With Scott Mayfield landing on long-term injury reserve, the New York Islanders have newfound salary-cap space to play with.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- When New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was asked about the upcoming 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on Tuesday morning, he was adamant about one thing.
"[The team] said that they're playing the way they're capable of playing right now. We'll have to continue to do that," Lamoriello said. "As far as adding, if you can, you do. Are we thinking about subtracting? Absolutely not."
There are two ways to read that statement:
* The Islanders aren't selling any pieces, especially after winning three straight games to be within striking distance of a playoff spot.
* The Islanders aren't going to sell pieces like Brock Nelson but could move pieces to upgrade the club if the opportunity presents itself.
Lamoriello has made it abundantly clear, whether it be Tuesday morning or in past interviews, that if he can improve his roster, he will.
If selling players is off the table, how can Lamoriello improve the team with limited cap space?
Before our chat with Lamoriello, the Islanders had $135,000 in available cap space.
With the latest injury updates -- defenseman Scott Mayfield landing on long-term injured reserve and forward Hudson Fasching being activated -- the Islanders now have $2.487 million in available cap space, per CapFriendly.
That doesn't seem like much, but with retention possible (usually, teams will retain up to 50 percent), the Islanders, in theory, could bring in $4.974 million in contracts.
What about defenseman Robert Bortuzzo?
"The good news is that Robert Bortuzzo has been skating for the last week, and I feel that he's maybe just another week away," Lamoriello said. "So, that certainly is going to be of help."
Whenever Bortuzzo is ready, his $950,000 would come back on the books, bringing that available cap space number down to $1.53 million, with 3.06 in retention (if 50 percent), without needing to create a roster spot.
Rosters expand following Friday's 3 PM ET Trade Deadline. Teams can then carry as many players as they want as long as they are salary-cap compliant.
If the Islanders are set on not moving Jean-Gabriel Pageau's contract, which could open up an additional $5 million, or even a player like Oliver Wahlstrom ($874,125), a pending restricted free agent, they can still add players.
A name that The Hockey News brought up a few weeks ago and again in our "Ten Trade Deadline Targets For Islanders" piece earlier this week is San Jose Sharks forward Anthony Duclair.
The 28-year-old may not be having a strong season with San Jose, with 14 goals in 55 games, but brings the speed element that Islanders head coach Patrick Roy is looking for.
Also, Roy coached Duclair during his first stint in juniors, behind the bench for the Quebec Remparts.
Duclair, a pending UFA, carries a cap hit of $3 million, and here's where the retention comes in.
If the Sharks retain 50 percent, Duclair's cap hit with the Islanders becomes $1.5 million, which would barely fit on the Islanders' books -- but it would fit.
That's if no other players were leaving the roster in that potential deal or any other deal that could create cap space.
With Mayfield down and out, could Lamoriello try to go and get a defenseman?
There's no question that Sebastian Aho has played quite well alongside Mike Reilly, and if Bortuzzo will be back soon, there may not be a need there.
However, the Islanders could bring in a player like Nashville Predators' defenseman Tyson Barrie, a mobile blue liner who can play on the power play.
The 32-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $4.5 million.
The Islanders could get Nashville general manager Barry Trotz to retain 50 percent ($2.25 million), then get a third team to take on the additional $720,000.
Barrie has one goal and 11 assists in 35 games.
It would be much tougher, but the Islanders could do the same thing with retention to get Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin.
The 27-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent with a $4.95 million cap hit (and a modified no-trade clause of eight teams).
Hanifin has 11 goals and 24 assists in 61 games, but is one of the top players believed to be available.
If the Islanders were interested in moving, at a minimum, their 2024 first-round selection, they could bring aboard the strong left-side defender and lock him up long-term.
Reilly, a pending UFA, could certainly play his off-wing.
With 50 percent retention, that leaves the Islanders responsible for $2.475 million of Hanifin's cap hit. That would mean, without any players leaving Long Island in the deal, New York would need a third team to take on $945,000.
Those are just three options above, given the newfound deadline cap space.
Could Lamoriello decide to stand pat with his team winners of three straight and find a groove under Roy?
Could he decide that Bortuzzo and Aho will fill Mayfield's shoes and that the forward depth, with Fasching and Wahlstrom as the extras, is strong enough?
It's very possible, but if Lamoriello did want to upgrade, he can.
It would just take some creativity.