agent defenceman Carson Soucy.

Mathew Barzal News / NHL Trade Talk / January 25

Mathew Barzal’s Benching and Call Out a Rare Sight in Today’s NHL

The New York Islanders were shut out 5-0 at home by the red-hot Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. While the lopsided score might have shocked some, what was even more surprising—especially for those who didn’t watch and only saw the box score—was that Mathew Barzal logged just 12:45 of ice time.

Isaiah George News / Pro Hockey Rumors / January 23

Islanders Expected To Recall Isaiah George

The New York Islanders are expected to turn towards a top prospect to help them with injuries. Defenseman Isaiah George appears to have been recalled to the NHL just before the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders’ Friday night game per Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / January 21

The Best Landing Spot for Elias Pettersson: New York Islanders

Elias Pettersson has become one of the most polarizing players in the NHL over the past few years. After signing what was, at the time, a well-deserved $11.6 million per year extension thanks to a 102-point 2022-23 campaign, things have gone off the rails, and not everyone is convinced he’ll ever return to that level.