The Weirdest Islander of the Year

New York Islanders News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jun 26, 2026 · 2m

The Don Cutts Trophy for weirdest Islander of the year goes to the player who debuted with a bang—scoring in his first game, even as another rookie earned their first NHL point—but then vanished into a 38-game goal drought, all while staying in the lineup. Signed for $8 million, he played just 55 games before being traded for two draft picks, including a first-rounder. His bizarre season, marked by baffling persistence and massive cost to move him, edged out a runner-up who scored a hilarious goal against his former team—making this year’s winner the ultimate enigma in Islanders history…