New Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer acknowledges the team’s defensive issues and a struggling power play as key areas for improvement after their playoff miss in 2025-26. His early arrival post-Patrick Roy dismissal allows him to familiarize himself with players like Matthew Schaefer and Bo Horvat, while he emphasizes patience in choosing a new captain. DeBoer remains optimistic about the team’s potential with returning veterans and bounce-back candidates. With a career record of 663 wins, he aims to elevate the Islanders in his sixth head-coaching role.
