Co-owner Jon Ledecky optimistic about Islanders' season

The anticipation is building. The excitement level is rising.

A new era in Islanders history will have its official curtain-raising Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and throughout the organization, there is a sense of newfound enthusiasm.

Beginning with co-owner Jon Ledecky.

About the work executive vice president and general manager Mathieu Darche has done to modernize and rejuvenate the franchise.

About Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick in June’s NHL Draft.

About the prospects of what could be in the future.

“We’re incredibly excited,” Ledecky told Newsday before the unveiling of a new playground at the Glen Cove YMCA on Monday afternoon. “It’s going to mean exciting hockey at UBS Arena.”

Maybe more than most, the Islanders enter the 2025-26 season with a great deal of optimism, mainly centered around the 18-year-old Schaefer, who already has earned Ledecky’s praise.

“He is one of the most mature people I’ve ever met,” Ledecky said. “A friend of mine who got to interact with him said, ‘I just can’t believe this kid is 18 years old.’ The maturity. The calm confidence. The integrity. His high character. His family background. Everything about him.

“He’s always asking how you’re doing versus how he’s doing. He doesn’t talk about himself. He talks about you and others. And I find that so incredibly refreshing, especially in a great young man like Matthew.”

Schaefer will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished veterans, a luxury not usually afforded to first overall picks.

“It’s a tight locker room,” Ledecky said. “And it is a locker room of leaders. And whether it’s Bo Horvat or Anders Lee or any of the other veterans, they’re really providing leadership for the younger guys. And I think that’s super-important [for] the team.

“You know, the average age in the NHL is now about 25, and we were one of the older teams in the past. Now we’re moving toward a youth movement. I think that’s great.”

And to hear Darche, the mix of youth and experience helped foster a strong training camp.

“I’m excited [with] the team we have,” Darche said. “We had a good camp. We got better throughout camp and we’re excited to get going Thursday in Pittsburgh. The guys had a day off today to rest. We’ll have two hard practice days and get ready for the game on Thursday.”

So yes, Darche and Ledecky feel positive about their team heading into the regular season. But that does not mean Darche was going to channel his inner Joe Namath or Mark Messier and make bold predictions about how the campaign will play out.

“Every year, the predictions don’t mean anything,” he said. “Even for ourselves in management. You never know what can happen. Some teams are luckier than others with injuries, so I’m worrying about my team and how we play and then we’ll go with that.”

Ledecky and Darche were among those representing the Islanders at the Glen Cove YMCA for the building and unveiling of a new playground. The Islanders Children’s Foundation partnered with YMCA Long Island and KABOOM!, a national non-profit organization that builds “kid-designed, community-built” playgrounds. According to Ann Rina, the executive director of community relations for the team, more than 130 Islanders employees helped with the building of the playground.