by Matthew Robley
As we come back from an eventful offseason, the 2025-2026 NHL season is underway. Here is a preview of your local NHL teams.
New York Rangers: After a surprising end to the last season, the Rangers hope for a promising comeback. Returning off a 39-36-7 record and missing the playoffs, this Rangers team needed some changes. During the offseason they made many moves such as firing head coach Peter Laviolette and assistant coach Phil Housley. Making this move opened up many opportunities for a fresh start on and off the ice. In May, the Rangers hired ex-Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. Sullivan had great success in the past in Pittsburgh (winning two Cups), giving fans a sense of relief entering the upcoming season. The team’s roster had some changes as well: Chris Kreider was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 3rd round pick. This trade surprised many and represented a huge shift in the team’s core. Other moves included the Rangers trading defenseman K’andre Miller to Carolina and signing free agents Vladislav Gavrikov and Taylor Raddysh.
New York Islanders: The most boring team in the league just became one of the most exciting teams in the league. After ending the 2024-2025 season with a record of 35-35-12 and missing the playoffs, the Isladers were looking for a fresh restart, beginning with the firing of GM Lou Lamirello and hiring of former Tampa GM, Mattheu Darche. With the Islanders missing the playoffs, they were put in the running for the draft lottery, and with a 3.5%, they acquired the first overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, which was a massive boost for their future. After much media hype about forward James Hagens of Long Island going number one, there was one player that caught the eye of the Islanders: Erie Otters Defenseman, 18 year old Matthew Schaefer. On June 27th, the Isles drafted Matthew Schaefer with the first overall selection. During the draft, the Islanders also made the move to trade defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadians for the 16th and 17th pick of the first round and forward Emil Heineman. Other noticeable moves were free agent signings Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov. Going into this season, fans have a sense of hope and excitement, seeing the transition from a rebuild to a bright future and “A New Era”
New Jersey Devils: Coming off a 46–30–6 season and a playoff appearance, the New Jersey Devils took a clear step forward in 2024–25. Led by stars Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hirschier, New Jersey’s offense once again ranked among the league’s most dynamic. However, their postseason run ended earlier than hoped, as defensive lapses and inconsistency in net resurfaced during the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes. Determined to keep the momentum going, GM Tom Fitzgerald made several key moves during the 2025 offseason, focusing on adding depth and balance. With Sheldon Keefe entering his second year behind the bench, there’s a stronger sense of structure and accountability throughout the roster. With a core featuring Hughes, Bratt, Hischier, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer, the Devils enter the 2025–26 season with high expectations and genuine optimism. Fans believe this could finally be the year New Jersey turns its promise into playoff success and maybe even make a serious run at the Stanley Cup.