Eberle and Leddy are being shopped around. Suter and Parise (a recent trade target for the Isles) just got bought out. Isles are in on Tarasenko. Isles are struggling to find a way to bring back Cizikas and Palmieri.
A lot's happening all at once for the Islanders. I think almost all of this is achievable, here's how I'd make this all fit.
If I had to pick one to not do, it'd be bringing back Palmieri. He was awful in the regular season, he looked good in the playoffs but was completely silenced against Tampa and Trotz clearly doesn't see him as a fit in this Top 6. I know there's interest in both camps, and if Tarasenko doesn't work out then FINE, but he should be the lowest priority.
Explanations of the trades are in the additional details of each trade.
As for signings, I think the Isles can eke out a little most cap space by signing Beauvillier to age 26. Normally, I'd give lock him up long term, but with Ladd's and Tarasenko's contracts coming off the books in 2 years, Beauvillier will know the Isles will have money for him by then. Barzal's contract operated on very similar logic to this; wait for some of the older big contracts to expire, then cash in.
Pelech COULD command a higher hit than 5m aav, but I'd imagine he'd take a lower cap hit if we gave him a full 8 year term, making sure he's well paid all the way to age 34. This is more personal opinion, but I also think Pelech's success is largely due to how spectacularly he fits in the Islanders' defensive structure, and I'm not convinced he'd be a top pairing guy on another team.
Only paid Greene 2.5 aav because of bonuses. Don't want to, but I guess I have to. Cizikas seems to want around 2.5 aav and a good amount of term. I think he ends up taking a slight discount so long as it means staying with the team and still getting the term he wants. Isles also take a flyer on Zach Parise; Lou will definitely be interested in picking him up as a 3rd line forward, and I don't blame him. A Parise-Pageau-Wahlstrom 3rd line sounds pretty good. I wouldn't rule out Ryan Suter also joining the Isles this year, but this post has far more moving parts than I'd usually put in play. I say that's a discussion for another time.
Finally, I'd see Sorokin taking a lower contract for one more year. I really don't see Varlamov still being an Islander by the end of next year, so all Sorokin has to do is continue to put up decent enough numbers and the starter position is his by the time he inks his next contract.
If the Isles end up needing more cap space, I could see them trading Hickey and sending a 3rd or 4th with him to get it done, but I think it's possible that the Isles can get away with just letting that contract expire.
Minnesota will likely want to stay in contention, and with Suter bought out, I'd be willing to bet Minnesota would be interested Leddy as a temporary (or longer, who knows) way to fill Suter's spot with another veteran left shooting defenseman.
Also Leddy's from Minnesota, so that's cool.
2.
NYI
Isles kind of have to find a way to use the Expansion draft to drop cap. If everyone's right about Seattle wanting Bellows or Koivula, that's fine by me, but I'd prefer to send either with Komarov and a few bribery picks. If Seattle doesn't bite, I'd be willing to bet at least one rebuilder would take on 3m for a 2nd and a 3rd rounder.
There's been a lot of talk that St. Louis would want Beauvillier or Dobson in a trade for Tarasenko, but cap concerns will force any trade with the Islanders to involve Eberle. A 2m difference in cap hit is much more manageable than Dobson or whatever Beauvillier will cost. Isles add a pick and Bolduc, a future NHL defenseman, as sweeteners.
Wild cant afford a cap dump player when wild need a c
Wild have dumba, spicy, Calen addison, bringing back Menell, and will sign back Ian Cole. Can also sign a better d, and cheaper player in free agency for 6d
I imagine Armstrong will sit tight until the Isles feel pressured into dealing Dobson. I can't imagine him at least not trying to.
Isles have already passed on Mark Stone for Dobson, no way Lou deals Dobson for a forward with way more question marks than Stone. If the Isles miss out on Tarasenko, it’s not the end of the world, they’ll still compete and have opportunities to acquire a top winger at the TDL.
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