New York Islanders facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New York Islanders |
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| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1972 |
| History | New York Islanders 1972–present |
| Home arena | UBS Arena |
| City | Elmont, New York |
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| Colors | Blue, orange, white |
| Media |
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| Owner(s) | New York Islanders Hockey Club, L.P. (Scott D. Malkin, governor) |
| General manager | Mathieu Darche |
| Head coach | Patrick Roy |
| Captain | Anders Lee |
| Minor league affiliates | Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) Worcester Railers (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 4 (1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83) |
| Conference championships | 6 (1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 6 (1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88) |
The New York Islanders, often called the Isles, are a professional ice hockey team from Elmont, New York. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team's home games are played at UBS Arena. The Islanders are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area, along with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. Most of their fans live on Long Island.
The team started in 1972. This happened because the NHL wanted to prevent a rival league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), from putting a team in the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. After two years of building their team, the Islanders became very successful. They made the playoffs for 14 seasons in a row. The Islanders won four Stanley Cup championships in a row from 1980 to 1983. This is one of only nine "dynasties" recognized by the NHL. Their record of 19 straight playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 is still unmatched in professional sports. They are the last team in any major North American sport to win four championships in a row. They are also the last NHL team to win three championships in a row.
After their dynasty, the team faced money problems, changes in ownership, and an aging arena. Their performance on the ice also suffered. They did not win a division title after 1987–88. They also went 22 seasons without winning a playoff series until the 2016 playoffs. After many attempts to fix or replace Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after the 2014–15 season. For the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, they split their home games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. In the 2020–21 season, all their home games were at Nassau Coliseum. Their new arena near Belmont Park opened in 2021.
Ten former Islanders players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Seven of them were part of all four Stanley Cup-winning teams. These include Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, coach Al Arbour, and general manager Bill Torrey. Other famous players like Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Pierre Turgeon, and Zdeno Chara were also inducted.
Contents
- Team History: How the Islanders Started
- Joining the NHL (1972–1974)
- Becoming a Strong Team (1974–1979)
- The Dynasty Years (1979–1983)
- After the Dynasty (1983–1991)
- New Players and a Playoff Run (1991–1995)
- Ownership Changes and Struggles (1995–2000)
- New Owners and Playoff Return (2000–2006)
- Big Contracts and New Management (2006–2009)
- The Tavares Era Begins (2009–2015)
- Moving to Barclays Center and Playoff Wins (2015–2017)
- Barzal's Rise and New Leadership (2017–Present)
- Team Identity
- Recent Season Records
- Players and Team Staff
- Team Records
- Television and Radio
- See also
Team History: How the Islanders Started
Joining the NHL (1972–1974)
In 1972, a new hockey league called the World Hockey Association (WHA) wanted to put a team in the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. County officials wanted a major league team instead. William Shea, who helped bring the New York Mets baseball team to the area, worked to bring an NHL team to Long Island.
The New York Rangers didn't want another NHL team nearby. But the NHL president, Clarence Campbell, and Shea convinced them. The Rangers realized that an NHL team would pay them a fee for sharing the New York area. A WHA team would not. So, they agreed to let a new NHL team join.
On November 8, 1971, the NHL gave a team to Roy Boe, who also owned the New York Nets basketball team. The fee was $6 million, plus $5 million to the Rangers. Another team, the Atlanta Flames, was also added to keep the league balanced.
The team was named the New York Islanders on February 15, 1972. Many thought they would be called the "Long Island Ducks." Local newspapers quickly nicknamed them the "Isles." The Islanders' arrival meant the WHA's New York Raiders team struggled and had to move.
Bill Torrey became the team's general manager. He chose veteran players like Ed Westfall, Gerry Hart, and Billy Smith in the 1972 expansion draft. He also drafted young stars like Billy Harris, Lorne Henning, and Bobby Nystrom. Torrey wanted to build the team with young players from the draft, not by trading for older ones. Westfall was named the team's first captain.
The Islanders won their first game on October 12, 1972, beating the Los Angeles Kings 3–2. In their first season, the young team had a record of 12 wins, 60 losses, and 6 ties. This was the worst record in NHL history at the time. But they did beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins 9–7 on January 18, 1973.
