The Dobson trade created an opening for Schaefer, who turns 18 on Sept. 5, to break training camp this season and anchor the defense with Alexander Romanov, a 25-year-old entering the first season of an eight-year contract he signed July 1, a tantalizing proposition for players and fans. Schaefer signed his entry-level contract Aug. 4, one month after he got a standing ovation when introduced for the annual Blue and White Scrimmage, his first game since a season-ending broken clavicle sustained at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship on Dec. 27, 2024.

“There’s been some hope restored and there’s a direction with youth involved, and really talented youth,” Islanders television analyst and retired NHL forward Cal Clutterbuck said.

Drouin signed a two-year contract to help revive a 31st-ranked power play (12.6 percent). Barzal is healthy from two upper-body injuries that limited him to 30 games and is projected for return to center next to Simon Holmstrom, a 24-year-old who signed a two-year contract after an NHL career-high 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 75 games. Starting goalie Ilya Sorokin is two years removed from a Vezina Trophy nomination and went 30-24-6 with a 2.71 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and four shutouts last season after rehabbing from back surgery. He faced 1,695 shots on goal, third-most in the NHL behind Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers (1,751) and the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (1,716).

The Metropolitan Division could be wide open, and the Islanders hope to seize it.

“That’s where we expect to be,” Lee said. “We’re not happy with anything that happened with those results last year. There’s a lot of excitement from us as a team. We’re all looking forward to just getting back on the ice, getting together as a group and taking this in a new direction. We’re in a spot (where) we did everything we could to become better.”

The Islanders are better equipped for a postseason bid, many thanks to good fortune against long odds.

“I definitely think this team can be in the playoffs this season,” Darche said. “That’s what I want the players’ mindset to be when the season starts.”

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report