With Palmieri out, Darche juggles injured players and cap space, weighing internal options and potential trade market moves to strengthen the Islanders.
With Kyle Palmieri set to undergo season-ending ACL surgery, the New York Islanders’ cap structure has shifted, well, potentially.
Currently, Alexander Romanov and Semyon Varlamov are on Injured Reserve (IR), while Pierre Engvall remains on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR).
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who is also injured, has not been placed on IR or LTIR but is expected to return before Christmas, per general manager Mathieu Darche.
Under the NHL CBA, a player placed on LTIR must miss 10 games and 24 days, meaning that if Pageau were placed on LTIR, his earliest eligible return date would be December 19 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Because LTIR can be applied retroactively to the date of injury, the Islanders have not been forced to decide on Pageau yet.
Fortunately for the Islanders, Darche has a strong track record of navigating complex cap situations, having helped guide the Tampa Bay Lightning to two Stanley Cups while managing extended LTIR absences for stars Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, among others.
The Islanders are not currently using any of Engvall's $3 million salary that has been sitting on the LTIR, so they have the flexibility to add to this roster by dipping into this money first, before needing to use Palmieri and Romanov -- again, if need be.
Marc Gatcomb, who played one NHL game this season and 39 last season, is the likeliest option to replace Palmieri on the roster.
From there, Darche is likely to rely internally while staying within the trade market loop until the trade deadline. If he thinks he can get a replacement before March 6 without mortgaging their future -- which seems incredibly bright.
At this time, the Islanders will evaluate Calum Ritchie, who has since replaced Pageau as the team's third-line center.
Maxim Shabanov, who logged a career high 22:19 TOI during Friday's game against Philadelphia, will take on Palmieri's role in the top-six.
Mitchell and Adam Boqvist will fulfill Romanov's role, with Marshall Warren an option to be called up as well.
As of right now, the Islanders have $44,504 in available cap space -- they are currently accruing.
They could have $16.75 million in funds if Romanov, Varlamov, Pageau, and Palmieri land on LTIR at some point -- more likely $11.75 million with Pageau coming back soon.
Darche will scour the trade market and, if he feels there's a move to be made to strengthen the team without giving up an abundance of assets, he'll make the room.
While trades coming ahead of the deadline has become more of the norm that on actual Trade Deadline Day, it's understandable why teams like the Vancouver Canucks, for example, would rather wait until we get a little closer -- maybe before the February Olympic Break -- to move their players.
The cost to acquire players right now, four months ahead of the deadline, is high, and teams know that the Islanders, given their latest slew of injuries, may be forced to overplay to acquire talent that will help them stay in the playoff race.
Stefen Rosner contributed to this story.