Islanders Scout Senators vs. Capitals, Centers & Defenseman On Their Radar?
On Monday night, an Islanders scout was in Washington D.C., scouting the Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators game. Who could they have been watching?
The New York Islanders are still fighting for a playoff spot with 24 games to go, which likely means general manager Lou Lamoriello will be looking to add prior to the March 8, 2024, NHL Trade Deadline.
On Monday night, an Islanders scout was in Washington D.C., scouting the Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators game.
Despite the Senators playing the best hockey we've seen from them this season, they sit 16 points back of a wild-card spot and likely will be sellers.
Given that the Islanders have moved Brock Nelson from the second-line center slot to the top-line left-wing position, it's likely the Islanders may be looking to add a centerman come the deadline.
Right now, Kyle MacLean is proving to be a legitimate bottom-six center, and the movement of speedy Casey Cizikas to the third-line center role alongside speedster Pierre Engvall may be a match.
The defensive Jean-Gabriel Pageau is now playing a top-six role for the first time since the Islanders acquired him from the Ottawa Senators at the 2020 NHL Draft.
Pageau's offensive game has declined in the Islanders system as their third-line shutdown forward, and given the cap issues the Islanders are facing, they could look to upgrade their No. 2 center position and move Pageau and his $5 million cap hit which is on the books through 2025-26.
Could the scout have been there to watch 23-year-old centerman Shane Pinto?
The Franklin Square native hasn't played much hockey this season, given that he was suspended 41 games for breaking the NHL's gambling policy.
Pinto returned from his suspension on Jan. 21, the first day Patrick Roy coached a game for New York, by the way, and has been a man unleashed with five goals and eight assists for 13. points in 15 games.
To return to action, Pinto inked a one-year deal worth $775,000.
There's no question the Senators would love to keep Pinto around long-term, especially now since he's playing alongside team captain Brady Tkachuk on the club's second line.
Could the Islanders have their eyes on the Senators' third-line center Josh Norris?
The 24-year-old Michigan native has 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points in 49 games and is on the books through 2029-30 with an annual cap hit of $7.9 million.
With Pinto's climb on the depth charts, do the Senators think of moving Norris instead?
Having a "third-line" center making that much isn't ideal, not that the Islanders could afford that cap hit right now unless salary was retained or multiple contracts were going back the other way or to someone else.
Before we dive into what players could be going the other way in either deal, let's move on to the blueliner the Islanders could potentially have been scouting.
The Islanders' backend is a critical part of Roy's success equation.
Veteran defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are under contract through 2028-29. Noah Dobson is on his way to an eight-year extension, while Alex Romanov will likely get a long-term commitment of some sort, with both in need of contracts following the 2024-25 season (it won't get to that point as they'll likely sign an extension before the start of next season).
Scott Mayfield, despite his struggles, has six more years left on the books after this one.
Mike Reilly has played well since being claimed off waivers at the end of November and could earn himself a one or two-year extension worth around $1 million annually.
If the Islanders believe they can save money by riding Reilly and think he can do exactly what's needed to get this team to play to the best of their abilities, they prob should go that route, given their lack of cap space.
But if they want to bring in more of a long-term commitment, Jakob Chychrun should be someone they heavily consider.
The Islanders showed interest in Chychrun last trade deadline before he was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Senators.
For the price of a 2023 conditional first-round pick, a 2024 conditional second-round pick, and a 2026 second-round pick, Ottawa got a gifted two-way blueliner.
He's currently playing on the bottom pairing alongside former Islander Travis Hamonic despite leading the backend in points with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points.
Chychrun signed a six-year deal worth $27.6 million with Arizona back in November of 2018, carrying an annual cap hit of $4.6 million through 2024-25.
He has a modified no-trade clause (10-team no-trade list), and if he doesn't want to commit long-term in Ottawa, with a year left of the control, that makes him a hot commodity.
Now, let's get to the asking price.
Before the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, there were rumors that the Islanders had offered Pageau, 23-year-old forward Oliver Wahlstrom, and potentially more to Ottawa for forward Alex DeBrincat.
The Senators didn't accept that deal and granted DeBrincat's wishes to go to his hometown, Detroit Red Wings, who the Islanders face Thursday night.
With Ottawa wanting to be a playoff team in 2024-25, they want proven NHLers, not just prospects.
Pageau and Wahlstrom could certainly be on the table yet again with a combination of picks and prospects.
Yes, Lamoriello may have to move a first-round pick yet again, but if that means getting Chychrun or Pinto and locking either up long-term, it's a move the Islanders should make.
It would cost A LOT for any team to land Pinto because he's young, an RFA, and he's ultra-talented.
Can the Islanders compete for him? Does his being from Long Island help at all?
Does Norris' contract make a move for him impossible?
Is Chychrun the more likely add?
The Senators are about to miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, and this was supposed to be a season where the organization broke that playoff slump.
Trading players have become their forte.
The Islanders, if they can create the necessary cap space, should have interest in all three, given their new-look lineup.