Because they finished last, they got the first pick in the 1973 draft. Montreal Canadiens' general manager Sam Pollock wanted to trade for this pick to get Denis Potvin. Potvin was a young defenseman called "the next Bobby Orr." But Torrey refused all offers and drafted Potvin. Later, Al Arbour became the team's coach. With Potvin, who won the Rookie of the Year award, the team improved. They still finished last in 1973–74 but allowed 100 fewer goals. They also got their first win against the Rangers.
Becoming a Strong Team (1974–1979)
In the 1974 draft, the Islanders added young forwards Clark Gillies and Bryan Trottier. In the 1974–75 season, the team made a huge comeback. They earned 88 points, 32 more than the previous season, and made the playoffs for the first time.
They beat the rival New York Rangers in the first round. Then, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins and were losing 3–0 in the series. But the Islanders made an amazing comeback, winning the next four games to take the series! This is a very rare feat in sports. They almost did it again against the Philadelphia Flyers in the next round, coming back from 3–0 down to force a Game 7, but lost.
The Islanders kept getting better. In 1975–76, they earned 101 points. Rookie Bryan Trottier had 95 points and won the Rookie of the Year award. This was the first of four straight seasons where they earned over 100 points. But they kept losing in the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens, who won the Stanley Cup both times.
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In the 1977 draft, Torrey picked Mike Bossy, a great scorer. Coach Arbour believed it was easier to teach a scorer to play defense. In 1977–78, Bossy scored 53 goals, a rookie record, and won the Rookie of the Year award. The team won their first division title. But they lost in Game 7 of the playoffs to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 1978–79, the Islanders had the best record in the NHL. Trottier won the MVP award, and Bossy scored 69 goals. But they lost again in the playoffs, this time to the Rangers. Many wondered if the Islanders could win when it mattered most. This loss motivated the players for future success.
Off the ice, the team had financial problems. Owner Roy Boe sold the team to John Pickett. Pickett made Torrey the team president. Pickett also signed a great TV deal with SportsChannel, which helped the team financially and kept them on Long Island.
The Dynasty Years (1979–1983)
After the disappointing 1979 playoffs, Coach Arbour decided to focus more on playoff performance than regular season wins. In 1980, the Islanders had 91 points, but they finally won the Stanley Cup.
Before the playoffs, Torrey made a big trade. He sent veterans Billy Harris and Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings for center Butch Goring. Goring was a strong two-way player. His arrival meant opponents couldn't just focus on the Islanders' top line of Bossy, Trottier, and Gillies. New players like Duane Sutter, Anders Kallur, and defensemen Dave Langevin, Gord Lane, and Ken Morrow also helped.
In the playoffs, the Islanders beat the Kings and the Boston Bruins. Then they faced the Buffalo Sabres, who were one of the best teams. The Islanders won in six games to reach the finals for the first time. They played the Philadelphia Flyers, who had a great regular season. In Game 1, Denis Potvin scored in overtime to win. In Game 6, Bob Nystrom scored in overtime to win the Stanley Cup for the Islanders! This was the first time Long Island won the Cup. Bryan Trottier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Almost all the players on this championship team were drafted and developed by the Islanders.
The Islanders were amazing for the next two seasons. Bossy scored 50 goals in 50 games in 1981. The Islanders lost only three playoff games that year and beat the Minnesota North Stars to win their second Stanley Cup. Goring won the Conn Smythe Trophy. During their playoff series against the Rangers, Islanders fans started chanting "1940!" because the Rangers hadn't won the Cup since then.
In 1981–82, the Islanders won a record 15 straight games. They finished with 118 points, a team record. Bossy set a scoring record for right-wingers with 147 points. In the playoffs, they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a tough Game 5 overtime. Then they swept the Quebec Nordiques and the Vancouver Canucks to win their third straight championship. Bossy scored the Cup-winning goal and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
In 1982–83, the Edmonton Oilers with young superstar Wayne Gretzky were getting a lot of attention. The Oilers had a better regular season. But the Islanders swept them in the Stanley Cup Final to win their fourth straight championship! Billy Smith was the playoff MVP for shutting down the Oilers' offense. Gretzky didn't score a single goal in the series. After the series, the Oilers realized how much effort it took to win the Stanley Cup.
