The New York Islanders signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Logan Stanley to a one-year contract on September 27, 2026, adding a 6-foot-7 left-shot blue-liner to their roster.
Stanley was coming off a two-year, $2.5 million contract with a cap hit of $1.25 million. Last season, he split time between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres after the Sabres acquired him and Luke Schenn from the Jets at the trade deadline in a deal that sent Jacob Bryson, Isak Rosen and two draft picks back to Winnipeg.
What Stanley brings to the Islanders
The move gives the Islanders another sizeable option on the back end. Stanley, who was drafted 18th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, has carved out a career built around his size and reach. He is now 28 years old and brings 278 career games of NHL experience to New York.
His most recent season was also one of his more productive. Stanley scored nine goals and 26 points in 76 games, then added eight playoff games before the Buffalo Sabres were eliminated in the second round. That kind of offense is not the main reason teams look at him, but it does show he can contribute more than just depth minutes when given a larger role.
Why the signing matters
For the Islanders, this is a straightforward depth addition with some upside. Stanley’s combination of size and left-shot value gives the team another option as it sorts through its defensive group. For Stanley, the one-year deal is another opportunity to settle into a regular role after moving between teams last season.
There is no long-term commitment here, but the fit is easy to understand. The Islanders get a big defender on a short contract, and Stanley gets a fresh chance to make a case for a larger role going forward.
