DeBoer Eyeing Playoffs, Future with Islanders

New coach takes over with short runway to push team into postseason

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:55am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, royal blue, and white, conveying the analytical, strategic nature of the Islanders' new coaching approach.The Islanders' new coach Peter DeBoer aims to reshape the team's fortunes through a strategic, analytical approach.East Meadow Today

Peter DeBoer has been named the new head coach of the New York Islanders, taking over for the recently fired Patrick Roy. DeBoer, an accomplished NHL coach with a track record of playoff success, is tasked with trying to push the Islanders into the playoffs in the final four games of the season. However, the move is seen as more about the long-term future of the team than just the short-term playoff push.

Why it matters

The Islanders have struggled of late, losing 7 of their last 10 games and falling out of a playoff spot. The team's general manager, Mathieu Darche, believes DeBoer is the right coach to not only try to salvage this season, but also build the team into a consistent playoff contender moving forward.

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 DeBoer's experience and coaching acumen can help get the team back on track after a disappointing stretch. While the focus is on the final four games of the season, Darche emphasized that this move is about the long-term future of the organization, not just a short-term fix.

  • DeBoer took the ice with the Islanders for his first practice on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Islanders have four games remaining in the regular season as they try to secure a playoff spot.

The players

Peter DeBoer

The new head coach of the New York Islanders, an accomplished NHL coach with a track record of playoff success, including trips to the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and the San Jose Sharks in 2016.

Matthew Schaefer

The young star defenseman for the New York Islanders, who DeBoer has praised as a special talent at just 18 years old.

Mathieu Darche

The general manager of the New York Islanders, who made the decision to fire Patrick Roy and hire Peter DeBoer as the team's new head coach.

Brayden Schenn

A veteran forward for the Islanders 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 praised by DeBoer as one of the best in the league and has largely kept the team afloat through rough stretches this season.

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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 player

“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.”

— Brayden Schenn, Islanders player

“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 about the long-term future of the organization, not just a short-term fix.

The takeaway

The Islanders' decision to hire Peter DeBoer as their new head coach is a clear sign that the team is looking to build a consistent playoff contender for the long haul. DeBoer's track record of postseason success and ability to quickly turn around struggling teams make him an ideal fit to guide the Islanders back to the playoffs and beyond.