Peter DeBoer takes over as Islanders coach with an eye on the playoffs and future

Veteran coach DeBoer aims to push Islanders into playoffs and build for long-term success

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, royal blue, and silver, creating a dynamic and fragmented visual representation of the sport.The Islanders' midseason coaching change aims to reshape the team's future through a new strategic vision.East Meadow Today

The New York Islanders have hired veteran NHL coach Peter DeBoer to take over the team, replacing the recently fired Patrick Roy. DeBoer, who has a strong track record of leading teams to the playoffs, faces the immediate challenge of trying to guide the Islanders into the postseason with just four games left in the regular season. However, the move is also seen as a long-term play by the team's management, who believe DeBoer can help develop the Islanders' young core, including star defenseman Matthew Schaefer.

Why it matters

The Islanders' decision to bring in DeBoer midway through the season signals their belief that he can not only salvage their playoff hopes this year, but also build the team into a consistent contender in the coming years. DeBoer's proven ability to guide teams deep into the playoffs makes him an attractive option, and the Islanders are hoping he can help unlock the full potential of their young talent like Schaefer.

The details

DeBoer, who is set to turn 58 in June, has taken teams to the third round of the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons, including trips to the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and the San Jose Sharks in 2016. The Islanders are hoping his experience and defensive-minded coaching style can help them overcome their recent struggles and secure a playoff berth. General manager Mathieu Darche emphasized that the move is not just about the final four games of the season, but rather a long-term play to get one of the top coaching candidates on the market.

  • DeBoer took over as Islanders head coach on April 6, 2026, roughly 24 hours after the team fired Patrick Roy.
  • The Islanders have just four games remaining in the regular season as they try to secure a playoff spot.

The players

Peter DeBoer

An experienced NHL head coach who has taken teams to the third round of the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons, including two trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

Matthew Schaefer

The young star defenseman for the Islanders, who at 18 years old is already considered one of the best defensemen in the league.

Mathieu Darche

The general manager of the New York Islanders, who emphasized that the decision to hire DeBoer is a long-term play for the organization.

Brayden Schenn

A veteran forward who won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 after a midseason coaching change.

Ilya Sorokin

The Islanders' starting goaltender, who has been one of the best in the league and has largely kept the team afloat during their recent struggles.

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What they’re saying

“I know he loves winning. I know he knows how to coach a team.”

— Matthew Schaefer, Islanders defenseman

“This is not only about this year. If it's truly only about four games left when you don't fully control your destiny, it's not a desperate move about this year.”

— Mathieu Darche, Islanders general manager

“Darchy, he saw us not playing well, he saw Pete being a really good coach and obviously it's a long-term play with this organization where you get a great coach that has done a lot of good things in this league. It's not just a four-game stint. I think these four games, we can use it to push ourselves to give us a chance to get in the playoffs and moving forward after that.”

— Brayden Schenn, Islanders forward

“He's special. I honestly couldn't believe my eyes the first half of the year, what I was seeing from an 18-year-old: the maturity in his game, how dynamic he was.”

— Peter DeBoer, Islanders head coach

“The last little bit here, we weren't as sharp or we didn't get away with as much as we did before because, let's face it, we got away with some stuff during the year where our goaltender's been outstanding.”

— Mathieu Darche, Islanders general manager

What’s next

The Islanders have four games remaining in the regular season as they try to secure a playoff spot under new head coach Peter DeBoer. The team's general manager, Mathieu Darche, has emphasized that this move is not just about the final stretch of the season, but rather a long-term play to build the Islanders into a consistent contender.

The takeaway

The Islanders' decision to hire veteran coach Peter DeBoer midway through the season signals their belief that he can not only help them reach the playoffs this year, but also develop their young core like star defenseman Matthew Schaefer and build the team into a perennial contender. DeBoer's proven track record of leading teams deep into the playoffs makes him an attractive option, and the Islanders are hoping his defensive-minded approach and experience can help them overcome their recent struggles.