The 2021–22 New York Islanders season was the 50th season in the franchise's history. It was their first season in UBS Arena. Before the season, the Islanders lost Jordan Eberle to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.

On April 17, 2022, the Islanders were eliminated from playoff contention following a 4–2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the season ended, the Islanders fired Barry Trotz as their head coach, ending his four-year tenure.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on August 16, 2021. The Islanders' game against the New Jersey Devils on October 7, 2021, was cancelled due to a power outage at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 2021 preseason game log: 3–0–2 (home: 1–0–2; road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 26 NY Islanders 4–0 NY Rangers Sorokin 10,238 1–0–0 2 September 28 NY Islanders 3–2 Philadelphia OT Appleby 12,600 2–0–0 3 October 2 New Jersey 2–1 NY Islanders OT — — 2–0–1 4 October 5 Philadelphia 0–3 NY Islanders Schneider — 3–0–1 — October 7 NY Islanders – New Jersey Cancelled due to a power outage at the arena 5 October 9 NY Rangers 5–4 NY Islanders OT Sorokin — 3–0–2 Notes: Game was played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on July 22, 2021, with only about a handful of games scheduled in February because NHL players were planning to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics. However, on December 22, the NHL announced that its players would not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 2021–22 game logOctober: 3–2–2 (home: 0–0–0; road: 3–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 14 NY Islanders 3–6 Carolina Sorokin 18,680 0–1–0 0 2 October 16 NY Islanders 1–5 Florida Sorokin 12,936 0–2–0 0 3 October 19 NY Islanders 4–1 Chicago Sorokin 20,279 1–2–0 2 4 October 21 NY Islanders 2–3 Columbus OT Sorokin 12,937 1–2–1 3 5 October 23 NY Islanders 3–0 Arizona Sorokin 11,690 2–2–1 5 6 October 24 NY Islanders 2–0 Vegas Sorokin 17,699 3–2–1 7 7 October 30 NY Islanders 2–3 Nashville SO Sorokin 17,159 3–2–2 8 November: 2–8–0 (home: 0–4–0; road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 8 November 4 NY Islanders 6–2 Montreal Sorokin 19,924 4–2–2 10 9 November 6 NY Islanders 2–0 Winnipeg Sorokin 13,424 5–2–2 12 10 November 7 NY Islanders 2–5 Minnesota Varlamov 15,547 5–3–2 12 11 November 11 NY Islanders 0–4 New Jersey Sorokin 13,816 5–4–2 12 12 November 15 NY Islanders 1–4 Tampa Bay Varlamov 19,092 5–5–2 12 13 November 16 NY Islanders 1–6 Florida Sorokin 14,003 5–6–2 12 14 November 20 Calgary 5–2 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 5–7–2 12 15 November 21 Toronto 3–0 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 5–8–2 12 16 November 24 NY Rangers 4–1 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 5–9–2 12 17 November 26 Pittsburgh 1–0 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 5–10–2 12 — November 28 NY Islanders – NY Rangers Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to March 17 — November 30 NY Islanders – Philadelphia Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to January 18December: 4–2–4 (home: 3–1–3; road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 18 December 2 San Jose 2–1 NY Islanders OT Sorokin 17,255 5–10–3 13 19 December 4 NY Islanders 3–4 Detroit OT Sorokin 19,152 5–10–4 14 20 December 5 Chicago 3–2 NY Islanders SO Varlamov 17,255 5–10–5 15 21 December 7 NY Islanders 5–3 Ottawa Sorokin 10,229 6–10–5 17 22 December 9 Nashville 4–3 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 6–11–5 17 23 December 11 New Jersey 2–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 7–11–5 19 24 December 14 NY Islanders 1–2 Detroit Sorokin 16,884 7–12–5 19 25 December 16 Boston 1–3 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 8–12–5 21 26 December 19 Vegas 4–3 NY Islanders SO Sorokin 17,255 8–12–6 22 — December 20 Montreal – NY Islanders Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 20 — December 23 Washington – NY Islanders Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to April 28 — December 27 NY Islanders – Buffalo Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 15 — December 29 Detroit – NY Islanders Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to March 24 27 December 30 Buffalo 1–4 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 9–12–6 24 January: 6–4–0 (home: 5–4–0; road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 28 January 1 Edmonton 2–3 NY Islanders OT Sorokin 17,255 10–12–6 26 — January 4 NY Islanders – Seattle Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 