Many NHL teams will face troubling cap situations over the next two seasons (assuming the CBA passes and the cap freezes at $81.5M).
Count the New York Islanders among the troubled.
Though the Isles don’t have any exorbitant contracts, they do have a host of contracts in the $3M-$6M range. With $71.38M already committed to their roster for next season, it's likely that GM Lou Lamoriello will have to let all of his pending unrestricted free agents walk, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple.
That would mean left wing Matt Martin, center Derick Brassard, right wing Tom Kuhnhackl, defenseman Andy Greene and goalie Thomas Greiss all hitting the open market. Then again, with many teams facing this crunch, free agents may find a depressed market, potentially allowing teams to grab some bargain short-term deals.
There is more to report on the Islanders:
- Greiss is probably the biggest on-ice contributor from that above group, though if all goes well, goalie Ilya Sorokin could join the club and take on that role. Martin might be the biggest loss in a spiritual sense. Despite a two-year hiatus in Toronto, Martin has spent nine years in New York, and his grinding style of play has made him popular among the locals. He’s also the most likely to return as the fourth-liner may not command much in free agency after marking 0.4 point shares this season.
- The bigger issue, Staples writes, is with the Islanders' restricted free agents: Namely, center Mathew Barzal. Just two years removed from winning the Calder Trophy, Barzal is in line for a hefty raise, even if he settles for a bridge contract. With defensemen Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews and potentially Sorokin also restricted free agents, the Islanders will look to shed a contract or two to free up enough money to keep these central young players in the fold. The team has been resistant to trading defenseman Nick Leddy, but his $5.5M deal could be rerouted to players more likely to play key roles moving forward.
- Leddy remains a viable blueliner, and while they’re not likely to return a significant asset for him, the Islanders can get out from under his contract if they need the money. Another former Blackhawk, left wing Andrew Ladd, would be another trade piece, but at 35 years old and with only 30 games played over the past two seasons, the Isles are not likely to find a taker for the veteran forward — nor can they get any savings from buying him out. More likely for Ladd, Staples notes, is landing on the long-term injured reserve, which would allow the Islanders to go over the cap by $5.5M.
- Even though signing Sorokin will burn his one year ELC, the Islanders are probably going to do so to get him in the fold, writes Staple in another piece. It will make him a restricted free agent for next season, but the Islanders appear ready to bring him in to start working with their coaches. Since the KHL doesn’t typically allow opt outs, New York would rather bring Sorokin in and have him ready for next season rather than lose him to the KHL for another season.
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July 11, 2020 at 12:12AM
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With pending cap crunch, Islanders facing difficult roster decisions - Yardbarker
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