New York Islanders face low playoff projections for upcoming NHL season

The New York Islanders face pessimistic outlooks for the upcoming NHL season, with some analysts projecting the team to finish last in the Eastern Conference. Predictions suggest the team may struggle to secure a playoff spot following a late-season collapse last year that resulted in the departure of captain Anders Lee.

Despite the negative forecasts, players such as Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and defenseman Ryan Pulock expressed that the low expectations serve as motivation. The roster remains largely similar to last season, with the notable addition of free-agent winger Matias Maccelli to a top-six role.

Head coach Pete DeBoer faces several challenges in his first full season, including questions regarding the team's offensive depth and the health of goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who is returning from knee surgeries. The team's season begins with an expanded 84-game schedule.