Could we see the New York Islanders part ways with a big piece this summer?

From the struggles of the 2021-22 season through the trials and trepidations in 2022-23, the New York Islanders still see themselves as contenders but there's an understanding that everyone needs to raise their game. 

"I believe in this core group," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "The goal is to be where these two teams (Vegas and Florida) are. We have to get better. I have to get better. Our coaching staff has to get better. Our players have to get better."

There are three ways an NHL team can get better. The first is parting ways with prospects and picks to acquire talent, as we saw with the Bo Horvat and Pierre Engvall acquisitions this past season. 

The second way is developing prospects, the most cost-effective way to bolster a club, especially in a league that continues to get younger.

The third way is by signing talent in free agency. 

With just $5.3 million in cap space following the Samuel Bolduc extension, no first-round pick this year or the three years prior, and a lack of a strong prospect pool, any real upgrade to this group will come in some form of a hockey trade. 

And a hockey trade that moves contracts to create more cap space works too. 

Before we dive into our list of Islanders dark horse departures this summer, longest-tenured Islander Josh Bailey is on the move, and with Scott Mayfield, Zach Parise, Engvall, and Semyon Varlamov pending unrestricted free agents, they are excluded from this list.

Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson, 31, continues to prove that players can reach their peak after 30. After scoring 37 goals in 72 games during the 2021-22 campaign, Nelson followed that up with a 36-goal campaign this past season, playing in all 82 games.

Not to mention, Nelson was selected for his first All-Star weekend, as he went down to South Beach and won the NHL's Accuracy Shooting competition, beating out Calgary Flames forward Nazem Kadri.

Nelson potted two goals in the playoffs with three assists in six games to lead New York in both categories.

The Minnesota native has been the Islanders' most consistent scorer these last two seasons, and he will continue to be relied upon for offense.

However, as Lamoriello mentioned at his end-of-season press conference, he has flexibility at the center position and could use that flexibility to fill holes if there was an opportunity.

Nelson carries a cap hit of $6 million annually through 2024-25, with a modified no-trade clause (16-team list). 

Adam Pelech

There's no question that Adam Pelech, 28, has been the glue for this Islanders team for a few years. When he's out of the lineup like he was for 21 games this past season, the Islanders struggled.

However, before suffering his upper-body injury, Pelech wasn't the same defenseman he had been under head coach Barry Trotz. And that makes sense, as first-year head coach Lane Lambert was pushing for more offense earlier in the season, which meant the defense would suffer a tad -- which they did.

When Pelech returned from his injury, it allowed the Islanders to find structure, with New York ultimately returning to Trotz's style as they pushed for a playoff spot.

In the playoffs, Pelech struggled mightily against the Hurricanes.

Can the Pelech-led defense bounce back, or were they more of a product of the Trotz system?

The Islanders still need that elite offensive player. If they feel like the shutdown Pelech can garner them that kind of player, it may make sense long-term.

Pelech is under contract until 2028-29 at a reasonable cap hit of $5.75 million annually. He has a no-trade clause through 2024-25, before a modified no-trade clause kicks (16 teams). 

Ryan Pulock

Ryan Pulock, 28, was sound defensively the entire season and was a catalyst in the postseason, with a goal, three assists, and a laundry list of booming hits in the six postseason games against the Hurricanes.

While his postseason play was positive heading into his offseason, Pulock has struggled to be the offensive player this team needs from the backend.

There's a belief Pulock can still be that guy, and at $6.1 million per season until 2029-30, the Islanders need him to be a force and help take some pressure off the youngster Dobson.

But if the chance came to get that scoring defenseman, and Pulock's postseason play got some team attention, could we see the Islanders sell high?

Like Pelech, Pulock has a no-trade clause through the 2026-27 season before his modified no-trade clause (16 teams) kicks in.  

After former Islander Anthony Beauvillier forced a Game Seven after sniping Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy in the semi-finals of 2021, his value was likely never higher.

The Islanders kept Beauvillier and did use him in a package to acquire Bo Horvat.

Given Pulock's lack of offense, it's more likely that he leaves Long Island over Pelech, while defense continues to be their bread and butter. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Out of all the dark horses on this list, Jean-Gabriel Pageau is the most likely one on the move. But he's still a dark horse given the fact that -- albeit a lack of an offensive game -- he brings more to the table than meets the eye.

And people fail to see why Pageau is ultra-important to the team's success. 

Pageau, 30, is coming off his best offensive season since 2019-20, scoring 13 times and a career-high 27 assists for 40 points while winning a career-high 57.2 percent of his draws. 

On top of that, Pageau is an exceptional penalty killer and is a defensive-minded center who is usually tasked with the best of the best the opponent has to offer. 

Pageau is a player that any Stanley Cup contender could use, and with two years left at $5 million annually, a team may be willing to pull the trigger. 

Ilya Sorokin

Listen. If Ilya Sorokin isn't in an Islanders sweater come the start of the season, something went really wrong. 

Sorokin does have one year left on his contract at $4 million annually, but can sign an extension starting on July 1st. 

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is in the same boat, wants Andrei Vasilevskiy money ($9 M AAV), and he, along with Sorokin, are Vezina finalists.

I'd tend to think that Sorokin does take a team-friendly deal to remain on Long Island, but you never know, and he and his agent Dan Milstein have all the leverage.

But if somehow, Sorokin failed to put pen to paper on an extension before the start of the 2023-24 season, is it likely that he will be moved?

Again, getting him under contract shouldn't be an issue, but given the league shift in the goaltending mindset, seeing a cheap goalie like Adin Hill get hot at the right time and win a Stanley Cup, is there a number that Lamoriello won't cross at the contract table?

And, with Sorokin in his prime at 27 and is a top-three goaltender in the NHL, could he bring back an elite player?