Islanders Select Cole Eiserman The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-anthony-duclair-mike-reilly-nhl-free-agency-salary-cap-situation], who were salary-cap strapped once free agency opened on Monday at noon, have just $1.06 million in cap space after signing Anthony Duclair [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/anthony-duclair-patrick-roy-new-york-islanders-juniors-free-agency-nhl] and Mike Reilly [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/mike-reilly-new-york-islanders-contract-extension-one-year-deal-defense]. If Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is going to add to this roster, it will likely come via hockey trades. We reported on Monday that the Islanders had checked in on Ottawa Senators forward and Long Island native Shane Pinto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-shane-pinto-ottawa-senators-contract-negotiations]. The 23-year-old, who was suspended 41 games for gambling this past season, is a likely breakout candidate in 2023-24 after showing glimpses of dominance over the last two seasons. A source says Pinto hasn't requested a trade, but The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports that contract extensions have stalled between the two sides. Senators general manager Steve Staios was adamant that Pinto hadn't requested a trade, but when the belief is that a player wants out, does he have to make a formal request? Pinto's camp, as he is a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of $813,750, is hoping for an offer sheet, which Ottawa said they will match. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NTUwNDM3Njk4NTc3ODYz/usatsi_20222732-3.jpg] Staios has a job to do, and if it became public that Pinto asked for a trade, he would lose all leverage in trade discussions -- so why would he admit to that if the player's camp hasn't said it yet? If the Islanders land the Franklin Square native, former Senator Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his $5 million will likely be traded in a package with one of their RFAs and potentially a pick. Even if Ottawa doesn't have leverage, they aren't going to settle. Pinto is one option, and we will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Potential lineup with Pinto if Pageau goes the other way: Duclair-Horvat-Barzal Tsyplakov-Nelson-Palmieri Lee-Pinto-Engvall MacLean-Cizikas-Fasching -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another option is Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers. Earlier in the summer, The Hockey News had learned that the Islanders inquired about the 28-year-old speedster, who is entering the final year of his deal worth $6 million. It doesn't seem that Ehlers is willing to sign a long-term extension in Winnipeg, but that doesn't mean, with one year remaining, that the Jets need to move him right now. Ehlers was expected to be dealt at the NHL Draft, but that didn't happen. Is it because Winnipeg still thinks they can retain him long-term, or is it because the asking price was too high? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NTY1Nzg1NDk1Nzc0NjYz/usatsi_22845377-2.jpg] The situation remains fluid, and it wouldn't be a shock to see his name pop up again in rumors over the next few days as teams miss out on their favorite free agents. Also, if Ehlers remains with the Jets to start the season, he could be moved at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, a time when teams overpay due to desperation. Getting Ehlers may not seem like not a need with Duclair there -- both playing similar games --, but having both makes the top six so strong: Duclair-Horvat-Barzal Ehlers-Nelson-Palmieri That would allow the Islanders to use European free-agent forward Maxim Tsyplakov in a third-line role as he tries to get accustomed to the NHL game. Having both Duclair and Ehlers, would also allow Anders Lee and Pierre Engvall to play in bottom-six roles, which suits them better. For those saying Lee playing a bottom-six role with a cap hit of $7 million isn't right, his AAV doesn't matter anymore. He's here and the Islanders need to play him in the best spot, regardless of the money. As with Pinto, Pageau's contract makes him a prime candidate to go the other way. But in this situation, trading Pageau would leave the Islanders with no right centers—not ideal. It's unlikely, but the Islanders may look to move Casey Cizikas, who is under contract for the next two seasons at a very reasonable $2.5 million cap hit. To fit Ehlers, the Islanders would need to shed an additional $3.5 million unless New York overpays a tad for Winnipeg to retain salary (50 percent retainment would make Ehlers's cap hit $3M). If the Islanders could get the Jets to agree to that, they would only need to clear $500,000, which is much more doable. The Jets could use help down the middle, currently rostering Vladislav Namestnikov as their No. 2 and David Gustafsson as their fourth-line center. Captain Adam Lowry centers their third line, which is the right spot for him. If Ehlers is still a target, he would be a strong fit alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri or Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Here are other players entering the 2024-25 season with a year left on their deals that could interest Islanders: -RW Brock Boeser -C Travis Konecy -LW Frank Vatrano Going back to Cizikas for a moment, the Islanders could move the center to create some additional cap space for a depth signing if that's of interest to them. Cizikas has no trade protection, and a team like the Anaheim Ducks -- the only team in the NHL not to make a signing on day 1 of free agency -- find themselves below the cap floor. Every penny counts in the salary cap world, and even though the Islanders tendered qualifying offers to their three NHL-caliber restricted free agents, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that Oliver Wahlstrom, Ruslan Iskhakov, and Simon Holmstrom aren't on the roster for 2024-25. Wahlstrom seems as good as gone if Lamoriello could find a trade partner where he isn't giving him away for anything. Iskahkov is waiver-exempt, so the Islanders would want to place him in Bridgeport. However, the two-time AHL All-Star doesn't have much more to prove in the minors and could look for an opportunity elsewhere—potentially in the KHL. Holmstrom struggled down the stretch for New York and was a healthy scratch in the playoffs after being a mainstay in the lineup. He's the most likely of the three to remain on the roster if head coach Patrick Roy believes he can raise the young defensive-savvy winger's battle intensity a few notches. We haven't focused much on the Islanders bolstering their defense because there's not much more to do on the back end. With Reilly back, the Islanders' defense is set: Dobson-Romanov Pelech-Pulock Reilly-Mayfield The only question is who will be the club's seventh defenseman. Unrestricted free agent Sebastian Aho's camp hopes he'll be back while 23-year-old former second-round pick Samuel Bolduc remains. The Islanders could try to move one of Adam Pelech ($5.75 M AAV) or Ryan Pulock ($6.15 M AAV) to create cap space. But because both have full no-trade clauses and the immediate need to fill the holes they'd leave behind, it's incredibly doubtful. If the Islanders are still interested in any of the available free agents, they need to unload contracts as soon as possible. Here are potential adds to bolster depth with contract precautions, per The Daily Faceoff [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/brett-leason-urho-vaakanainen-sign-one-year-contracts-with-anaheim-ducks]: -RW James van Riemsdyk (1x$1.2M) -RW Daniel Sprong (3x$3.1M) -RW Victor Oloffson (1x$1M) -LW Max Pacioretty (1x$1.5M) -LD Oliver Kylington (1x$1.1M) The belief is that the Islanders aren't done making moves, so we will see what else Lamoriello has up his sleeve as the offseason rolls on. TOP STORIES
