Keys to the New York Islanders offseason
Emily Kaplan and Chris Peters: Looking at keys to the New York Islanders offseason.
To re-sign or not to re-sign: Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson are all pending unrestricted free agents for the Islanders.
The sticking point for Eberle could be term.
Nelson had a career year with 25 goals and 53 points as the teams No. 1 center. He’ll be looking for a raise from his $4.25 million.
Shouldn’t be a surprise if the Islanders bring Valtteri Filppula back on a one-year deal.
Cement the goaltending – Robin Lehner is a pending UFA who will be looking for a raise from the $1.5 million he made last year. Thomas Greiss has a year left on his deal. Top prospect Ilya Sorokin could come to North America.
If Sorokin makes the Islanders, they could look to trade Greiss.
A wild card move would be going after pending UFA Sergei Bobrovsky.
Dabble in free agency? You don’t make much on GM Lou Lamoriello’s plans. After re-signing some of the own free agents, they should have the salary cap space to add a defenseman and maybe take a run at Artemi Panarin. Matt Duchene could be an option.
The Islanders could have cap space to burn
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Aside from Matthew Barzal the Islanders lack “upper-echelon, high-octane offensive talent.”
Jordan Eberle is essentially gone.
The Islanders could have upwards of $34 million in salary cap space to re-sign their own and other pending free agents.
GM Lou Lamoriello could get into a bidding war with the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers for Artemi Panarin.
Could they offer sheet Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner?
