NYI Offseason Moves - My Take

Team: 2019-20 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: May 31, 2019

Published: May 31, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

With Lee holding out for 7 years and the recent rumors about Skinners contract, Lou decides to pivot at the draft and lets Lee walk. Yes, losing a Captain for the 2nd time in 2 years hurts, but the Isles showed last year one player does not make a team.

Lou trades Leddy to Montreal at Draft day for a package similar to what the Isles got for Hamonic (See trade for explanation on the return).

Lou then flips the Isles 1st rounder (#23 overall) and Josh Ho-Sang to EDM for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and EDM 2019 4th round pick.

During the courting phase, the Isles show interest in Marner who is looking at an offer sheet due to TOR wanting him to take less than Matthews and Tavares to stay in TOR. With an offer sheet looking likely from NYI, Lou and Dubas meet to work out a trade.

- Isles send:
Scott Mayfield
Bode Wilde
2020 1st round pick (NYI)
2021 2nd round pick (NYI)
2022 1st round pick (NYI)
*2021 2nd is conditional - If Isles win the Cup in 19-20 or 20-21 the pick becomes a 1st rounder.

TOR sends:
Mitch Marner

- Giving up Mayfield AND Wilde hurts, but with Pulock, Dobson, Toews, Pelech, Boychuk, Hickey and Aho all under contract for the next few years it's a loss the Isles can handle. This also gives the Isles the option to offer Marner 8 years.
- For TOR they get a RHD they slot into their Top 4 next season. A top RHD prospect who can potentially make the team next season or the season after and 3 draft picks; 2020 1st, 2022 1st and a 2021 2nd that can become a 1st if the Isles win the cup in 19-20 or 20-21.

Dobson and Wahlstrom both make the team out of camp.

Bailey is handed the "C" next season with Marner and Nelson being named Assistants

Line Combos:
1) RNH - Nelson - Bailey
- RNH essentially replaces Lee on this line.

2) Beau - Barzal - Marner
- Beau and Barzal are reunited and Marner takes Eberle's spot.

3) dal Colle - Cizikas - Wahlstrom
- After his production last year Cizikas is rewarded and takes over the 3C spot. I hate breaking up the 4th line, but it's likely Clutter is out for an extended period of time anyway and Casey deserves to play with more skilled forwards.

4) Martin - Fritz - Bellows
- Trotz liked Fritz and he played well before getting hurt. He's given the first crack and taking Cizikas' spot as the 4C. Bellows replaces Clutterbuck to give the 4th line some scoring punch.

Extras: Johnston and Komorav

D Pairs:
1) Toews - Pulock
- Toews seems more suited for Top 2 minutes then Pelech, so he gets first crack and being Pulocks D Partner

2) Pelech - Dobson
- Dobson shows great strides in training camp is breaks camp as Pelech's new D partner on the second pair. This gives Dobson a stable D minded partner so he can play his game offensively and defensively

3) Aho - Boychuk
- Another case where an offensive minded Aho is given a defensive minded partner in Boychuk to allow Aho to play his game on both sides of the puck. Giving Boychuk 3rd pair minutes should help keep him healthy given his age and style of play.

Extra - Hickey becomes the 7th D and slots in for Boychuk when needed, as well as Dobson and Aho if they struggle.

Goalies:

S: Lehner - Re-signs for 4yrs 20mil (5m AAV)
B: Pickard - Signs 2yr 1.7mil deal (.85m AAV)

- With Lehner re-signing and being named the Bona Fide #1; Greiss is moved to CGY at the draft for a 2020 2nd round pick.

These moves improve the Top 6 and the power play, while also leaving enough CAP moving forward to sign our RFA's next season.

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