Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer is looking to shake up the team's lineup for the upcoming season, with plans to expand defenseman Matthew Schaefer's versatility and potentially move forward Mat Barzal to center.
Schaefer, the Calder Memorial Trophy winner, played primarily on the left side of the blue line during his rookie campaign. However, DeBoer indicated that Schaefer is now an option on the right side as well. "I think Schaefer is an option on the right side," DeBoer stated. "I think in our system everybody’s interchangeable... where we’re interchangeable, that allows us to put pressure on the puck."
DeBoer, who took over as head coach with four games remaining in the 2025 season, also expressed his intention to have Mat Barzal play center. "I think Barzy wants to play center," DeBoer said. "I think he’s excited about it. He’s embracing it, and I think that makes us a better team if he’s there." DeBoer added that he likes the speed that Barzal brings to the center position, comparing the approach to successful strategies employed by the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights.
The start of free agency presented new challenges for DeBoer as he settled into his first offseason with the Islanders. Longtime captain Anders Lee departed the team, signing a three-year, $16.2 million deal with the Utah Mammoth. "I don’t think I remember a time — the Islanders without Anders Lee in the lineup," DeBoer commented on the forward, who joined the team in 2012 and was named captain in 2018. "My wish is that Anders goes on and has career years in Utah, and helps them. I’m sure he will."
Defenseman Isaiah George echoed sentiments about Lee's departure, telling The Post, "it sucks to see him go." George described Lee as "just a great guy," adding that he was "super thoughtful, great man in terms of getting everyone involved, making it feel like a true team." On the ice, George noted Lee's leadership by example in terms of hard play and work ethic.
DeBoer is not rushing to name a new captain. "I was hoping we wouldn’t be at this spot, so it’s kind of one of those things where you don’t think about it until you have to," he said. "I guess we’ll start having to now."
The coach is still in the process of getting to know his roster and recently held conversations about hockey with Barzal and forward Kyle Palmieri, who missed significant time last season due to an ACL injury. DeBoer stated his goal is to "give everyone a fair opportunity as much as we can, without costing us hockey games." He also set expectations for forward Anthony Duclair, who recorded 27 points in 62 games last season. "I’ve seen the best of Duclair when he’s in Florida, putting up almost 60 points," DeBoer said. "I’ve also seen the other seasons where he hasn’t. So he’s got to come with that — with his best game and bring it to the rink every day."
