New York Announces Move To Hamilton For 2026-27

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/19/2026 05:18:00 PM |
Here With comments from Kelly Cheeseman/Darche/and Hamilton pending AHL BOG approval.
Nothing to be written that has not been written here months ago.
“On behalf of the entire New York Islanders organization, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the City of Bridgeport and the incredibly loyal fans who have supported this team for the past 25 years,” said Kelly Cheeseman, President of Business Operations for the Islanders and UBS Arena. “From the early days of the Sound Tigers to our time as the Bridgeport Islanders, this community has been the heart of our AHL operations. We are grateful for the memories, the partnerships, and the passion the fans in Connecticut have shown our players and staff.”
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” said Mathieu Darche, General Manager and Executive Vice President of the Islanders. “The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible. We look forward to having our top young talent play in front of such a strong fanbase inside the newly renovated, world-class TD Coliseum and we are committed to establishing ourselves in the community to engage a new generation of hockey fans.”
The Islanders remain committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena.
“The return of professional hockey to Hamilton marks an exciting new chapter for our city and sports fans across the region,” said Nick DeLuco, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TD Coliseum. “TD Coliseum is proud to play a role in energizing downtown, supporting a passionate fan base and strengthening our connection to the community.” “Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “This is an exciting moment for Hamiltonians and a major step forward in building on the momentum we’re seeing in our downtown. Bringing professional hockey back to TD Coliseum means more opportunities for families to come together and increased support for local businesses. It strengthens our city’s proud hockey tradition while creating new opportunities for young players and fans alike to connect with the game.”

Eiserman Signs ELC/Updated ATO Bridgeport

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/18/2026 07:43:00 PM |
Eiserman requires an ATO (amateur tryout) to play at Bridgeport for the rest of this season.
Formality-Eiserman is practicing in Bridgeport so obviously he signed an ATO.

New York Signs Kashawn Aitcheson ELC

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/17/2026 04:43:00 PM |
The problem here is he is a LD. Pelech's spot, Schaefer's spot, and Darche's 50 million dollar contract in Romanov is a LD. Also Isiah George. Bottom line at some point all of them can't play here.

New York Notables: Shabanov/Varlamov

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/16/2026 12:32:00 PM |
The drum beat goes on, three straight in Canada ends the road games for the season besides a late trip to Buffalo/Carolina. Senators charging hard for playoffs. New York did win in Ottawa early, they won in Montreal recently. All three will come to the failed Belmont experiment before the season ends. New York needs 4/6 points here plus a win against Columbus. Then they have to prove in front of marginal crowds with so many games back to back here they can win wearing blue jersey's after Kings beat them (twice) & they hung on against Calgary.
Roy again has Heineman on LW where he had two outside goals, Barzal on RW because Schenn/Pageau means Barzal/Ritchie are permanent wing.
Shabanov has a lower body injury/day to day. Duclair will likely stay in. Varlamov is facing pucks in practice but Darche said he's done for the season at the deadline. Sorokin starts against thw struggling Leafs without Matthews who can beat anyone on a given night.
Ryan Stome for a 7th vs Schenn for a 1st/3rd? Strome, general mangers should sign rentals if both players comparable. Strome has been a consistent forty point player, and yes, he played here.

Why Has NYIFC Been So Negative Despite Record?

New York Islander Fan Central | 3/11/2026 10:01:00 PM |
Fourteen games over in a playoff spot was far beyond my preseason projections as teams filled with prospects ran rings around the veterans. There were big concerns about Drouin being done and a bust as he looked overmatched. I saw an old team off a bad year with a terrible powerplay plus a lineup filled with veterans who could not score or play defense. Then they doubled down with Palat, and now Schenn/resigning a player like Pageau who gives them nothing but an occasional goal off a bounce.
Last season this team had 28/65 games with two goals or fewer, this year it's 33/65 games. More then 1/2 games the New York Islanders score fewer then two goals. Shabanov's agent made clear he's not happy with how he's been used in an article where his ten minutes against the Blues is not enough.
But here we are in a conference where 91 points/11 over was the playoff cut the last two seasons, at fourteen over it does not look nearly enough as Columbus looks to be the second seed. But they are fourteen over 500. regardless of how they got there.
Did I expect all this overtime success 10-0? Never, but it seems the strategy in regulation that would explain so many games with two goals or less. In 3/3 play New York does not gamble, they don't press, they hold the puck, keep opposition to the outside, wait for the other team to gamble, and when they turn the puck over, New York scores on breakaways or odd-man rushes. It's not conventional, it does not explain how they get to so many overtimes. Do I think it's sustainable? Not really with so many games finally coming wearing blue jersey's where the pressure is there to put on a show/push the offense. Having written this the games are starting to dwindle, and I do think it's could take twenty over as it did in 2021-22 to qualify. Can they do that against fast/skilled/desperate teams like Columbus, Pens, Montreal, Ottawa? I am skeptical.
As for this team Schaefer is an MVP canidate, without him they are worse then last season, it's the goals/points/defense/25 plus minutes a game. And Pelech, Pulock are giving all they can with Sorokin/Rittich who have held them in with a powerplay as bad as 2024-25.
We'll see they are committed long term with so many aging unproductive vets who are not UFA, plus likely signing Lee, this group will be back.
For now more big games with playoff implications, what I hardly expected back in preseason.
If they can bounce in pucks, play this style for 65 games and be 14 over in a playoff spot, it has to be written they can continue to do so and qualify. If only some of these vets produced to their career norms they would have more goals, but likely would allow more. I want to be positive but realistic.
New York is twelth out of sixteen team in goals scored in the eastern conference, and twenty six in powerplay goals where the differential is two vs thirty second.