Ben Shelley: Free Agency Target: Matt Duchene

Nice write up Ben! Duchene is a fine player but the bigger need with Brock resigned is a wing for Barzal. I think Isles will have a better shot with Panarin than Duchene as well.

Nice write up Ben! Duchene is a fine player but the bigger need with Brock resigned is a wing for Barzal. I think Isles will have a better shot with Panarin than Duchene as well.
- ses111

Thank you!

Fair thoughts for sure. There will definitely be some free agent winger options coming in the next few articles as well!

with your comments on the 3 centers taking 25% of the cap... are you suggesting Lee is a gonner??? we know he is a left wing.. but surely his salary will be high on the charts too

Thank you!

Fair thoughts for sure. There will definitely be some free agent winger options coming in the next few articles as well!
- Ben Shelley

Would love to see Panarin and then maybe Bailey gets traded next year and Wahlstrom plays 2RW on Nelson's line.

with your comments on the 3 centers taking 25% of the cap... are you suggesting Lee is a gonner??? we know he is a left wing.. but surely his salary will be high on the charts too
- cmimbri

If the choice was between Lee and Duchene then they should fire Lee into the sun. But it won't be, I think Duchene will either end up in NSH or MTL, the latter of which may bode well for the Islanders if we can trade Leddy for Danault

Trade for Karlsson or Kadri C filled with good salaried players

with your comments on the 3 centers taking 25% of the cap... are you suggesting Lee is a gonner??? we know he is a left wing.. but surely his salary will be high on the charts too
- cmimbri

Wasn't suggesting Lee would be gone, just that between Nelson's $6M, Duchene hypothetically at $9.5M and Barzal probably up around $8-9M (really depending on next year), that's a lot of money invested in centers.

Hard to project the cap situation just based on how many players still need contracts but I imagine the team could still add a forward and keep Lee if they wanted to.

Trade for Karlsson or Kadri C filled with good salaried players
- Hell_Bent

Interesting thought on Kadri! I imagine Toronto would only deal him if a pretty great deal came along though based on the value his low cap hit provides.

Trade for Karlsson or Kadri C filled with good salaried players
- Hell_Bent

William Karlsson? I'm all about it but his new deal is probably going to be in the ~$7M range. Not that I wouldn't sign him at that price, but he won't be cheap.

Interesting thought on Kadri! I imagine Toronto would only deal him if a pretty great deal came along though based on the value his low cap hit provides.
- Ben Shelley

Pretty good chance he is the odd man out in Toronto. His 2 suspensions the past 2 PO's haven't put him on the favorite list on top of his drop in production this year. That said they are going to get good value back for him but I don't think they can afford to take salary back. As you said with his low cap hit, he's an interesting player to keep an eye out for. Maybe Lou and his former protege can strike a deal that makes sense for both.
He would be a nice addition down the middle and help on the PP as well.

Thanks as always for keeping the Blog fresh.

Great job as always Ben. It's great to see islanders articles on here again

not Kadri. You can't fix a hot head. Panarin would be #1 then maybe Duchene

William Karlsson? I'm all about it but his new deal is probably going to be in the ~$7M range. Not that I wouldn't sign him at that price, but he won't be cheap.
- eichiefs9

THE CAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not Kadri. You can't fix a hot head. Panarin would be #1 then maybe Duchene
- 22bossy

I think Trotz can help him with his discipline problems. At 4.5 for 3 more years I would take a gamble on it.

Pretty good chance he is the odd man out in Toronto. His 2 suspensions the past 2 PO's haven't put him on the favorite list on top of his drop in production this year. That said they are going to get good value back for him but I don't think they can afford to take salary back. As you said with his low cap hit, he's an interesting player to keep an eye out for. Maybe Lou and his former protege can strike a deal that makes sense for both.
He would be a nice addition down the middle and help on the PP as well.

Thanks as always for keeping the Blog fresh.
- nyisles7

Thanks again for reading!

The issue with moving Kadri from Toronto's perspective though would be that they have a real lack of center depth in the organization after Matthews/Tavares. Obviously they've got their big one-two punch but they really don't have any other players that could slot up to play 3C in place of Kadri. Nylander could play center in theory but he's played limited minutes at center since entering the league so it's definitely a gamble to put him there full-time.

Great job as always Ben. It's great to see islanders articles on here again
- Flexingtheshaft

Thanks for reading!

- Upstate_isles

Thanks again for reading!

The issue with moving Kadri from Toronto's perspective though would be that they have a real lack of center depth in the organization after Matthews/Tavares. Obviously they've got their big one-two punch but they really don't have any other players that could slot up to play 3C in place of Kadri. Nylander could play center in theory but he's played limited minutes at center since entering the league so it's definitely a gamble to put him there full-time.
- Ben Shelley

I agree in principle however they need to clear cap space to sign Marner one way or the other and Kadri has value. Who else can they move easily that clears considerable cap space?
Of course if they could force Marner to take a bridge deal and keep the gang together for a Cup run next year.
Either way it’s going to be interesting to see how they handle this off season.

- JohnScammo

- nyisles7

I agree in principle however they need to clear cap space to sign Marner one way or the other and Kadri has value. Who else can they move easily that clears considerable cap space?
Of course if they could force Marner to take a bridge deal and keep the gang together for a Cup run next year.
Either way it’s going to be interesting to see how they handle this off season.
- nyisles7

They definitely don't have an easy situation and like you're saying there aren't a whole lot of options, I just figure they'll do everything they can to keep Kadri. Reports are saying there's actually (somehow) interest in Zaitsev from certain teams and I imagine Brown is gone. They'll try their hardest to move Marleau too but that's definitely not an easy contract to move. Like you said though, it'll be really interesting to see how it's handled and how creative they can get.

They definitely don't have an easy situation and like you're saying there aren't a whole lot of options, I just figure they'll do everything they can to keep Kadri. Reports are saying there's actually (somehow) interest in Zaitsev from certain teams and I imagine Brown is gone. They'll try their hardest to move Marleau too but that's definitely not an easy contract to move. Like you said though, it'll be really interesting to see how it's handled and how creative they can get.
- Ben Shelley

TOR is in a pickle btw the salaries they have to shed & key players they have to sign, plus trying to fill out the roster. Not sure how other Gms feel when most know team is sorta stuck. Dont think they will get any fair value for Kadri just bc of the situation they put themselves in.

They definitely don't have an easy situation and like you're saying there aren't a whole lot of options, I just figure they'll do everything they can to keep Kadri. Reports are saying there's actually (somehow) interest in Zaitsev from certain teams and I imagine Brown is gone. They'll try their hardest to move Marleau too but that's definitely not an easy contract to move. Like you said though, it'll be really interesting to see how it's handled and how creative they can get.
- Ben Shelley

Yes it certainly will be Ben.

Nylander’s making big money and has played the middle as you said and honestly I think he could handle it and might give him some more freedom to create on the offensive side, but Could need some time on the d side and FOs.
Marleau could be moved but it will take some sweetener/s but The Yote’s always seem to be the team ready and willing to help in these situations.