# New York Islanders preseason preparations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/new-york-islanders-preseason-preparations
> Updated: 2026-09-23T04:09:45.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The New York Islanders entered the 2026 preseason with optimism regarding their playoff prospects following a coaching change. General Manager Mathieu Darche noted that the roster expected full participation during training camp, bolstered by the return of several players from injury, including Alexander Romanov and Pierre Engvall.

As preseason play progressed, the team shifted focus toward addressing power play inefficiencies, a critical area after ranking 30th in the league the previous season. Under head coach Pete DeBoer, the team dedicated significant practice time to man-advantage drills. Early preseason results showed signs of improvement, including a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers featuring scoring from newcomer Matias Maccelli.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: New York Islanders focus on power play improvements in preseason

The New York Islanders are prioritizing power play improvements during preseason, highlighted by Matias Maccelli's two-goal performance in a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-islanders-focus-on-power-play-improvements-in-preseason

### 2026-09-02: New York Islanders eye playoff contention under Pete DeBoer

New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche expects a playoff run as the team welcomes back key players from injury and prepares for a full season under new head coach Pete DeBoer.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-york-islanders-eye-playoff-contention-under-pete-deboer

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Cite as: New York Islanders preseason preparations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/new-york-islanders-preseason-preparations