Despite the need for a bottom-six forward, the Islanders should focus on upgrading their defense by the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
Despite the need for a bottom-six forward, the Islanders should focus on upgrading their defense by the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
Since the calendar flipped from 2023 to 2024, the New York Islanders offense slowed down while the defense continued to be a thorn in their side.
Through 13 games, with an underwhelming 3-7-3 record, the Islanders offense has averaged 2.54 goals per game while allowing 3.62, as both sides of the equation could use a spark.
What position is more vital for the Islanders to acquire by the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on March 8?
It's cliché, but it really is too soon to know for sure.
The Islanders are five points back of a wild-card spot and four back of third in the Metropolitan Division and will need to either go on a run to get into a spot or, at the bare minimum, collect points and tread water to remain within striking distance.
Given the injuries on the blue line, it's looking like a defenseman add should be the top priority.
Yes, fourth-line center Casey Cizikas is week to week with a lower-body injury, but Kyle MacLean, for what he's being asked to do, has been a solid replacement.
With how Patrick Roy has managed his lines thus far, MacLean and the rest of the fourth line won't be playing much, especially late in games.
The Islanders do have an opening on the third-line right-wing spot, as Julien Gauthier and Oliver Wahlstrom aren't the answers, especially on a line that is supposed to go up against the opponent's stars.
While an upgrade in the bottom six may prove to be a need, there's none bigger than a defenseman on a team whose defense and penalty kill failures have led to their standings position.
As for what side defenseman, that answer just became complicated with the Adam Pelech injury.
With Ryan Pulock already on long-term injured reserve, the Islanders are down a complete pairing.
The belief is that Pulock, who hasn't played since Dec. 7 due to a lower-body injury, will be back before the season's end, while Pelech's second head injury in 14 months could keep him out longer, despite being initially ruled as day-to-day.
Although Samuel Bolduc -- who is going through growing pains in his second NHL season -- and Mike Reilly -- who has been a healthy scratch in two of four games under Roy -- are options to fill the Pelech hole, the Islanders certainly have left-defense options, which includes Sebastian Aho, who is currently playing the right side.
Right now, the Islanders could upgrade the right side of their blue line, but with Pulock's return hopefully, on the horizon, the Islanders seem deep enough there with Noah Dobson and Scott Mayfield, even if the new owner of a seven-year extension has struggled thus far this season.
The popular want is Calgary Flames top defenseman Noah Hanifin, but the cost would be at least a first-round pick -- before a mixture of other picks and prospects.
Given the deal we saw Wednesday night when the Flames traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurm, a 2024 first-round -pick, and a 2024 fourth-round pick (Conditional), it seems like Calgary general manager Chris Conroy is trying to stay competitive while also boosting his system and depth.
If another team, like the New Jersey Devils, offers the Flames a prospect like Alexander Holtz, the Islanders can't compete because of their lack of a prospect of that caliber.
Sure, the Islanders can throw in more picks to counteract the lack of prospects -- which they would only do if Hanifin were signing an extension -- but that's more picks off the table.
With no true top prospect, the Islanders would need to overpay for Hanifin or find a cheaper option to fill their needs.
In terms of other left-side pending UFA defensemen, there's not much that moves the needle outside of Hanifin.
Also, there's the whole money situation.
While the Islanders do have $4.2 million in available deadline space right now, the Islanders would have to move $1.95 million off the books to activate Ryan Pulock and his $6.15 million off Long-Term Injured Reserve.
Pelech could be moved to LTIR, retroactive to Jan. 25.
The veteran's cap hit of $5.75 million heading to LTIR would give the Islanders $3.8 million to play with. Keep in mind, though, that the Islanders will still have to leave room to activate the veteran defenseman if he's ready to return before the end of the regular season.
If he isn't, the Islanders don't have to worry, as there is no salary cap once we reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs if New York qualifies.
What the Islanders can also do to maximize their spending allowance is to move forward Casey Cizikas ($2.5 million) from IR to LTIR, which would give New York an additional $6.3 million.
To get that number even higher, Robert Bortuzzo ($950,000) could go on LTIR as well, and moving a player like pending restricted free agent Oliver Wahlstrom ($874,125) would get that number up to $8.12 million.
Both Cizikas and Bortuzzo, if placed on LTIR, would need to miss 10 games AND 28 days. Since both injuries are retroactive, Bortuzzo can return when he is ready, with Cizikas needing to miss one more game.
Again, creating money is one thing, but using it and leaving room for activations is another ball game, so spending big isn't likely the route the Islanders can take.
Of course, the Flames could retain up to 50 percent of Hanifin's $4.95 million contract ($2.475 million), but that isn't guaranteed.
Out of the rest of the names on this list, most of them are on contending teams or playoff hopefuls, so unless the Islanders have interest in San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek or Minnesota Wild defenseman Alex Goligoski, there aren't any real options.
Lamoriello also doesn't do rentals, but maybe he looks at a young blue liner with term?
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun would likely be a dream addition.
The 25-year-old left-handed defenseman, who can also play the right side, is under contract through the 2024-25 season, carrying a cap hit of $4.6 million, and has a 10-team no-trade list.
In 47 games this season, Chychrun has eight goals and 20 assists, averaging 22:41 minutes per night.
Last season, the Islanders were linked to the Boca Raton, Florida native, but the Arizona Coyotes moved him to the Senators.
Chychrun could extend in Ottawa, but it does appear that there's still work to be done for both sides to agree, and the Senators are currently in the basement of the Atlantic Division.
Like Hanifin, it would cost more than the Islanders 2024 first-round pick. But unlike Calgary, who is trying to stay competitive while bolstering the prospect pool, the Senators hope their rebuild is done and that this season was tough.
So, maybe Ottawa is looking for veterans, like a reunion with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a rumored piece going to Ottawa alongside Oliver Wahlstrom for Alex DeBrincat, who made his way to his native Michigan this past fall.
Another Senator defenseman, Erik Brännström, could be another option.
The 24-year-old plays bottom-pairing minutes, with two goals and nine assists in 15:33 TOI.
His cap hit is $2 million, and although a weaker showing this season, Brännström is coming off his best NHL season, tying a career-high with two goals with a career-best 16 assists for 18 points.
But where Brännström took off was on the defensive side of the puck, setting career-highs in blocks (103), hits (49), and takeaways (28) while playing in a career-low 16:07 minutes per game.
He can play both sides and has played on the penalty kill.
Despite playing the right side, Flames defender Chris Tanev seems to be a player who fits with this group.
Tanev puts his body on the line each shift, already surpassing last season's block totals with 135 in 46 games, as opposed to 130 in 65 games last season, and is sound positionally in front of goal:
Under Roy, defensive play is paramount, and the players that have filled in for the injured parties have done what they can. Still, if Lamoriello can upgrade the blue line, he must if the Islanders want to give themselves the best chance at going on a run and qualifying for the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
You can watch Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert live Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter & Facebook.