After the Dynasty (1983–1991)
In 1983–84, the Islanders reached the Stanley Cup Final again, facing the Oilers. This time, the Oilers won, ending the Islanders' amazing 19-series playoff winning streak. This is still the longest streak in professional sports.
The Islanders remained a good team for a few more years. But owner John Pickett started keeping more money from the team's TV deal. This meant less money to sign new players. The team started to decline. They lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs in 1985 and 1987. In 1986, the Washington Capitals swept them in the first round.
In the 1987 playoffs, the Islanders were down 3–1 in their series against the Capitals. But they tied the series, leading to one of the most famous games: the "Easter Epic". Goalie Kelly Hrudey made 73 saves! Pat LaFontaine scored the winning goal in the fourth overtime, at almost 2 AM on Easter Sunday. The Islanders won, but were eliminated by the Flyers in the next round. Mike Bossy retired after this season due to back pain.
In 1987–88, the Islanders won another division title but lost in the first round. Denis Potvin retired after this season. He held records for goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. The team's luck with drafting good players also ran out.
In 1988–89, the team started poorly. Coach Arbour returned, but the team finished with one of the worst records in the league. It was their first losing season and first time missing the playoffs since their second year. Billy Smith, the last original Islander, retired. The team's ownership also changed, with John Pickett moving away and a group of Long Island businessmen taking over.
New Players and a Playoff Run (1991–1995)
In 1991, star player Pat LaFontaine wanted to leave. General Manager Torrey made two big trades. He sent LaFontaine to the Buffalo Sabres for Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, and Uwe Krupp. He also traded captain Brent Sutter to the Chicago Blackhawks for Steve Thomas. These new players, along with others like Derek King and Ray Ferraro, gave the Islanders a fresh start. Torrey was forced to resign after this season, and Don Maloney took over as general manager.
In Maloney's first year, 1992–93, the Islanders made the playoffs. Turgeon had a great season and won the Lady Byng Trophy.
Ray Ferraro became a playoff hero, scoring two overtime winning goals against the Capitals. But in the same series, Dale Hunter hit Turgeon from behind, injuring his shoulder. Turgeon was expected to miss the next round. Hunter was suspended for 21 games.
The Islanders' next opponent was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had won two Stanley Cups in a row and were favored to win again. But the Islanders, with great goaltending from Glenn Healy, pulled off a huge upset! David Volek scored in overtime of Game 7 to win the series. Newsday newspaper called it "a Miracle!" This was the last playoff series the Islanders won for 23 years. Turgeon returned for the next round against the Montreal Canadiens, but the Islanders lost in five tough games. The Canadiens went on to win the Cup.
The Islanders barely made the playoffs in 1994 but were swept by the Rangers. This was their last playoff appearance until 2002. Coach Arbour retired for good. In the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, the Islanders missed the playoffs.
Ownership Changes and Struggles (1995–2000)
By 1995, General Manager Maloney was under pressure. He traded Turgeon and other popular players. Fans were upset. Maloney was fired, and Mike Milbury became both coach and general manager.
Before the 1995–96 season, the Islanders changed their logo to a "fisherman" holding a hockey stick. Fans hated it, and rival Rangers fans called the Islanders "fishsticks." The team went back to a modified version of their old logo as soon as they could. The team also had a very bad season, finishing last.
The team continued to struggle. Ownership changed again in 1996 when John Spano bought the team. But Spano was a fraud and didn't have the money. The NHL had to take the team back. This incident was even featured in an ESPN documentary called Big Shot.
Eventually, Howard Milstein and Steven Gluckstern bought the team. They tried to save money by trading away popular players like Zigmund Palffy and Trevor Linden. This made the team worse, and attendance dropped.
New Owners and Playoff Return (2000–2006)
In 2000, Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar bought the team. They spent money to improve the team. General Manager Milbury made some controversial moves, like trading future stars Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish. He also drafted Rick DiPietro first overall in 2000, which surprised many. Milbury said his goal was to make the team better right away.
