Islanders Use Draft Picks To Bolster Prospect Pool; Now What?
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Ahead of the NHL Draft, we dove into what a hat-trick weekend would look like for the New York Islanders.
First, it was using their first-round pick to acquire a bonafide top-six forward.
Second, it was to use one of their two second-round picks to shed salary cap space in order to be able to compete in the free-agent market.
Thirdly, and closing things out, New York would use their second second-rounder, along with their fourth, fifth, and sixth-rounder selections, to bolster their prospect pool.
The Islanders accomplished one of those three, which was adding some intriguing names to the prospect pipeline.
With the 20th overall pick, the Islanders selected the best pure goal-scorer in the draft in Cole Eiserman.
It was a shock that Eiserman fell as late as he did, which may have impacted the Islanders' plans, despite general manager Lou Lamoriello telling us that he had no intentions of moving that pick.
The Islanders actually had an exceptional draft—at least on the surface, since prospects are all question marks until they make it to the show—bolstering their questionable prospect pool.
Focusing on the future was necessary, but it was also problematic because none of the selected prospects are ready to help the Islanders right now.
This a team that needed the last week of the regular season in back-to-back seasons (Game 82 in 2022-23, Game 81 in 2023-24) to qualify for the playoffs.
Not only that but with just $5.8 million in available cap space before retaining any of their unrestricted or restricted free agents and no longer having the ability to use their best assets—2024 draft picks—the Islanders will have a hard time adding difference makers when free agency begins on July 1 at 12 PM ET.
So, what are the assets at Lamoriello's disposal?
Can we call buyouts an asset?
Sure, we can.
Like a broken record, the two buyout options are Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, but is the cap penalty (double the years at two-thirds the length) worth it to save just a tad bit of money?
In theory, Brock Nelson is the Islanders' best asset and was so heading into the draft. However, replacing a consistent 30-goal scorer who will likely take a team-friendly deal may not be in the best interest of a team that has too many players locked in to rebuild.
The same goes for Kyle Palmieri, who finally, after struggling with injuries since joining the Islanders, showed how much of an impact player he could be by playing in all 82 games for the second time in his career and reaching the 30-goal mark.
Lamoriello said on Saturday that signing the two to extensions—both about to enter the final season of their deals—isn't a priority at this moment.
We could look at the defenseman under long-term deals in Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, but both have full no-trade clauses.
At this point in time, pending RFA Oliver Wahlstrom, who will be tendered a qualifying offer by Sunday's 5 PM deadline, per Lamoriello, doesn't appear to have too much value on the open market, hence why he is still part of the organization.
Could he be a piece in a trade?
Could Simon Holmstrom, who has yet to show he can be an offensive player in this league—a team need—be used in a trade given the potential for him to be a solid defensive forward?
Does Ruslan Iskhakov, who has two career NHL games under his belt—one coming in the playoffs—provide any kind of value on the open market, given his silky mitts and offensive instincts?
With the Islanders snagging two defensemen in this year's draft, Jesse Pulkkinen and Xavier Veilleux, as well as having Isaiah George and Calle Odelius joining the organization in the fall, does that make former second-round pick Samuel Bolduc moveable?
Out of all the names mentioned, Bolduc likely has the highest trade value, but how high is it?
Regardless, those players, individually or together—whatever it takes—could be packaged with 2025 picks, or just the picks, to acquire a player like Nikolaj Ehlers, who was expected to be moved at the draft but didn't.
The reality of the situation for the Islanders is that by doing the right thing for the prospect pool, they've now handcuffed themselves from making next year's team better.
The hope is that Maxim Tsyplakov will be a top-six forward for them, with Lamoriello saying that they "did not sign him for Bridgeport."
Lamoriello also said that the top-line fit could be right under their noses, which sounds like they'll hope that a middle-six forward, either an NHLer already on the roster or a prospect, is the answer.
That's a dangerous song that's been overplayed too often for a team with two tremendous first-liners hoping for a solidified answer.
Okay.
That's the end of my thoughts on what transpired this weekend and what are the realistic options.
Oh wait, I do have one more, likely not a popular one. It's coming later, so stay tuned.