22 — January 5 NY Islanders – Vancouver Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 9 — January 8 NY Islanders – Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 11 — January 11 NY Islanders – Calgary Postponed due to COVID-19 protocol; moved to February 12 29 January 13 New Jersey 2–3 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 11–12–6 28 30 January 15 Washington 2–0 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 11–13–6 28 31 January 17 Philadelphia 1–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 12–13–6 30 32 January 18 NY Islanders 4–3 Philadelphia SO Varlamov 16,362 13–13–6 32 33 January 21 Arizona 0–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 14–13–6 34 34 January 22 Toronto 3–1 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 14–14–6 34 35 January 25 Philadelphia 3–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 15–14–6 36 36 January 27 Los Angeles 3–2 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 15–15–6 36 — January 29 Seattle – NY Islanders Postponed due to January 2022 blizzard; moved to February 2 37 January 30 Minnesota 4–3 NY Islanders Sorokin 15,518 15–16–6 36 February: 5–5–2 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 February 1 Ottawa 1–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 15,258 16–16–6 38 39 February 2 Seattle 3–0 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 16–17–6 38 40 February 9 NY Islanders 6–3 Vancouver Sorokin 9,268 17–17–6 40 41 February 11 NY Islanders 1–3 Edmonton Sorokin 9,150 17–18–6 40 42 February 12 NY Islanders 2–5 Calgary Sorokin 9,639 17–19–6 40 43 February 15 NY Islanders 3–6 Buffalo Sorokin 9,296 17–20–6 40 44 February 17 Boston 1–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 16,518 18–20–6 42 45 February 20 Montreal 3–2 NY Islanders SO Sorokin 17,255 18–20–7 43 46 February 22 NY Islanders 5–2 Seattle Sorokin 17,151 19–20–7 45 47 February 24 NY Islanders 3–4 San Jose SO Sorokin 11,283 19–20–8 46 48 February 26 NY Islanders 2–5 Los Angeles Varlamov 18,230 19–21–8 46 49 February 27 NY Islanders 4–0 Anaheim Sorokin 14,173 20–21–8 48 March: 10–6–1 (home: 8–3–0; road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 March 1 NY Islanders 3–5 Colorado Sorokin 17,622 20–22–8 48 51 March 3 Vancouver 4–3 NY Islanders Varlamov 16,412 20–23–8 48 52 March 5 St. Louis 1–2 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 21–23–8 50 53 March 7 Colorado 5–4 NY Islanders Varlamov 16,378 21–24–8 50 54 March 10 Columbus 0–6 NY Islanders Sorokin 16,048 22–24–8 52 55 March 11 Winnipeg 2–5 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 23–24–8 54 56 March 13 Anaheim 3–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 24–24–8 56 57 March 15 NY Islanders 3–4 Washington SO Varlamov 18,573 24–24–9 57 58 March 17 NY Islanders 2–1 NY Rangers Sorokin 18,006 25–24–9 59 59 March 19 Dallas 2–4 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 26–24–9 61 60 March 20 NY Islanders 1–2 Philadelphia Sorokin 17,218 26–25–9 61 61 March 22 Ottawa 0–3 NY Islanders Varlamov 15,856 27–25–9 63 62 March 24 Detroit 2–5 NY Islanders Sorokin 16,429 28–25–9 65 63 March 26 NY Islanders 3–6 Boston Varlamov 17,850 28–26–9 65 64 March 27 Tampa Bay 4–1 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 28–27–9 65 65 March 29 NY Islanders 4–3 Columbus Varlamov 15,557 29–27–9 67 66 March 31 Columbus 2–5 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 30–27–9 69 April: 7–8–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 5–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 67 April 1 NY Islanders 3–0 NY Rangers Varlamov 17,325 31–27–9 71 68 April 3 NY Islanders 4–3 New Jersey Schneider 14,620 32–27–9 73 69 April 5 NY Islanders 2–3 Dallas Varlamov 17,876 32–28–9 73 70 April 8 NY Islanders 2–1 Carolina Sorokin 17,279 33–28–9 75 71 April 9 NY Islanders 1–6 St. Louis Varlamov 18,096 33–29–9 75 72 April 12 Pittsburgh 4–5 NY Islanders SO Sorokin 15,924 34–29–9 77 73 April 14 NY Islanders 3–6 Pittsburgh Sorokin 18,236 34–30–9 77 74 April 15 NY Islanders 3–0 Montreal Sorokin 21,105 35–30–9 79 75 April 17 NY Islanders 2–4 Toronto Sorokin 17,464 35–31–9 79 76 April 19 Florida 3–2 NY Islanders OT Sorokin 17,255 35–31–10 80 77 April 21 NY Rangers 6–3 NY Islanders Varlamov 17,255 35–32–10 80 78 April 23 NY Islanders 3–5 Buffalo Sorokin 12,955 35–33–10 80 79 April 24 Carolina 5–2 NY Islanders Varlamov 15,945 35–34–10 80 80 April 26 NY Islanders 4–1 Washington Sorokin 18,573 36–34–10 82 81 April 28 Washington 1–5 NY Islanders Varlamov 16,722 37–34–10 84 82 April 29 Tampa Bay 6–4 NY Islanders Sorokin 17,255 37–35–10 84 Legend:

