With the draft and buyout period now behind them, the Islanders will enter July 1 with no clear path to making something big.
There’s always the chance that Lou Lamoriello does something unexpected, and reports out of Winnipeg have the Islanders in talks with scoring wing Nikolaj Ehlers and prospect Rutger McGroarty, two players thought to fit the Islanders’ needs and potentially available via trade, but when it comes to free agency itself, the Islanders don’t have the cap space needed to do much.
Unless some kind of trade is struck, the biggest question on Monday will be whether the Islanders re-sign franchise mainstays Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck or release them to acquire a fourth line that isn’t an identity line.
Such a move is unlikely to dramatically affect the Islanders’ prospects beyond the 2024-25 season, but it would send shock waves through the locker room for the two players who most represent the Islanders’ core.
On the day of the breakup, both players said they wanted to continue playing next season, though both knew there was a chance they wouldn’t be able to play on Long Island.
“Right now, there’s nothing I can say,” Lou Lamoriello said at the draft on Saturday. “Right now, they’re free agents. Nothing’s been done. I’ve had discussions with them, they’ve had discussions with me. We’re three of us, both of us independently. [of them]”, we know exactly how the situation is. We just have to wait and watch.”
If the Islanders choose to remake their fourth line, they have some options in-house, specifically Hudson Farthing, who didn’t suit up for the middle-six role last season.
But that would likely mean spending the Islanders’ limited funds — $5.65 million — not including the cost of re-signing restricted free agents Simon Holmstrom, Ruslan Iskhakov and Oliver Wahlstrom, who became eligible Sunday.
If the Isles have a budget to work with on Monday, they have options: Kevin Stenlund, Nick Cousins, Steven Lorentz and Ryan Romberg are intriguing options the Isles could trust to be effective in the playoffs, having just played in effective fourth-line roles during a Stanley Cup run with the Panthers.
Former Golden Knight William Carrier was plagued by injuries last season but would be a strong bottom-six player and penalty killer when healthy.
A player like Craig Smith or James Van Riemsdyk might be worth considering on a one-year deal, although the latter is unlikely to play a fourth-line role.
A couple of potential candidates for a spot further up the lineup include Jeff Skinner and Max Pacioletti.
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Skinner, who was acquired from the Sabres ahead of free agency, still has the ability to score and would make sense playing alongside Mat Barzal and Bo Holbert.
Same goes for Pacioletti, if the Islanders are willing to take a risk on him trying to bounce back after injuries marred the past two seasons.
But unless the Islanders find a way to shed salary, it wouldn’t be surprising if even those bargain options were slightly outside their budget range.
There are also issues on the blue line, with Mike Reilly, Robert Bortuzzo and Sebastian Aho set to become unrestricted free agents.
After Riley arrived off waivers and did a great job on the third pairing, it would be surprising if the Islanders don’t at least try to re-sign him in the same role.
But the other two would be well advised to look elsewhere for more playing time.
If Riley doesn’t work out, the market for a left sided defenseman will be empty in the Islanders’ expected price range, and acquiring someone like Brendan Smith, Nate Schmidt or Ian Cole on a short-term deal would probably make sense.
Erik Brannstrom, who was denied eligibility by Ottawa, would also be an intriguing option.
Needless to say, none of these names are going to boost season ticket sales.
But if the Islanders want to make a change that will excite their fan base, free agency doesn’t seem like the way to do it.
