Islanders Offensive Additions

The New York Islanders have a defensive player pool as the 2026/2027 season opens. With the need for offense in mind, General Manager Mathieu Darche acquired Mattias Maccelli and extended Alex Jefferies. A few pieces to help you get to know the Isles players and their role in boosting the offense.

Maccelli is a forward, left winger, born October 14^th, 2000. He’s twenty-five years old and originally from Turku, Finland. He was drafted 98^th overall in the 4^th round of the National Hockey League 2019 draft. Originally, the then-Arizona Coyotes drafted Maccelli, for whom he played his rookie season and was named to the 2022-2023 NHL All-Rookie team before the team relocated to Utah. It first became the Utah Hockey Club and is now the Utah Mammoth. He played the 2024-2025 season. Last season, Maccelli played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a short stint before signing a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the New York Islanders.

Maccelli has had 51 goals throughout his career. He played the last season with the Leafs; Maccelli had 14 goals, 25 assists, and 39 total points in 71 games. Early in his career, while playing with the then Arizona Coyotes, he played 82 games, and throughout those games, he scored 17 goals and had 40 assists, which resulted in a career-high 57 points. In his season with Utah in 2024-2025, he played 55 games, scored 8 times with 10 assists, for 18 total points. There were moments later in the season when Maccelli would be healthy-scratched, and naturally those numbers would take a hit.

When the season opens in October, Maccelli will take the ice on Long Island, and his ability to make precise passes within small areas on the ice, make smart plays, and have a high hockey IQ is something fans may want to keep an eye on. In addition, he holds a high percentage of completed passes that are in dangerous areas.

Alex Jefferies has been another player who will support the offense; maybe not with the main club, but over in Hamilton, Ontario, fans have seen growth in his game. Jefferies, who has played since 2023, has just re-signed a two-way contract with the organization. The Massachusetts native was drafted by the Islanders in 2020, 121^st overall, 28^th pick in the 4^th round. Before joining the Bridgeport Islanders, now the Hamilton Hammers, the forward played at Merrimack College. There, he made the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, Hockey East First All-Star Team, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (East) Second-All-Star Team. He was also named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee during the 2023-2024 season.

Last season, he played 60 games for the American Hockey League club. Jefferies recorded 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points. Those points matched his 2024-2025 season, where he scored 13 goals and 16 assists. During his rookie season, he had 29 points in 59 games. A strong presence for a rookie while learning the game at the AHL level. The expectation is for Jefferies to do exactly what he’s been doing. Could this be the year he makes his debut and the season he gets called to play with the main squad? He’s an organizational depth piece; he’s putting his time into continuing to develop his game. Jefferies is a powerful, fast skater, which helps him create scoring chances that seem like they came out of nowhere.

Both players could offer something strong, fast, and powerful to an offensive game when they take the ice, whether at UBS Arena or TD Coliseum.