Player statistics As of May 1, 2022

Skaters Regular season Player 72 37 22 59 33 73 15 44 59 18 80 13 38 51 18 76 28 18 46 34 74 14 30 44 6 77 18 21 39 0 30 82 15 20 35 28 75 12 22 34 12 69 15 18 33 0 57 78 3 25 28 +20 42 73 13 11 24 74 56 5 16 21 0 2 45 6 13 19 19 61 3 15 18 55 74 10 6 16 48 59 6 9 15 10 72 2 12 14 +8 85 36 2 10 12 10 69 2 8 10 10 71 3 4 7 70 32 2 5 7 44 11 2 3 5 +5 0 21 1 4 5 4 8 0 2 2 0 6 1 0 1 0 16 1 0 1 4 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 +1 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 52 52 3,072:17 26 18 8 123 2.40 1,643 .925 7 0 0 0 31 29 1,792:17 10 17 2 87 2.91 978 .911 2 0 0 0 1 1 60:00 1 0 0 3 3.00 30 .900 0 0 0 0

Transactions The Islanders have been involved in the following transactions during the 2021–22 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Detroit Red WingsNick LeddyTo New York IslandersRichard PánikEDM's 2nd-round pick in 2021 To Arizona CoyotesAndrew LaddCOL's 2nd-round pick in 20212nd-round pick in 2022Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2023To New York IslandersFuture considerations Buffalo SabresJohnny BoychukTo New York IslandersFuture considerations

Free agents Date Player Team Contract term Ref Robert Carpenter to Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) 1-year Tanner Fritz to Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) 1-year Zach Parise from Minnesota Wild — Zdeno Chára from Washington Capitals 1-year Andy Andreoff from Philadelphia Flyers 1-year Paul LaDue from Washington Capitals 1-year Josh Ho-Sang to Toronto Marlies (AHL) 1-year

Waivers Date Player Team Ref Austin Czarnik to Seattle Kraken Austin Czarnik from Seattle Kraken

Contract terminations Date Player Via Ref Dmytro Timashov Mutual termination Leo Komarov Mutual termination Anatolii Golyshev Mutual termination

Retirement Date Player Ref Travis Zajac Braydon Coburn

Signings Date Player Contract term Ref Adam Pelech 8-year Aatu Räty 3-year Anthony Beauvillier 3-year Casey Cizikas 6-year Kyle Palmieri 4-year Ilya Sorokin 3-year Cole Bardreau 2-year Otto Koivula 1-year Dmytro Timashov 1-year Kieffer Bellows — Michael Dal Colle — Cory Schneider — Ryan Pulock 8-year Ross Johnston 4-year Cal Clutterbuck 2-year Zach Parise 1-year William Dufour 3-year Ruslan Iskhakov 2-year

Draft picks

Below are the New York Islanders' selections at the 2021 NHL entry draft, which was held on July 23 and 24, 2021, in a remote format, with teams convening via videoconferencing, and Commissioner Gary Bettman announcing selections from the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/junior/club team2521 Aatu Räty C Oulun Kärpät (Liiga)393 Tristan Lennox G Saginaw Spirit (OHL)4125 Cameron Berg C Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)5157 Eetu Liukas LW HC TPS (Liiga)6189 Aleksi Malinen D JYP Jyväskylä (Liiga)7221 Tomáš Machů D HC Vítkovice Ridera (ELH) The Edmonton Oilers' second-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on July 16, 2021, that sent Nick Leddy to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Richard Pánik and this pick.

Notes

References