Country Club Islanders? On Friday, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/brock-nelson-new-york-islanders-team-usa-record] inked top European free agent forward Maxim Tsyplakov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/maxim-tsyplakov-new-york-islanders-free-agent-contract-entry-level-signing-bonus] to a one-year entry-level contract worth $950,000. While CapFriendly [https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/islanders] lists him in the minors, unless things go very wrong during training camp and preseason, Tsyplakov will be on the NHL roster for 2024-25. The Islanders started the summer with $7.075 million in available cap space, which doesn't include forward Julien Gauthier and his $787,500 since he likely will find himself back in Bridgeport rather than on the NHL roster. The organization hasn't announced the re-signing of any pending free agents yet -- eight unrestricted free agents and five restricted free agents. The expectation is that RFAs Simon Holmstrom, Kyle MacLean, and Ruslan Iskhakov will all receive qualifying offers, while UFA Mike Reilly did everything to earn a short-term extension. The assumption is that MacLean, Holmstrom, and Reilly all earn $1 million annual deals -- or somewhere around there, while Iskhakov likely comes in around $925,000. With Tsyplakov's cap expected to count against the NHL roster -- and all three of the players above make the roster out of training camp (Iskhakov the only question mark) -- that leaves the Islanders with $3.15 million in cap space as we move forward here this summer. However, before those signings, the Islanders had $6.125 million in cap space, which they could use to bolster the backend or acquire another forward. The Islanders still need to decide if Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin will be back and if they will tender a qualifying offer for Oliver Wahlstrom. They also need to decide if Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri are to get extensions, which they are eligible to sign on July 1, or whether they are going to move centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau ($5 M through 2025-26 or Casey Cizikas ($2.5 M through 2026-27). On the backend, Reilly outplayed fellow free agent Sebastian Aho, who likely will be on the move with Samuel Bolduc serving as the seventh defenseman if the Islanders don't look to upgrade that spot or include him in a deal. With Scott Mayfield [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/NHLNYI/posts/Q3qb3oO75aXIlJmW3hOU] expected to be ready for training camp after playing 40 games with a fractured ankle, the Islanders have no reason to bring back veteran Robert Bortuzzo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/new-york-islanders-robert-bortuzzo-mathew-barzal-patrick-roy-game-4-2024-stanley-cup-playoffs-hurricanes]. As of now, here's how we project the 2024-25 lineup to be before filling holes this summer, whether that be with their own players or via trade and free agency: X -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal Pierre Engvall -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Maxim Tsyplakov Kyle MacLean -- Casey Cizikas -- Hudson Fasching Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock Mike Reilly -- Scott Mayfield Ilya Sorokin Semyon Varlamov The Islanders could use an upgrade to their top six, but they would definitely need to clear cap space to make that a reality. Upgrading the blue line is also an option, but can the defense have a bounce-back season with Mayfield back healthy? If that's the belief, then it's all systems go on getting another forward for the group. Although Pierre Engvall played better down the stretch and in the playoffs after a shaky start to the season and then more shaky play after the coaching change, Patrick Roy seemed to be getting the best out of him at the right time. The question with Engvall is whether he should remain in a third-line role where he looked better or get a third chance with Nelson and Palmieri. The other significant question mark is where Tysplakov plays to begin his NHL career. If the Islanders think he can be an offensive difference-maker, having him play alongside Nelson and Palmieri is a possibility, even with Horvat and Barzal, if the Islanders don't bring in a top-flight player. According to Ethan Sears [https://x.com/ethan_sears/status/1791183399987585038] of the New York Post, the Islanders were also seeing if Tsyplakov could play center. That suggests the Islanders could trade Pageau or Cizikas and slot Tsyplakov as the third-line center —or maybe even at the No. 2 spot if Nelson is moved. All the talk about trading Nelson is fair, given his age and the fact that he has the most value on the Islanders among players who would be on the move. But unless they think Tsyplakov is potting 30-plus goals or they think a combination of Tsyplakov, Kyle MacLean, and others could mimic Nelson's production, the Islanders would be playing a dangerous game—especially if their defensive play doesn't tighten up in 2024-25. The Tsyplakov signing came out of left field, and if he can be an offensive difference-maker at a $950,000 cap hit, that will help the Islanders out in a major way. Up next for the Islanders is the signing of their RFAs, with the deadline on June 25. Then, we have the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas from June 28-29 before the start of free agency on July 1. Given the last few summers, many Islander fans think this one will be the same, but after the failures during the regular season and the bounce from the First Round for a second straight season, this seems like the summer of change. TOP STORIES
