Équipe: 2021-22 Islanders de New York

Date de création initiale: 18 juill. 2021

Publié: 18 juill. 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

1) Protecting 2/3rd of the fourth line feels like Cizikas returning is a lock

2) A bought out Parise on vet min (maybe include some bonuses) screams Lou Lamoriello. He has interest in playing here and Lou has an extended history with Parise.

3) Exposing Eberle and Bailey signals that Lou still wants to shed a little more salary

4) All RFAs will return. No Devon Toews situation.
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This is where the fun begins IMO. Assuming you don't move out more money or have a side deal with SEA, Lou should have about $9.25m to sign a top-6F and Top-4D.

Plan A - Landeskog and Suter.
Lamoriello always seems to chase the biggest fish (Tavares, Panarin etc) so if Landeskog hits the market I think Lou will try his hardest to land him. Suter is linked to Parise, could have his contract loaded with bonuses to keep the initial AAV down, and has played for Trotz before in Nashville.

Plan B - Tarasenko and Martinez/Edler/Chara/Merrill
If Landeskog doesn't hit the market, seems like Lou is enamored with Tarasenko. If he's healthy, he would thrive next to Barzal and the 35-40 goal scorer we remember could reemerge. This scenario works under assumption Suter can get more money (or doesn't want to play for Trotz) so Lou pivots to another experienced LD. If it's Martinez, Lamoriello probably needs to shed a smidge more money (Komarov or Hickey?) to find the space.

Plan C - Palmieri and Martinez/Reilly.
Landeskog stays in COL or signs elsewhere. Tarasenko lands somewhere that isn't NY. Now what? Let's not kid ourselves with Ovi either - he's clearly a Capital for life. Blake Coleman, Mike Hoffman and Zach Hyman are interesting options, but Lou sticks to who he knows in Kyle Palmieri. He was effective in the playoffs, grew more comfortable in Trotz's system, and can go back to his natural RW position. He had chemistry with Barzal towards the end of the season and scored some big goals. He is more of a two-way player than Eberle and should bring similar offensive production. He signs for less than $5.5m (Eberle's AAV) so Lou should have ample money left over to sign Alec Martinez or Mike Reilly outright without moving any money.

All three of these routes seem plausible for their own reasons. Which Lou takes (or hand he is dealt) will be fun to watch. But any of the above options brings back a stronger team than last year's, who was 1 goal from a Cup final appearance.

Thoughts? Comments?