That's not really what the article discussed
- eichiefs9

For you to share what it DID discuss. Please and thank you.

Oh, and that’d be “whore mouth” thank you very much.
- Wildschwein

You bet your sweet piggy ass it is!

For you to share what it DID discuss. Please and thank you.
- Isleshockeyman

What are the Islanders doing? Clues about the Isles’ defense options, forward logjam and more

By Arthur Staple Aug 3, 2021 94


We’re nearly a week into free agency and the only team that hasn’t registered anything with the league is — you guessed it — the Islanders. As far as reasons why, not much has changed from the last “update” we gave at the end of last week. Lou Lamoriello isn’t interested in splashy social-media announcements or agents proudly boasting how much they got from the Isles for their clients.

So the cone of silence continues while the rest of the league goes about its business. Which means some Islander options are coming into clearer focus, at least in a couple of areas.

What’s the deal on D?
Ryan Murray was the last top-four defenseman to sign. His one-year, $2 million deal with the Avalanche on Monday means there are basically zero unrestricted free agent (UFA) options for the Islanders to replace Nick Leddy. The extreme silence around Murray’s few days on the market could lead one to believe the Islanders made an offer that Murray was considering, but ultimately he went to a Colorado team that’s primed to make a Stanley Cup run.

That’s what the Islanders are trying to do, too. Trading Leddy to the Red Wings seemed like a must at the time to get the Isles cap situation in better order. But now, with Ryan Suter, Alex Goligoski and now Murray off the market, the Isles’ plan seems clearly headed toward acquiring a defenseman in a trade.

This is a murkier proposition, of course. It’s hard to gauge what the ask is for many of the possible left-handed defensemen the Isles could be discussing and what might be required to go out in a trade to make the deal work — and then whether Lamoriello will have another roster spot to fill as a result.

We’ve gone over every other team’s roster to find some options, including a few we already mentioned a week ago on the eve of free agency.

Vince Dunn, Kraken: He still hasn’t signed with Seattle and filed for salary arbitration Sunday, assuring either Seattle or another team of a one-year deal at a reasonable price (he made $1.875 million last season). The downside for the Islanders may be that Dunn is 24 and might not be able to step into a top-four role on a new team that has immediate Cup aspirations. For the long haul, he makes a lot of sense. For a short-term, win-now team, perhaps not.

Hampus Lindholm, Ducks: He has a year left on his deal and a solid track record in Anaheim despite an injury-marred 2020-21. Of course, his cap hit is just slightly less than Leddy’s, making you wonder if having to give up assets — could the Isles get Lindholm for a second-round pick and an average prospect? — rather than just keeping Leddy for another year is the right call.

Calvin de Haan, Blackhawks: He also has a year left on his deal and is a familiar face to Isles fans and numerous teammates, having been on the Island for the first six seasons of his NHL career. The shoulder injuries that cut into his time with the Isles have surfaced recently, but he’s healthy now and a cagey veteran these days.

Vladislav Gavrikov, Blue Jackets: He has two years left at $2.8 million and has grown into a useful piece of the Columbus defense in just a couple of NHL seasons. It’s hard to know if he’s even available but Columbus, having unloaded Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson in the past few weeks, might be willing to grab more futures for another established player.

Jake Gardiner, Hurricanes: He fits the “played for Lou” vein of pretty much every other acquisition Lamoriello has made for the Islanders, he’s fallen out of favor in Carolina and he knows his way around the point on a power play. Here’s the catch with Gardiner: He’s awaiting surgery and likely won’t be ready for the start of the season, possibly weeks beyond that. And the Isles don’t really have a safety net on defense.

Mattias Ekholm, Predators: His name was certainly bandied about an awful lot at the trade deadline, but Ekholm stayed in Nashville. The Preds are trying to retool on the fly, sending Ryan Ellis to Philly and still looking to shed one of their awful forward contracts. An Ekholm deal would almost certainly require Anthony Beauvillier going the other way, unlike the players listed above. Ekholm would be an upgrade behind Adam Pelech, but it would come at a high price.

Cam Fowler, Ducks: Speaking of high prices, Fowler would cost plenty in assets and cap space, with five years at $6.5 million remaining. He’s a high-level defenseman, but that sort of term seems prohibitive, especially if it costs the Islanders Beauvillier plus other assets.

Nathan Beaulieu, Jets: A lower-cost (one year at $1.25 million left) journeyman who has mostly operated as a No. 6/7 defenseman over his career. It’s unlikely the Isles would acquire Beaulieu to be a second-pair guy, but, perhaps if they can’t make a bigger deal, it could be a top-four-by-committee situation? That doesn’t sound too appealing.