Before the 2001–02 season, the Islanders made key additions. They got Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators and Michael Peca from the Buffalo Sabres. Peca became the team's captain. They also got goalie Chris Osgood. These changes helped the team start with a great record. They finished with 96 points, a huge improvement. In the playoffs, they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in a tough, physical series. The Islanders lost in seven games.
The Islanders made the playoffs again in 2003 and 2004 but lost in the first round both times. After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the team made more changes to their roster.
Big Contracts and New Management (2006–2009)
In 2006, Milbury stepped down as general manager. Neil Smith was hired but was fired after only a month. He was replaced by the team's backup goalie, Garth Snow, who retired from playing to take the job.
On September 12, 2006, the Islanders signed goalie Rick DiPietro to a huge 15-year, $67.5 million contract. This was one of the longest contracts in sports history. Owner Charles Wang believed it was a good commitment to DiPietro.
The Islanders surprised many by making the playoffs in 2007. They lost to the Buffalo Sabres in five games. In 2007, the team bought out Alexei Yashin's contract. They signed Bill Guerin as the new captain. That year, former coach Al Arbour returned for one game to reach 1,500 games coached. The Islanders won that game.
The team struggled with injuries in 2008. They drafted Josh Bailey in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Coach Ted Nolan was fired and replaced by Scott Gordon. In the 2008–09 season, the Islanders finished last in the league. But they won the draft lottery, giving them the first overall pick in the 2009 draft.
The Tavares Era Begins (2009–2015)
To rebuild the team, the Islanders picked John Tavares first overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Tavares was considered the top prospect. They also drafted Calvin de Haan, Casey Cizikas, and Anders Lee, who would all become important players.
The 2009–10 season started slowly, and the team missed the playoffs again. They drafted Nino Niederreiter and Brock Nelson in 2010. In 2010–11, the team had a long losing streak, and coach Scott Gordon was fired. Jack Capuano became the interim coach. Michael Grabner joined the team and scored 34 goals, becoming a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award.
The 2011–12 season was a great year for Tavares. He was named an assistant captain and had 81 points, seventh-best in the league. His teammate Matt Moulson also had a strong season. But the team still finished near the bottom of the league.
On August 1, 2011, voters in Nassau County rejected a plan for a new arena. This led to talk about the team moving. On October 24, 2012, the Islanders announced they would move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2015–16 season. They kept their name, logo, and colors.
In the 2012–13 season, the Islanders had a great unbeaten streak and made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
On September 10, 2013, Tavares became the 14th captain in Islanders history. The team traded for Thomas Vanek, a skilled goal scorer. But Vanek was later traded to the Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2014.
In the 2014 off-season, the Islanders made several moves to improve. They acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak and signed him to a four-year contract. They also signed Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin. They traded for defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy.
In October 2014, businessmen Jon Ledecky and Scott D. Malkin bought the Islanders. They became full owners in 2016.
The Islanders finished the 2014–15 season with 101 points. They faced the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs. Tavares scored an overtime winning goal in Game 3. But the Islanders lost the series in seven games. Game 6 was the Islanders' last game at Nassau Coliseum for a while.
Moving to Barclays Center and Playoff Wins (2015–2017)
In the 2015 draft, the Islanders picked Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. They also drafted Andong Song, the first Chinese player drafted by an NHL team.
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The Islanders played their first game at Barclays Center on October 9, 2015. They finished the season with 100 points and made the playoffs. In the first round, they faced the Florida Panthers. Goalie Thomas Greiss played well. Alan Quine scored a game-winning goal in double overtime in Game 5. In Game 6, Tavares scored late in the third period to tie the game, then scored again in double overtime to win the series! This was the Islanders' first playoff series win since 1993. In the second round, they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
In the summer of 2016, key players like Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen left the team. The Islanders signed Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. After a slow start to the 2016–17 season, coach Jack Capuano was fired. Doug Weight became the interim head coach.
There was talk about the Islanders moving from Barclays Center due to low attendance. Commissioner Gary Bettman said a return to the renovated Nassau Coliseum was "unviable." The team's owners looked into building a new arena at Belmont Park.
The Islanders won their last six games of the 2016–17 season but missed the playoffs by just one point.
