More than a fringe team

Équipe: 2023-24 Islanders de New York

Date de création initiale: 13 juin 2023

Publié: 13 juin 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

If the isles maintain the status quo this offseason they will be a fringe playoff team that is a probable first round exit. The direction of this team became clear when Raty and a 1st (and Beauvillier) were traded for Bo Horvat despite the team nose-diving: they are not rebuilding/re-tooling. This ACGM aims to follow this line of thinking while shaking up some of the old-guard.

1. Trade for DeBrincat - The isles still need a goal-scorer, and eventually they’ll get one whose production doesn’t dry up as soon as they come to Long Island, right? Right!?

2. Re-sign Engvall and Parise - Engvall, Nelly, and Palms were the Isles’ best line down the stretch last season. No-brainer to reunite them. Parise slots in nicely on a rebuilt fourth line. Speaking of which…

3. Get rid of the identity line - Cizikas’s contract locks him in as 4C, but clutterbuck is cooked and Martin frankly isn’t an everyday player anymore. He can platoon with Parise when the Isles want a bit more size/physicality in a game.

4. Re-build the 3rd line - Since DeBrincat would be an Islander and the 2nd line is set in stone, Lee slots in as the 3LW. I love Pager, he kills penalties, is solid defensively, solid in the playoffs, and a 0.5 PPG player, but he is overpaid by about $1 million and that is a lot of money for the Islanders. Bjugstad is a cheap replacement. Hopefully Wahlstrom can take a big step forward this year.

I love this forward group, I think the defensive lines are solid, and Sorokin is an all-world goalie. If this team can’t get it done, no Islanders team can.

1.

2.

3.