PITTSBURGH — The long offseason of introspection following a second playoff miss in four years and three weeks of training camp with a six-game preseason schedule are finally over. The Islanders open their new era under executive vice president/general manager Mathieu Darche, who took over after Lou Lamoriello ran the club for seven seasons, on Thursday night against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

A.k.a., No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer’s NHL debut .

“We have a great team,” the 18-year-old defenseman said after Wednesday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow. “From the goalies to defense to forwards, I think we’re pretty deep. We have great guys on and off the ice. I think we have the team that can go pretty far.”

Darche’s leadership and Schaefer’s presence

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