Logan Stanley is quickly settling into his new role with the New York Islanders after being signed just over a week ago. The 6-foot-7 defenseman missed training camp and the preseason prior to joining the team, but has already made a strong impression both on and off the ice.

Stanley, 28, arrived in Long Island following a season split between Winnipeg and Buffalo. Aside from a brief stint with the Buffalo Sabres after being traded at last year’s deadline, Stanley has spent nearly his entire hockey career in Canada, including six seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. Until recently, he was training with his former junior club in Kitchener, Ontario, to maintain his conditioning.

Currently living alone in a hotel as he awaits the arrival of his pregnant wife and their 3-year-old daughter, Stanley is beginning to feel comfortable in his new environment. After touring parts of Long Island’s North Shore during a day off, he described the area as “beautiful” and noted it is “a little busier than Winnipeg.” Despite limited previous knowledge of the Islanders or the region—having spent most of his career in the Western Conference—Stanley said the team's welcoming atmosphere has made a strong difference.

“I’m the new guy here, but after being traded last year and never really settling in with Buffalo, this feels great,” Stanley said following Monday’s practice. “The guys have been super welcoming. I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve been here.”

Stanley’s on-ice debut for the Islanders came six days after his first practice, during a 6-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena. In just his second game, he contributed two assists, registered three blocked shots, and tied for the team lead with four hits.

Isles head coach Pete DeBoer praised Stanley’s performance, saying, “I thought he was really good. He’s a big man, he moves well, he’s got good puck skills, and he’s a good teammate. There’s not much not to like.”

After recording a career-high of nine goals and 17 assists in 76 games last season, Stanley spent the summer unsigned before signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with New York. He was integrated into the lineup following the demotion of defenseman Isaiah George and has been paired on defense with Tony DeAngelo.

While Stanley acknowledges that missing training camp placed him at a slight disadvantage given the team's established chemistry, he is adapting quickly. “The system is not too unfamiliar,” he said. “I played a version of it in Winnipeg last year. There’s a few changes that might take some time to burn into my brain, but for the most part it’s pretty simple and straightforward. They’re direct about what they want you to do, which helps us as a group because we know where everyone is going to be on the ice.”

With the Islanders currently integrating Stanley into their defensive core, the player expressed confidence in his growing comfort level and the potential to contribute to the team’s progress this season.