Everyone always talks about the team's core, but who makes up that group exactly?

With the New York Islanders struggling and many looking toward the future, there's been a lot of talk about the team's core.

However, the answer to who makes up the team's core isn't consistent, which can be problematic when discussing the topic.

So, let's dive in.

For those new onto the scene, a team's core is the group of young players the club should build around. 

The Islanders' core is a bit interesting because long-term contracts don't necessarily mean that those players must be built around; some automatically get added into the mix. 

FORWARDS

Centers Mathew Barzal, 27, and Bo Horvat, 29, are in the second year of their eight-year deals and lead the way amongst the core forward group.

Barzal carries a cap hit of $9.15 million, while Horvat's comes in at $8.5 million. 

Free agent signing Anthony Duclair, 29, was added to the mix after the left winger signed a four-year deal worth $3.5 million. 

Then we have winger Simon Holmstrom, 23, who is in the final season of a one-year deal worth $850,000. He will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. 

He could get around $3 million annually. 

Another free-agent signing that joined the core is winger Maxim Tsyplakov, a 26-year-old making $950,000. He's also a pending RFA with arbitration rights. 

He could get around $4-$5 million annually. 

Pierre Engvall, a 28-year-old winger who is in the second season of a six-year deal at $3 million annually, would have been included in the core, but his inconsistencies will likely lead to the parting of ways this summer. 

While centerman Kyle MacLean, 25, could be included in the team’s core with two more seasons left at $775,000, a new general manger could waive him and that would be that.

Defense

The Islanders' blue line core is certainly more complicated due to who is signed under contract. 

There's no question that right-side defenseman Noah Dobson, 24, is getting a long-term extension somewhere around $8 million. He is a pending RFA with arbitration rights. 

Left-side defenseman Alexander Romanov, 24, who is also a pending RFA with arbitration rights, is likely to get a long-term deal. 

Could a five-year deal worth $5 million annually be in the cards?

After what we've seen from left-side defenseman Isaiah George through his first 21 NHL games, he must be included in the core. 

The good news about George is that he is in the first season of his entry-level deal worth $838,333. 

Because of contracts, it's hard not to include Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and Scott Mayfield in the team's core. 

Why?

Left-side defenseman Pelech, 30, who is in the fourth season of an eight-year deal worth $5.75 million, and right-side defenseman Pulock, 30, who is in the third season of an eight-year deal worth $6.15 million, have full no-trade clauses through year four. 

Mayfield, a right-side defenseman, is in year two of a seven-year deal worth $3 million and also has a full no-trade clause (through year five). 

Goalie

Despite his statistical struggles behind the incredibly shaky defense, Ilya Sorokin, 29, is the Islanders' No. 1 netminder for the foreseeable future, as he's locked in at $8.25 million annually through 2031-32.

His backup, Semyon Varlamov, 36, is in year two of a four-year deal worth $2.75 million. He has a 15-team no-trade clause. 

CORE LINEUP

Duclair-Horvat-Barzal

Holmstrom-Tsyplakov

Romanov-Dobson

Pelech-Pulock

George-Mayfield

Sorokin

FINAL THOUGHTS

Players with no-trade and no-movement clauses can be moved as long as they get that player's approval.

The Islanders' core isn't bad, but what matters is how they use their older players to acquire assets to complement it.

Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, pending UFAs, can bring back first-round picks without salary retention. 

Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee, each with one season left on their deals after this one, are positive assets given production. 

The defense, unless management gets Pelech, Pulock, or Mayfield to waive their clauses, isn't going to change much.