Islanders’ Goaltending Pipeline for the 2026-27 Season

The 38-year-old netminder will be entering the final year of his four-year contract originally signed before the 2023-24 season, and is likely to compete for the primary backup role in training camp.

David Rittich recorded a 14-10-3 record, with a solid 2.76 GAA and .894 SV% over 30 games for the Islanders this season. He was a full-time starter for the Calgary Flames from 2018-19 to 2020-21, and served as a reliable backup during the season. 

However, with Varlamov bound for a return to the NHL next season after a successful conditioning stint in the AHL, the likely route for Rittich is to explore options with other teams, as he is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at season’s end. 

In the Farm System

The primary reason why the Bridgeport Islanders made a successful late-season push to return to their first Calder Cup playoff appearance in three seasons was the tandem of Henrik Tikkanen and Marcus Hogberg. 

As the starting goaltender for the second time in his three-year pro career, Tikkanen posted career numbers in the 2025-26 season, with a record of 17-9-1 with a 2.65 GAA and a .897 SV% in 29 appearances. Tikkanen’s contract ends after this season, making him a UFA come July 1.

Josh Kotai signed an entry-level contract with the Islanders on March 24 and made his professional debut against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on April 11. Before joining the organization, he won the 2026 CCHA Player and Goaltender of the Year awards and was a finalist for the prestigious Mike Richter Award at Augustana University in NCAA Division III. Alongside his impressive season, Kotai also played for the U.S. Collegiate Selects team at the Spengler Cup.

Following Bridgeport’s playoff exit, Hogberg agreed to a multi-year deal in Sweden, whereas Tikkanen’s contract status is still unclear. With Kotai as the only contracted goaltender, the team faces ongoing challenges with AHL goaltending depth in Hamilton for the 2026-27 season. 

The Islanders’ ECHL affiliate, the Worcester Railers, doesn’t have its goaltending situation in place for now. Tristan Lennox, Parker Gahagen, and Thomas Gale are all free-agent-bound at the end of the season. 

2024 draft pick Dmitri Gamzin (1.49 GAA, 22-10-6, .938 SV% with CSKA Moskva in the Kontinental Hockey League/KHL this season) and 2025 draft pick Burke Hood (18-18-2, 3.83 GAA with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League/WHL this season) remain unsigned. It is unlikely that Gamzin will be playing in North American rinks anytime soon, as he recently re-signed with his KHL club.

Final Thoughts

General manager Mathieu Darche will need to bolster the goaltending pipeline this offseason, as the team doesn’t have formidable depth ready to be called upon in the event of an injury to Sorokin. This should be a priority for Darche to address, especially with the state of Varlamov as the only legitimate NHL-calibre netminder to back up Sorokin.