The Islanders off-season has been underway for about two weeks now, and there have been some changes thus far since their elimination by the Carolina Hurricanes. GM Lou Lamoriello is not only returning, but seemingly may be taking a different approach this summer alongside Patrick Roy, after signing KHL Forward Maxim Tsyplakov, the roster still has holes to fill. And with about $7 million in cap space, they’ll have to get creative. Here’s how I think they do it.
Bring Back Mike Reilly
Mike Reilly was claimed off waivers from the Panthers in November, and almost immediately established himself as a consistent bottom pair guy. He’s a great skater and is able to move the puck. So much so by the end of the season, Reilly was playing on the Islanders top Power Play unit and was successful there. This should be an easy move for Lou to make.
Contract: 1-Year, $1 Million
Bring Back Pending RFAs
Forwards Simon Holmstrom, Kyle MacLean, and Ruslan Iskhakov are all going to be Restricted Free Agents, all of which the Islanders will likely be bringing back on qualifying offers worth just under a million dollars, this will help them make their next move.
Trade for Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers
Projected Trade:
Winnipeg Receives: F Jean-Gabriel Pageau, F Simon Holmstrom, 2025 2nd Round Pick
New York Receives: F Nikolaj Ehlers (50% Retained)
The Islanders have been connected to Ehlers for the last few offseasons, and with Ehlers likely not resigning with the Jets, the Islanders should and probably will be all over this type of move. Ehlers is a near perfect fit on the top line alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. He’s a good play driver who should help their power play tremendously, as he excels in clean zone entries in particular. Ehlers is on the last year of his contract, which means he’d probably be extended upon being acquired, something like 7 years, $7 Million AAV would make sense. The Islanders also use this deal as a means to rid themselves of JG Pageau, whose play has declined a little but can still be a player who plays good two way hockey. As for Holmstrom, he doesn’t seem to be the type of player that Roy likes, he was given time on the 2nd and 4th lines since Roy came in and in the playoffs he was scratched a few times, Winnipeg could be a good spot for him.
Sign Anthony Duclair
We know the Islanders had interest in Duclair ahead of the trade deadline, and I think they have a good shot to sign him in free agency, he played for Patrick Roy when he was in Juniors, and unless they had a bad relationship, the fit here is obvious. Duclair is a good skater who potted 20 goals last season, some production the Islanders could definitely use, especially on their 2nd power play unit. He was traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline, and it seems he’s due for a little bit of a raise from the $3 million he made between San Jose and Tampa Bay this season.
Contract: 3 Years, $4.5 Million AAV
Extend Noah Dobson
The last big move of this offseason I believe will be extending star D Noah Dobson. Who had a breakout season with 70 points and being in the Norris conversation for most of the season before his point streak died out in the 2nd half. The main number that’s been reported for a possible extension for Dobson is an 8-Year extension that pays him $8 Million a year, making him the 4th highest paid player on the Islanders (Barzal, Horvat, Sorokin). And he definitely deserves it after last year, I don’t think we’ve seen peak Dobson yet, and that’s a very good thing.
Nail the First Round of the Draft
The Islanders hold the 18th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft next month, and though we don’t know if they’ll be making the pick, many have stated they believe the Islanders will end up making their first round draft choice, which would be their first since 2019 (Holmstrom). The Islanders are good fits for a lot of prospects, but here’s 3 names specifically. F Michael Hage (USHL), F Michael Bransegg-Nygard (Allsvenskan), and F Liam Greentree (OHL). The Islanders being able to bolster their prospect pool with a first round pick at the draft can be critical to their future success.
Lines After Transactions:
Ehlers-Horvat-Barzal
Duclair-Nelson-Palmieri
Engvall-Cizikas-Tysplakov
Lee-MacLean-Fasching
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Reilly-Mayfield
Sorokin
Varlamov
BS Reports 
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