Islanders Hovering as Borderline Playoff Contenders
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Early season struggles and a lack of offensive consistency leave New York in a precarious position.
The New York Islanders are currently viewed as a fringe playoff team, as Sports Illustrated first reported. Through seven games of the 2026-27 campaign, the team holds a 3-3-1 record, including a recent tie against the Senators. This performance led Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic to place the Islanders 21st in their updated NHL power rankings.
Sports Illustrated notes that the roster remains a work in progress under a new coach and a fairly new general manager, mirroring a squad that narrowly missed the postseason last year. While the team is struggling to find a consistent identity, they have managed to stay competitive without the presence of Mathew Barzal, one of their top offensive talents who has yet to play this season.
Offensive production has been led by Bo Horvat, who currently leads the team in goals, while offseason addition Matias Maccelli has also performed well. In net, Ilya Sorokin has provided strong play to help the team secure victories. Despite these contributions, Sports Illustrated suggests the Islanders may spend much of the season hovering around the .500 mark, though the return of Barzal is expected to provide a necessary boost to the lineup.