Could Islanders Be Re-interested In Ottawa Goal-Scoring Winger?

Could the Islanders circle back on a player who also showed interest in coming to Long Island a few years ago?

The New York Islanders had a scout up in Ottawa for a second straight night.

On Tuesday, we wrote about three Senators that the Islanders could have an interest in:

Quite frankly, there is a CVS receipt of players on Ottawa's roster that could end up being traded ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

Could the Islanders circle back on a player who also showed interest in coming to Long Island a few years ago?

Forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with Ottawa this past summer, is a pending unrestricted free agent, and it doesn't appear that a contract extension is coming his way. 

NHL insider Darren Dreger shared on TSN Hockey Insider that the chances that the Senators re-sign are "slim":

Tarasenko has 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 55 games this season, playing on the Senators' second line. 

The now 32-year-old forward once requested a trade from the St. Louis Blues in early July of 2021 after he thought they failed him in his recovery after three shoulder surgeries, which limited him to 34 games from 2019-2021.

The Islanders were one of a handful of teams that Tarasenko had shown interest in going to, per The Athletic's J.P Rutherford.

General manager Doug Armstrong couldn't get the return he was looking for as the injury history scared many teams off, including the brand-new Seattle Kraken, who chose to pass on Tarasenko after he was left unprotected a few weeks later at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.

In August of 2021, Rutherford reported that the Islanders were still an interested party, but Tarasenko remained in St. Louis.

Tarasenko showed in 2021-22 that he was indeed healthy, potting 34 goals with 48 assists in 75 games before eventually being moved to the New York Rangers during the following season at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline.

Due to cap issues, the Rangers couldn't retain Tarasenko, as he became a free agent before signing with Ottawa.

Despite moving Josh Bailey and his $5 million cap hit to the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2024 NHL Draft, the Islanders used their newfound cap space to re-sign their pending unrestricted free agents, with no room left to add. 

The Islanders are still in "cap hell," with just $135,000 in available cap space, per CapFriendly. 

Tarasenko could be a suitable player alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal.

Bringing in the right winger would allow Barzal to go to the left-wing spot, where he feels more comfortable, given that he can break over the blue line on his backhand to get around defenders and can cut to the net on his forehand. 

What about Brock Nelson, who just moved from the second-line center position to the top-line left winger?

It's incredibly unlikely that Roy keeps Nelson with Horvat and Barzal long-term, unless the organization goes out and gets a bonafide No. 2 centerman. 

Even if the Islanders keep Nelson as the top-line winger, Tarasenko can play on the second line, as he's done this season. 

That may allow the Islanders to move Anders Lee to the third line, a move that could likely be coming next season whether players are acquired or not. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5MgCw7gyCQ[/embed]

As mentioned, the Islanders have zero cap space, and the Senators have even less ($24,049).

If the Islanders were going to bring on Tarasenko, that means a hefty contract would need to go back the other way.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau's name has come up in pretty much every potential trade for Long Island because of his $5 million annual cap hit over the next two seasons. 

Pagaeu and 23-year-old forward Oliver Wahlstrom ($874,125) were rumored to be two pieces the Islanders would be sending to the Senators this past summer for forward Alex DeBrincat, who forced his way to his hometown Detroit Red Wings. 

The Islanders may not even have to move a player like Pageau to Ottawa, as Wahlstrom and a second or third-round pick to get the job done.

But Pageau, or a player like Kyle Palmieri ($5 million cap hit), would need to be moved first for cap purposes. 

If Pageau does go back the other way to Ottawa, they won't be able to retain any of Tarasenko's $5 million cap hit.

Now, Tarasenko is no longer the player he once was, and Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello would need to have an extension in place to consider doing this deal like he usually does. 

Would it be a bargain deal for the Islanders to trade a struggling prospect for Tarasenko and extend him on two-to-three-year deal with an AAV of $4-4.5 million?

The salary cap going up by $4.2 million next season to $87.7 million, which certainly helps alleviate the costs. 

The Islanders need more scoring and don't have the budget to get the top-flight players the league has to offer. 

Tarasenko is a cost-effective option that won't cost a first-round pick and could fit in the Islander's top six for the next few seasons.