On Tuesday night, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that the salary cap was projected to increase to $87.7 million for the 2024-25 season. How does this affect the New York Islanders?

On Tuesday night, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported that the salary cap was projected to increase to $87.7 million for the 2024-25 season.

This exponential potential jump will be a savior for many franchises who found themselves in a pickle following the stagnant cap during COVID-19. 

How does this cap growth impact the New York Islanders?

It certainly loosens the collar of general manager Lou Lamoriello, who, before re-signing any of his pending free agents, will find himself with around $6.25 million in cap space this summer per CapFriendly, barring no trade deadline acquisitions or departures. 

The Islanders have four pending unrestricted free agents: Forwards Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin, and defensemen Mike Reilly and Sebastian Aho.

Their pending restricted free agents are forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom. 

Netminder Ilya Sorokin's significant extension, at $8.25 million annually over the next eight seasons, is the only new contract that hits the books for 2024-25. 

Noah Dobson, and Alexander Romanov, are eligible to sign extensions this summer, so that is something Lamoriello will be taking into consideration. 

Dobson is likely on his way to an eight-year extension at an elevated cap hit, given his stellar play out of the gate with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 23 games, along with his exponential growth on the defensive side of the puck.

Lamoriello retained all his free agents this past summer, running things back with the same group. This summer will likely be a tad different. 

Cal Clutterbuck

Clutterbuck, who is in the final year of a two-year deal worth $3.5 million, has stayed healthy this season, surpassing the 1,000-game milestone with seven points (three goals, four assists) in 23 games. 

The 37-year-old has done a fine job alongside Casey Cizikas and a few different linemates. If he continues playing, a one-year deal with a discounted cap hit is likely in the cards.  

Matt Martin

Martin, who is in the final year of a four-year deal worth $6 million, is out injured with an upper-body injury. But when he is healthy to return, is there a spot in the lineup for him? 

The 34-year-old has been struggling with the game's speed this season, and while he's been out, players on multi-year deals, like Hudson Fasching and Julien Gauthier, have stepped up alongside Cizikas and Clutterbuck.

Martin has served as a healthy scratch once this season, so it's clear Lane Lambert has no issues sitting the long-time Islander.  

The Windsor, Ontario native bleeds orange and blue, and one can't see him leaving Long Island. But if he is no longer a starting player for this group, does Lamoriello retain him, even as a 13th or 14th forward?

Mike Reilly

Newcomer Reilly has only played three games with the Islanders since being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Nov. 25. 

What the 30-year-old brings is not just speed on the left side but provides the Islanders with defensive depth, a weak spot for the organization. 

Reilly is in the final year of a one-year deal worth $1 million, and depending on how the Chicago native plays as the season progresses, it likely seems like a no-brainer to bring him back as the club's seventh defenseman next season if he doesn't prove to be a reliable starter.

Sebastian Aho

Aho has taken strides over the last year, going from an unproven blue liner to someone who can play reliable minutes and quarterback a power play. 

The 27-year-old is currently on Injured Reserve with an upper-body injury, which is part of the reason the Islanders went out and got Reilly. So, who knows when he will make his return to the lineup.

Aho is in the final year of a two-year deal worth $1.65 million contract and could see a slight increase in pay if the Islanders keep him around. Lamoriello will likely have to choose between Aho and Reilly, as they are similar in what they provide. 

Now, to the pending restricted free agents.

Oliver Wahlstrom

Wahlstrom, who signed his qualifying offer this summer at $874,125 after missing the second half of the 2022-23 campaign with an ACL injury, has yet to prove he can be a top-six player in this league. On a team full of bottom-six talent, there's no real room for him in that role. 

In the chances he's had this season to leave his mark, he's come up short, with two goals and three assists in 17 games. Based on Monday's practice, he looks to be a healthy scratch Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks.

Wahlstrom was rumored to be included in trade talks this past summer, and if he does remain with the Islanders through the season, it isn't out of the realm of possibilities that the Islanders decide not to tender him a qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent.

Simon Holmstrom

At this rate, there's no question Holmstrom will be given a raise on a multi-year deal. 

Through 22 games this season, the 22-year-old is filling the Zach Parise void to a tee with seven goals while providing strong defensive play at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. 

Holmstrom's still on his entry-level deal due to two slide years, so he will likely see an uptick to at least the high $900,000 per year on a multi-year deal.

He's performed better than many anticipated and has been one of, if not the biggest bright spots in 2023-24, outside of Mathew Barzal's performance.  

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 at twitch.tv/hockeynightny.