Damon Severson, Devils: We know that Lamoriello likes players whom he drafted and who played for him previously. Severson is a talented defenseman who’s filled a lot of roles on the struggling Devils the past few seasons. The biggest drawback: He’s a righty. The Isles, if Barry Trotz’s preference still stands, really need a lefty to step into Leddy’s spot. There’d have to be more moving parts that preceded a Severson acquisition.

Crowded group at forward — we think
Nothing’s changed as far as announcements of Islander contracts as of Tuesday. Kyle Palmieri will remain an Islander; so, too, will Casey Cizikas. It’s pretty certain Travis Zajac will be back as well. Zach Parise will be an Islander. Depth forwards Michael Dal Colle and Anatolii Golyshev are believed to have signed deals. Richard Panik came over in the Leddy trade. Leo Komarov and Ross Johnston are also still here, entering the final years of their deals.

So that’s a lot of forwards with NHL experience — possibly 16 if Beauvillier, Kieffer Bellows and Otto Koivula all remain, 17 if you include Golyshev, who was in the KHL the past eight years.

There’s not enough room for everyone, obviously. Some contracts can be buried fully in the AHL, but everyone except Oliver Wahlstrom requires waivers next season. More bodies have to move out before training camp begins — several more if the Isles are still in the hunt for Vladimir Tarasenko or another top-six wing.

Kowalsky in, Carkner/Boguniecki out in Bridgeport
The Islanders did make an actual announcement Tuesday. Rick Kowalsky, who was the coach for the Devils’ AHL team for eight seasons and a Devils assistant coach the past three years, was hired as an assistant in Bridgeport. Eric Boguniecki and Matt Carkner, Sound Tigers assistants for the past 10 and five seasons, respectively, were let go.

Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson will return for his ninth season behind the Sound Tigers bench. But Kowalsky has the history with Lou and Chris Lamoriello, so perhaps this is the first step toward a bigger change.

You bet your sweet piggy ass it is!
- Isleshockeyman

- Wildschwein

- nyisles7

Jesus Christ…

Jesus Christ…
- Wildschwein

Nein nur ein heißes Schwein

Nein nur ein heißes Schwein
- nyisles7

nur?

nur?
- JohnScammo

Leafs can beat their meat and enjoy it immensely. 👍
- mr.sir

[quote=Benny Blanco]
Thank you

I’m hearing from my source Red Taco that the Isles are close to a trade. Stay tuned

I’m hearing from my source Red Taco that the Isles are close to a trade. Stay tuned
- Isles

"Word on the street" is you're correct

I’m hearing from my source Red Taco that the Isles are close to a trade. Stay tuned
- Isles

Hahaha thought that was vertical taco.

Hahaha thought that was vertical taco.
- TogaIsles

You may have confused it with the vertical bacon sandwich

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
now
First hearings are set for Aug 11 with Adam Pelech (NYI), Michael McNiven (MTL) & Jakub Vrana (DET). Negotiations can continue, and a deal can be struck as late as right before the hearing begins.

Pelech's arb hearing 8/11

"Word on the street" is you're correct
- eichiefs9

You may have confused it with the vertical bacon sandwich
- eichiefs9

I’d appreciate it if you didn’t toss my pet name about so casually.

I’d appreciate it if you didn’t toss my pet name about so casually.
- Wildschwein

- eichiefs9

Will Brendan Burke get resigned before any of our players?

Will Brendan Burke get resigned before any of our players?
- Cptmjl

Yup.

Yup.
- Isleshockeyman

No hesitation with that one

I agree.

Jeremy Rutherford
@jprutherford
·
1h
For those keeping track of the possible Tarasenko trade destinations ...
Quote Tweet
Corey Masisak
@cmasisak22
· 1h
#NJDevils have a deal with UFA wing Tomas Tatar. 2 years, $9 million ($4.5 million AAV). @Lewysko had the deal first. @PuckPedia had the numbers.

Tom Fitzgerald has checked the top-6 wing off his offseason shopping list.

So Tarasenko is not going to Jersey? Oh no Taco.

Jeremy Rutherford
@jprutherford
·
1h
For those keeping track of the possible Tarasenko trade destinations ...
Quote Tweet
Corey Masisak
@cmasisak22
· 1h
#NJDevils have a deal with UFA wing Tomas Tatar. 2 years, $9 million ($4.5 million AAV). @Lewysko had the deal first. @PuckPedia had the numbers.

Tom Fitzgerald has checked the top-6 wing off his offseason shopping list.

So Tarasenko is not going to Jersey? Oh no Taco.
- David_Volek

He thinks since Sharangovich signed for the same amount as Sanford that there's some sort of double-sign-and-trade in the works