I just can't see them bringing back the same forward group. I think Bailey or Beauvillier won't be back

And for the love of god I really hope it’s Bailey

Also that Kulikov deal is horrible for the islanders

Not really tbh. Not only is he a realistic target (older, defensive-minded, one year contract), but he's also actually still pretty good. Would be fine with him for a year in a limited role.

As for Bellows, the org doesn't seem to value him very highly and I think he'll either be traded or not qualified this offseason. I think he still has potential, but he's probably not going to reach it here, especially if Bailey is still here

At this point, I might be okay with trading Beau for the right price. It would have to be for another NHL caliber player, not picks or prospects and preferably another forward. I feel like every year we wait for him to take the next step and he never really does it, playoff performances aside. That said, he's still one of my favorites and a useful player even when he isn't scoring. At the end of the day, I hope he stays.

Bailey, on the other hand, has got to go but I go back and forth all the time about whether they'd actually do it. But that's a guy who has completely lost a spot in the lineup, he is not a bottom-6 player, but not really good enough for top-6 on a contender...

I don't know if I love Kulak as much as a lot of other Islanders fans seem to - that's a decent chunk of term and money to devote to a guy who's always felt like a bottom pair guy who can be okay playing up the lineup - a lot like Scott Mayfield. I'd rather throw shorter term with a similar AAV at an older vet like Ian Cole or Alex Edler and keep developing Salo/Bolduc to take over one of those spots.

The Kulikov deal is fair, to me, and worth pursuing - Minnesota needs to move some cap, they've got some depth at LD, and Bellows is a damaged asset at this point. Maybe you can do the reverse Parise and send an Islander back to Minnesota to play where his dad started his career, and get the same kind of jump for Minny? He'll be an affordable bottom 6 guy for a team that needs affordable bodies.

He’s having a career year rn but he’s been horrendous every single other season defensively trust me I’m a jets and isles fan having to watch Kulikov for years was hurt me mentally, I would way rather Bellows than Bailey I’m very interested to see what he can turn into with a real shot