Barzal's Rise and New Leadership (2017–Present)
In the 2017–18 season, rookie Mathew Barzal had an amazing year. He recorded three five-point games, a rare feat for a rookie. He finished with 85 points, leading all NHL rookies. Barzal won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year. He was the first Islander to win the award since 1997.
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In 2018, Lou Lamoriello became the Islanders' president of hockey operations and general manager. Barry Trotz was hired as head coach. Captain John Tavares left the team to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent.
For the 2018–19 season, the Islanders split their home games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. This continued for two more seasons until their new arena, UBS Arena, was finished. The Islanders had a great 2018–19 season, making the playoffs for the first time in March since 1990. They swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round but were then swept by the Carolina Hurricanes.
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In February 2020, it was announced the Islanders would play their 2020 playoffs and the 2020–21 season at Nassau Coliseum. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the 2019–20 season. The Islanders qualified for the playoffs and beat the Florida Panthers. They then defeated the Washington Capitals. After a tough seven-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Islanders reached the conference finals for the first time since 1993. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. In December 2020, the team's ownership took full control from the estate of Charles Wang.
The Islanders made the playoffs again in the shortened 2020–21 season, beating the Penguins and Bruins. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning again, this time in seven games.
The Islanders started the 2021–22 season with a long road trip while UBS Arena was being finished. Many players got COVID-19 before the first home game on November 20, 2021. They lost that game. The Islanders won their first game at UBS Arena on December 11, 2021. They missed the playoffs after three straight appearances. On May 9, 2022, coach Barry Trotz was replaced by Lane Lambert. In the next season, the Islanders made the playoffs but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.
After a difficult start to the 2023–24 season, coach Lane Lambert was fired on January 20, 2024. Patrick Roy was hired as the new coach. The Islanders finished third in their division but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
After the 2024–25 season, the Islanders announced that General Manager Lou Lamoriello's contract would not be renewed. The Islanders won the 2025 NHL draft lottery, giving them the first overall pick for the first time since 2009. In the off-season, Mathieu Darche became the new general manager.
Team Identity
Logos
The Islanders' first logo was a circle with "NY" over a map of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The "Y" looks like a hockey stick with three orange stripes and a puck. The team name is written below, with the "I" pointing to Uniondale, where Nassau Coliseum is.
Before the 1995–96 season, the Islanders tried a new logo: a fisherman holding a hockey stick. Fans hated it, and rival Rangers fans called the Islanders "fishsticks." The team went back to their original logo quickly. The only change was using navy blue instead of royal blue.
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In 2008–09, the Islanders added a new detail to their old logo for a third jersey. It had four orange stripes on the hockey stick, representing their four Stanley Cup wins. This became their main logo in 2010.
For a special game in 2014, the Islanders used a simpler "NY" logo. Versions of this have appeared on other jerseys since.
Jerseys
The Islanders started in 1972 with classic white and royal blue jerseys with orange stripes. The design stayed mostly the same until 1995.
Before the 1995–96 season, the team changed their jerseys. They used the "fisherman" logo and added navy blue, brighter orange, teal, and gray. The jerseys had wavy stripes like ocean waves and a lighthouse patch. Fans disliked these jerseys. The team brought back their original "NY" logo on alternate jerseys in 1996–97 and then on all jerseys in 1997–98. The colors were updated to match the new navy blue.
Before the 1998–99 season, the jerseys went back to a traditional look but kept the navy blue and bright orange. They added a shoulder patch with four bars to show their four Stanley Cup wins. An orange third jersey was used from 2002 to 2007.
For the 2007–08 season, the Islanders updated their uniforms. They looked similar but had numbers on the right chest and orange sleeves.
A royal blue throwback jersey was introduced in 2008. This became their new home jersey in 2010–11. A matching white road jersey was also unveiled.
They later introduced a black alternate jersey with the team name on the front. These were not very popular and were used for only two seasons.
For a special game in 2014, the Islanders wore a unique jersey with a chrome "NY" logo. This jersey became an alternate in 2014–15.
When the team moved to Brooklyn, they released a new black alternate jersey. It had very little blue or orange, and four white stripes on the sleeves for the four Stanley Cups.
