Team: 2021-22 New York Islanders

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 13, 2021

Published: Jul. 13, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trade 1 - expansion
Seattle takes leddy as bellows was already traded.

Trade 2 - OTT
Ottawa gets a 2nd to take on komarovs contract. Could go to any team.

Trade 3 - BUF
This trade happens before the expansion draft and buffalo gets bellows to take on hickey. Like trade 2 this could go to any team.

Trade 4 - EDM
After the keith trade its pretty obvious where holland wants to go. Varlamov is clearly the best goalie thats on the market both trade and FA (fleury has too big of a cap hit and is only signed for 1 year). Varlys contract will expire when keiths does so the timeline works. The only way varly is getting moved though is for a 1st, and ive seen EDM fans not want to move the '21 1st bc they might get cossa so i took the '22. It could be the '21 also. Can also go to WSH if thats what they want so they can move samsonov, but then they lose a goalie. That might be ok though for them.

Trade 5 - WSH
Islanders get a young russian goalie to pair with sorokin. He gets to come to the islanders (and more specifically mitch korn) while WSH doesnt end up losing one of their goalies in the expansion. Trying to figure out what he would cost.


Free Agency

Chara takes one more shot at the cup where it all started. He gets to be a mentor for dobson, and is a solid stay at home dman playing sheltered minutes.

Martinez gets a contract right around where all the rest of the offers will be. Players like winning and he sees a chance for another cup with the isles. He gets a 2 year deal that should fit the timeline of salo/bolduc perfectly.

Casey gets some nice term at a solid number. He could probably get a little more on the open market but this way has guaranteed money for 5 years and doesnt have to move his family. He also gets to play with longtime friends matt martin and cal clutterbuck.

Line Combinations

Lee-barzal-eberle
This line was really good in the bubble and at the beginning of the year up until lee got hurt. After that it was a revolving door at LW and barzy and eberle struggled. Hopefully getting lee back will get this line back to form.

Beauvillier-nelson-bailey
Our most effective line the last 2 playoffs, these guys have been great together.

Golyshev-pageau-wahlstrom
This line can be really dangerous though it wont be that checking line that was seen in the playoffs. Golyshev had the 5th most points ever in the khl for someone aged 21 or younger (i hope i got that right). Wahlstrom was above average defensively last season and was 2nd on the islanders in gx60. He was on pace for 24 goals over an 82 game season in his rookie year. Really excited if this is the 3rd line next season.

Martin-cizikas-clutterbuck
The best 4th line in hockey.

Pelech-pulock
Arguably the best d pair in hockey (toews-makar is pretty damn good).

Martinez-mayfield
Mayfield we all saw what he can be in the playoffs and hopefully he and martinez can be better 5v5 than him and leddy. Martinez imo is the perfect style to complement mayfield.

Chara-dobson
Dobson doesnt get top 4 minutes but he does see an increase in time in high pressure situations. He does get to learn from one of the best to ever do it. Chara can be that stay at home dman that dobson needs to succeed while bringing a ton of leadership and experience.

Sorokin
Showed a lot of promise in his 1st year. Got his feet wet with varly here and now its time to take over. As his backup/1b he has another young russian netminder.

Samsonov
Had a great 1st year and then regressed the 2nd. He still has a lot of talent and with mitch korn and playing in the trotz system i think he can take a big step forward. This goalie pair can be a 2 headed monster for a long time.

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