Team: 2017-18 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 6, 2018

Published: Jan. 6, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Get these moves done ASAP to get back on pace.

Moves explained:
1) Ryan Miller is an upgrade for a stretch run. With a reasonable cap hit and only 1 year left after this one, it gives the Islanders options. Anaheim would likely take the deal gettin a decent draft pick, good enough backup for a playoff run and free of Halak's cap hit at season's end. Fair trade in my opinion.


2) Toronto gets rid of Martin's contract that they have been not-so-quietly unhappy about. Added to that is a defensive upgrade that they would not need provided they have reasonably fallen out of the playoff race. Hainsey gives the Islanders much verteran experience needed on defense at the moment. Toronto would get Quine, a depth forward and a 2nd Rd pick for compensation of retaining part of Martin's salary.


3) Buffalo is the tricky, or strange, part of this team trading. The players are straight forward, Okposo (F) and Bogosian (D) for Nelson (F) and Hickey (D). This was a crazy idea, but the Islanders would overpay for it in picks. Buffalo has been very unhappy with Okposo's performance (at $6 million per year) and who wouldn't be? It's a contract they wouldn't be able to move either. The Isles can get back a heart and soul player and overpay on draft picks, which they can afford to do, provided Buffalo retains half of his salary. That's a lot of money to retain over that term, but it could be a lot worse if they held onto him and his money. At least with the draft picks they can build a future and be free of the rest of Okposo's money when it's time to really pay those players drafted with the picks. I know this is a big stretch move. The bonus for Okposo with the Islanders again is that he can play anywhere on the right side up and down that lineup; and making only $3 mil on their cap makes him an absolute steal. (I had considered the same type of deal for Bobby Ryan but felt Okposo was more versatile in the lineup). Bogosian is an absolute defensive upgrade and carries a fair value for a good defenseman going forward.


4) The Montreal trade is fairly straight forward as well. Plekanec is meant purely as a rental, so some of the draft pick value is there. The big part of the deal is getting Galchenyuk but the Islanders give up a fair amount in future players of Michael Dal Colle and (hometown) Anthony Beauvillier plus draft picks. Going forward this is a huge move for the Islanders to have another good young player at a very good cap hit compared to what his upside could be. They slot in immediately together as 3rd line help and create an immense amount of offensive depth. Next season Galchenyuk and Lad likely switch places in the lineup, or Galchenyuk moves to 3rd line center and plays with Ho-Sang.


Also note that the cap total doesn't reflect the salaries retained or the percentage of salary counted against the cap for the time of season. With all of these moves, the cap for the Islanders would be about $72 million and meet cap compliance.


Lastly, all moves made still allow for the Islanders to re-sign Tavares, Bailey and Pulcok due to cap increases and pending UFAs that will not be brought back.

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