Quick Fix: Best of Both Worlds

About this episode

Joe Buono and Chris Botta discuss the New York Islanders' performance and key players in the 2025-26 season.

It’s a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL). We’re back with our first episode during the 2025-26 season, which was our first opportunity to verbally marvel at what Matthew Schaefer has done on and off the ice for the team and the franchise. Chris and Joe discuss what’s impressed them the most about his media persona. Later, the importance of Ilya Soroki n, the Islanders’ balanced scoring attack led by Bo Horvat’s hot stick, and the initial impact of Mathieu Darche’s summer acquisitions. Later, Chris shares his perspective on Mathew Barzal being disciplined for missing the team bus (and yes, it has happened to other Islanders before, but maybe not so publicly) and what Kelly Cheeseman means for the business of the Islanders as their President of Business Operations. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: Joe Buono

Guest: Chris Botta

Topics covered

• New York Islanders
• hockey analysis
• player performance
• media persona
• team dynamics
• business operations

Keywords

• New York Islanders
• Matthew Schaefer
• Ilya Sorokin
• Bo Horvat
• Mathew Barzal
• Kelly Cheeseman
• hockey
• sports podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York Islanders

More episodes of Isles Fix Podcast Network

• Quick Fix: The Bitter End · April 16, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Quick Fix: Easter Sunday Shocker · April 6, 2026 · 36 min
• Quick Fix: Down The Stretch · March 26, 2026 · 57 min
• Quick Fix: Trusting His Gut · March 10, 2026 · 56 min
• Quick Fix: Enjoy The Ride · March 4, 2026 · 46 min
• Quick Fix: Where Things Stand · February 2, 2026 · 49 min