Isles Fix Podcast Network

Good Morning, Islanders Country.It’s a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).We preview the upcoming New York Islanders season (84 games!), discussing the direction of the franchise under Mathieu Darche and Peter DeBoer and what the moves made this offseason suggest about expectations for the year ahead. They discuss whether the Islanders are truly retooling, still trying to contend, or attempting to do a little of both — and what Darche and DeBoer have signaled about how quickly they expect the team to take a step forward.Later, Chris and Joe also make their predictions for where the Islanders will finish, what needs to go right for them to stay in the playoff race and which players could shape the season. Then they wrap things up with a round of rapid-fire questions covering which player needs to take a meaningful step in their development, what to watch for tonight in Toronto, and how the fanbase will feel about the franchise in April.Thanks to all who listened this season. Enjoy!📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, almost every club record for a teenager is within reach this season for Matthew Schaefer. Schaefer brings career totals of 23-36-59 (4 game-winning goals) into this season; Bryan Trottier went 32-63-95 (5 game-winning goals) in his teenage season of 1975-76. Schaefer has 221 shots on goal, 64 shy of Tim Connolly’s club record for a teen.Schaefer will still be a Teenager for the next 84 Isles games and on Tuesday, was named an Alternate Captain, the first teenager to wear a letter for the Isles.🎥 ISLES REWIND: On September 30, 1999, Kenny Jonsson was named the eighth captain in team history, taking over the C after the departure of Trevor Linden. Jonsson held the captaincy until Nov. 18, 2000, with a team record of 30-55-13 over that span. The Swedish defenseman recorded 31 points (2G, 29A) as Islanders captain, before relinquishing the role early in the 2000-01 campaign.🔗 The unusual messaging following Islanders into season comes with giant caveat by Ethan Sears, New York Post “It’s easy to exercise cautious optimism after everything goes right in training camp. It’s harder to strike an appropriate tone when the last few days of preseason were rough enough that people in the organization started to feel uneasy.”🔗 Matthew Schaefer earns a letter as NY Islanders announce their alternate captains by Jiggs Wesfall,Eyes on Isles “Pete DeBoer ultimately selected Ryan Pulock, Kyle Palmieri and Brayden Schenn as alternate captains, along with one name that stood out from the rest: 19-year-old Matthew Schaefer. After determining Schaefer was too young to become captain following Anders Lee's departure, the Islanders still felt their young defenseman was ready for an official leadership role.”And we leave you with this…your official Isles Territory 2026-27 Hype VideoThanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).Our national (Long Island) wait is over. On Friday afternoon, the Islanders named Mathieu Darche their General Manager and Executive Vice President after a one-month search for Lou Lamoriello’s replacement. “Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations,” Operating Partner John Collins said. “He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community.”The Islanders notably stated, “will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations” after being granted permission to speak to Brendan Shanahan earlier this week. Newsday beat reporter Andrew Gross later posted that the Islanders will not hire anyone above Darche.The former Tampa Bay assistant GM brings an eclectic background in hockey and business that fits the moment for the Islanders and the ownership group.It’s a new era on Long Island. We’ll see where and how far this one takes us. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix), joined by senior prospects writer for The Athletic, Corey Pronman (@coreypronman), to break down the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft Class and what the Islanders should do with the No. 1 overall pick.Corey explains why James Hagens dropped from being his top prospect last year after his freshman year at Boston College. Is there any argument for the Islanders to take him with the first pick? Plus, how did Mathew Schaefer rise to the consensus top overall pick after only 17 OHL games this season, and did Michael Misa’s massive goal-scoring season make him the top forward in the class?We also spend time on Cole Eiserman, Cal Ritchie, and other Islanders prospects that have the Islanders prospect rankings rising for the first time in years. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).This time, the Isles’ GM search was supposed to be different, or at least normal. They would cast a wide net, speak to a variety of candidates, and have multiple rounds of interviews. Then, they would narrow their list before choosing the new President of Hockey Operations and/or GM.Thus far, it’s been anything but normal. There have been some stumbles, and on Thursday, Arthur Staple reported that Lou Lamoriello could stay on as an advisor to a new General Manager. What? How? Why?Lamoriello, under contract until June 30th, was expected to gracefully exit and make room for a fresh face and a new direction. Now, there’s at least some consideration that the Islanders are pivoting to a most unconventional setup in the wake of not having Plan A or B pan out, or at least that’s the perception.The idea of having Lou stick around to guide a new, young GM may sound reasonable in theory, but it’s not practical, and sounds less than ideal for Mathieu Darche or anyone else stepping into the job for the first time.This GM search has been amusing, confusing, and befuddling, but it’s also been fascinating, and we don’t know what will come next. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).The list of potential Islanders GMs is long, very long. In the last week, fans and media alike have speculated about a wide range and variety of candidates from Hall-of-Famers, to retreads, to popular Assistant GMs, and out-of-the-box options from around the league.For the first time, possibly in their history, the Islanders are conducting a proper search for their general manager. The man in charge of that search is John Collins, and reports indicate there’s been no shortage of interest from qualified candidates around the league. It’s now the job of Collins to sift through the chatter and the noise and decide which candidates deserve a long look.Plus, Chris and Joe comment on the organization letting go of radio broadcasters Chris King and Greg Picker, and the backlash response from the media and fan base. Is there still time for the team to reverse course? Joe then asks Chris where he was when Lanny McDonald broke the 1977-78 Islanders' hearts in overtime, which happened 47 years ago today at the Nassau Coliseum. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).Some games mean more than just one loss or win - they can define a season. After last night’s embarrassing 9-2 loss to the New York Rangers at UBS Arena, fans are wondering whether the shameful loss was enough for ownership to make the changes they have been reluctant to make and turn the page this off-season.The assumption has been that GM Lou Lamoriello will be back, but with each passing day, the moment calls for change. Head Coach Patrick Roy can defend his team’s effort all he wants, but the results are what they are. This isn’t a good hockey team, and they are further away from serious contention than they were at any point in the last four seasons.They rode things out as long as possible, but if games like last night don’t tell you that real change is needed, I’m not sure what will. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).With a bit of help from the rest of the Eastern Conference muck, the Isles have played well enough, long enough to put themselves in position for a third straight improbable close to the regular season, which will annoy and upset fans and pundits across the league - except on Long Island.Chris and Joe reflect on a stretch of points earned and points that slipped away and talk about players that have stepped up post-trade deadline. Plus, the NHL is keeping the organization in All-Star Weekend limbo, and why Alexander Ovechkin’s trip to Long Island should be a hotter ticket than it is right now. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).Wednesday proved it’s a seller's market, and the Islanders hold arguably the most valuable asset. The decision to trade or not trade Brock Nelson isn’t just about one player; it’s an inflection point for a franchise that has wanted its team to stay together and stay in playoff contention season after season rather than risk taking a step back to take multiple steps forward.Chris and Joe reflect on Nelson’s emotional night at UBS Arena and discuss how Lou Lamoriello's path could affect how his tenure as Islanders GM is remembered by segments of the fanbase. Get full access to Isles Fix at www.islesfix.com/subscribe