• The Islanders offseason featured a few different roster changes. On Oct. 11, 2020, the Islanders acquired A.J. Greer from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Kyle Burroughs. The following day on Oct. 12, the Islanders acquired the Colorado Avalanche's second-round selections in the 2021 and 2022 NHL Drafts, in exchange for defenseman Devon Toews. On Nov. 25, the Islanders announced that defenseman Johnny Boychuk's came to an end due to an eye injury suffered during the 2019-20 regular season. On Dec. 11, The Islanders acquired forward Dmytro Timashov from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations.
• For signings, the Islanders signed former Calgary Flames forward Austin Czarnik to a two-year deal on Oct. 13. On Nov. 4, defenseman Ryan Pulock avoided an arbitration hearing as he re-signed with the team for two more years. On Jan. 11, Mathew Barzal agreed to terms on a new three-year deal with the team, while the Islanders re-signed forward Matt Martin for four years and defenseman Andy Greene to a one-year deal.
• This will be the first full season with the Islanders for Greene and forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who the Islanders acquired, from New Jersey and Ottawa respectively, within a week of one another last February (2020) during the NHL Trade Deadline.
• Without the return of Toews or Boychuk, the Islanders blueline is expected to look different this season. Nick Leddy and Scott Mayfield, who each lost a d-partner are expected to be paired together. Noah Dobson, who was a rookie last season, is expected to take on a larger role this season. During training camp, Dobson and Greene, the youngest and oldest blueliners, respectively.
• The Islanders will have a new face between the pipes with rookie Ilya Sorokin. The 25-year-old Russian netminder is expected to make his North American debut this season after spending seven seasons in the KHL. Sorokin went 134-64-22 in 244 regular-season games in the KHL with a 1.70 GAA, a .930 SV% and 44 shutouts. He was 50-17 in the playoffs with a 1.37 GAA, a .940 SV% and 16 shutouts and a KHL title.
• Semyon Varlamov will get the starting nod in net for the Islanders against the Rangers as confirmed by Head Coach Barry Trotz.
• To start the season, the Islanders have placed forward Michael Dal Colle on IR with an undisclosed injury.
• The Islanders taxi-squad includes; Kieffer Bellows, Czarnik, Otto Koivula and Jakub Skarek. All players from the taxi squad are eligible to play for the Islanders.
• Trotz is entering his third season as the Islanders head coach. Trotz has earned a record of 83-50-70 through 150 regular season games on Long Island.
• In season openers, the Islanders are 12-24-11. Over the last seven years, the Islanders have gone 3-3-1 on opening night.