In 2017, the NHL changed uniform providers. The Islanders kept their main jerseys, but their black alternate jersey was retired.
A new blue third jersey was released for the 2018–19 season. It had an updated "NY" logo, a white shoulder area, and a map of Long Island on the collar.
In the 2020–21 season, the Islanders released a "Reverse Retro" jersey using their current design but with older navy blue and bright orange colors. A second "Reverse Retro" jersey in 2022–23 brought back the "Fisherman" design with new colors.
For a special game in 2024, the Islanders wore navy blue jerseys with a thick orange stripe that said "ISLES."
Mascot and Ice Crew
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The Islanders' mascot is named "Sparky the Dragon". In the mid-1990s, they had a mascot named "Nyisles," who looked like the fisherman logo. Nyisles was brought back in December 2022 with a new look.
From 2001 to 2015, the Islanders had an "Ice Girls" crew. These women skated onto the ice during breaks to clear snow. Starting in 2015, a co-ed ice crew replaced them.
Recent Season Records
- This is only a partial list of the last five seasons. For the full season-by-season history, see List of New York Islanders seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 32 | 17 | 7 | 71 | 156 | 128 | 4th, East | Lost in Stanley Cup semifinals, 3–4 (Lightning) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 84 | 231 | 237 | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 42 | 31 | 9 | 93 | 243 | 222 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Hurricanes) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 39 | 27 | 16 | 94 | 246 | 263 | 3rd, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Hurricanes) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | 224 | 260 | 6th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
Players and Team Staff
Current Roster
Updated March 1, 2017
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 |  |
Josh Bailey | RW | L | 35 | 2008 | Bowmanville, Ontario |
| 72 | |
Anthony Beauvillier | LW | L | 28 | 2015 | Sorel-Tracy, Quebec |
| 30 | |
Jean-Francois Berube | G | L | 34 | 2015 | Repentigny, Quebec |
| 55 | |
Johnny Boychuk | D | R | 41 | 2014 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 25 | |
Jason Chimera | LW | L | 46 | 2016 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 53 | |
Casey Cizikas | C | L | 34 | 2009 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 15 | |
Cal Clutterbuck (A)  |
RW | R | 37 | 2013 | Welland, Ontario |
| 44 | |
Calvin de Haan | D | L | 34 | 2009 | Carp, Ontario |
| 24 |  |
Stephen Gionta | C | R | 41 | 2016 | Rochester, New York |
| 84 |  |
Mikhail Grabovski |
C | L | 41 | 2014 | Potsdam, East Germany |
| 1 |  |
Thomas Greiss | G | L | 39 | 2015 | Füssen, West Germany |
| 3 | |
Travis Hamonic (A) |
D | R | 34 | 2008 | St. Malo, Manitoba |
| 14 | |
Thomas Hickey | D | L | 36 | 2013 | Calgary, Alberta |
| 66 | |
Josh Ho-Sang | C | R | 29 | 2014 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 86 |  |
Nikolay Kulemin | LW | L | 39 | 2014 | Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union |
| 16 | |
Andrew Ladd (A) | LW | L | 39 | 2016 | Maple Ridge, British Columbia |
| 2 | |
Nick Leddy | D | L | 34 | 2014 | Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
| 27 | |
Anders Lee | LW | L | 35 | 2009 | Edina, Minnesota |
| 42 | |
Scott Mayfield | D | R | 32 | 2011 | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 29 | |
Brock Nelson | LW | L | 33 | 2010 | Warroad, Minnesota |
| 50 | |
Adam Pelech | D | L | 30 | 2015 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 11 | |
Shane Prince |
C | L | 32 | 2016 | Rochester, New York |
| 10 | |
Alan Quine | C | L | 32 | 2013 | Belleville, Ontario |
| 4 | |
Dennis Seidenberg | D | L | 44 | 2016 | Villingen-Schwenningen, West Germany |
| 18 | |
Ryan Strome | RW | R | 32 | 2011 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 91 | |
John Tavares (C) | C | L | 34 | 2009 | Mississauga, Ontario |
Honored Players
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date of retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Denis Potvin | D | 1973–1988 | February 1, 1992 |
| 9 | Clark Gillies | LW | 1974–1986 | December 7, 1996 |
| 19 | Bryan Trottier | C | 1975–1990 | October 20, 2001 |
| 22 | Mike Bossy | RW | 1977–1987 | March 3, 1992 |
| 23 | Bob Nystrom | RW | 1972–1986 | April 1, 1995 |
| 27 | John Tonelli | LW | 1978–1986 | February 21, 2020 |
| 31 | Billy Smith | G | 1972–1989 | February 20, 1993 |
| 91 | Butch Goring | C | 1980–1985 | February 29, 2020 |
Nine former Islanders players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These include Mike Bossy, Zdeno Chara, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, and Pierre Turgeon. Bossy and Potvin were the first Islanders inducted in 1991. Chara is the most recent, inducted in 2025.
