Islanders, DeAngelo agree to one-year contract extension

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that general manager Mathieu Darche and the team have agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension.

The team did not provide any information on the salary DeAngelo will receive for the 2025-2026 season.

DeAngelo, a 29-year-old right-shot defenseman who specializes on the offensive side of the game, joined the Islanders midway through last season after a stint with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.

After making his way to Long Island, DeAngelo fit in well on what was at the time an injury-plagued Islander blue line.

In his 35 appearances with the team, he scored 4 goals and dished out 15 assists for a total of 19 points, though he did post a minus-11 rating.

The move ensures some much-needed experience and certainty for a New York defensive unit that is in a state of transition.

Prior to the start of the NHL draft on Friday, first-year general manager Mathieu Darche dealt his top-pairing right-shot defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and two first-round picks.

Of course, the team also selected left-handed defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall pick on Friday, and whether or not he makes the team remains to be seen.

Darche has stayed busy in the days since the draft, as the team agreed to a lucrative contract extension with defenseman Alexander Romanov that will see him make $6.25 million a year over the next eight seasons.

With Dobson out of the picture, DeAngelo will likely get the opportunity to quarterback the team’s top power play unit, barring another move.

The former Carolina Hurricane and New York Ranger has racked up 93 power play points over the course of his nine NHL seasons.

The Islanders have some space to make more additions to their roster as unrestricted free agency opens at 12:00 PM EST on Tuesday, with about $12.9 million in cap space according to PuckPedia before DeAngelo’s number is factored in.