Islanders AHL Goalie Inks To One-Year Deal With Free Agency Eligibility Looming
In mid July New York Islanders prospect Henrik Tikkanen inked his name to a one-year two-way contract to remain with the Islanders organization. The towering 6-foot-8 goalie remaining with New York comes with a small cap hit of $850K, that will then see him become a restricted free agent post the 2026/27 season.
Tikkanen, a Finnish-born 28-year-old, was drafted 214th overall by the Islanders in 2020, but he did not start playing NHL affiliated hockey until the 2022/23 season. Tikkanen has become a familiar face around New York’s AHL affiliate Hamilton Hammers (formerly Bridgeport Islanders), while also splitting time in the ECHL.
2025/26 saw the Fin appear in 29 games and notch a 2.65 GAA with an .897 save percentage and accounted for a 17-9-1 record in the AHL.
Although he is yet to make his NHL debut, Tikkanen is viewed as a premium AHL goalie by the Islanders with him likely as Hamiltion’s starter this upcoming AHL season. With Ilya Sorokin and veteran Semyon Varlamov locked in as the starter and back-up in the NHL barring any trades and injuries, it is unlikely that Tikkanen will get his first taste of NHL ice time this 2026/27 season.
Nonetheless, Hamilton (Bridgeport) is coming off of one of their best seasons in this decade and made the playoffs prior to their relocation. Tikkanen will most definitely be the X-factor for the Hammers as the veteran AHL goalie gears up looking for another double-digit win season.
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