Two team builders, Bill Torrey and Al Arbour, are also in the Hall of Fame. Lou Lamoriello, who was the Islanders' general manager, was inducted in 2009.
Five Hall of Fame players (Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, Smith, and Trottier), plus Bob Bourne, are in the Islanders' Hall of Fame. This team Hall of Fame started in 2007. Other members include Ed Westfall, Ken Morrow, Patrick Flatley, Kenny Jonsson, John Tonelli, and Butch Goring. Brent Sutter will be inducted on January 18, 2025.
Two other banners hang with the retired numbers. One honors Al Arbour for coaching 1,500 games. The other honors Bill Torrey, called "The Architect," for his leadership from 1972 to 1993.
The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.
Team Captains
The Islanders have had 15 team captains. Ed Westfall was the first. Denis Potvin was captain the longest, from 1979 to 1987. The current captain, Anders Lee, was named on October 4, 2018.
Two seasons (1996–97 and 2000–01) were played without a captain.
- Ed Westfall, 1972–1977
- Clark Gillies, 1977–1979
- Denis Potvin, 1979–1987
- Brent Sutter, 1987–1991
- Patrick Flatley, 1991–1996
- Bryan McCabe, 1997–1998
- Trevor Linden, 1998–1999
- Kenny Jonsson, 1999–2000
- Michael Peca, 2001–2004
- Alexei Yashin, 2005–2007
- Bill Guerin, 2007–2009
- Doug Weight, 2009–2011
- Mark Streit, 2011–2013
- John Tavares, 2013–2018
- Anders Lee, 2018–present
General Managers
The Islanders' current general manager is Mathieu Darche. He was named to the role on May 23, 2025.
Head Coaches
The Islanders' current head coach is Patrick Roy. He was named to the role on January 20, 2024.
Team Records
Bryan Trottier holds the team record for most points (1,353) and most games played (1,123). Only Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Denis Potvin have scored over 1,000 points for the team. Potvin is the only defenseman in the top ten scorers.
Top Scorers in Team History
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
- * – current Islanders player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Individual Records
- Most goals in a season – Mike Bossy, 69 (1978–79)
- Most assists in a season – Bryan Trottier, 87 (1978–79)
- Most points in a season – Mike Bossy, 147 (1981–82)
- Most penalty minutes in a season – Brian Curran, 356 (1986–87)
- Most points in a season by a defenseman – Denis Potvin, 101 (1978–79)
- Most points in a season by rookie – Bryan Trottier, 95 (1975–76)
- Most wins in a season by a goaltender – Jaroslav Halak, 38 (2014–15)
Television and Radio
Most Islanders games are shown on local sports channels MSG Sportsnet and MSGSN 2. Brendan Burke is the play-by-play announcer. Former Islanders player Butch Goring is the color analyst. Shannon Hogan hosts the studio show.
Until the 2025–26 season, Islanders radio broadcasts were on WRHU (88.7 FM) in Hempstead. In New York City, some games air on WEPN and WRCN-FM in Riverhead. WRHU is a student radio station at Hofstra University.
The Islanders are unique because they use a noncommercial radio station as their main outlet. This is because other New York sports teams fill most available sports radio stations.
WCBS aired Islanders games starting with the 2016 playoffs. Games later moved to WNYM and WMCA in 2017, then were mostly on WEPN in 2019.
See also
In Spanish: New York Islanders para niños
- List of New York Islanders draft picks
- List of Stanley Cup champions
