Matthew Schaefer is entering his second NHL season with a clear message from the New York Islanders’ coaching staff: more responsibility, more change, and a bigger role on the blue line.

The head coach of the team, Pete DeBoer, plans to use Schaefer in more situations instead of keeping him on one side. Schaefer mainly played on the left side in his rookie season, but the team may now also use him on the right side.

The goal is to make him more flexible in a system that focuses on movement and puck pressure. DeBoer wants defense pairs that can switch and adjust based on game situations instead of staying fixed.

“I think Schaefer is an option on the right side,” DeBoer said. He also explained the main idea behind this change: “I think in our system everybody’s interchangeable … where we’re interchangeable, that allows us to put pressure on the puck,” the coach added, as per a report by Alex Mitchell on the New York Post.

Schaefer’s rookie season already showed he can adapt. In the 2025-26 regular season, he scored 59 points in 82 games, including 23 goals, as per NHL Media. He played a few games on the right side late in the season when injuries changed the lineup.

Now, that small experience could become a regular part of his development plan. The Islanders believe this flexibility can improve his decision-making and his overall impact when the pressure is high.

Barzal’s Role Change and Team Leadership Updates

Beyond the development of Matthew Schaefer, the Islanders are also changing their forward setup. DeBoer said Mathew Barzal may move to a full-time center role to help increase speed through the middle of the ice, as noted in the same report by the NY Post.

“I think Barzy wants to play center,” DeBoer said. “I think he’s excited about it. He’s embracing it, and I think that makes us a better team if he’s there.”

The coach also said speed will be a key part of the team’s identity going forward.

The offseason also brought emotional changes. Longtime captain Anders Lee left the team. Defenseman Isaiah George reacted to the move, saying “it sucks to see him go” and calling Lee “just a great guy,” according to Alex Mitchell of the New York Post.

DeBoer also said forward Anthony Duclair needs to return to his best form. He pointed to Duclair’s past production and said the team needs more consistency from him going forward.

Overall, the Islanders are going through a transition built on flexibility, speed, and changing roles across the roster. If Schaefer adjusts well to his bigger role, he could become an important part of this new team identity.

The main question now is whether this flexible system will help the Islanders become contenders faster or create new problems as they adjust. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments. 

 Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi