The Islanders face a very busy offseason in which they need to retain key free agents on a tight budget. They also need to find ways to improve after falling just short of the Stanley Cup Finals two years in a row. Here are some options the Islanders could consider that could help them take that next step.
Reports have begun to leak out that Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko might be traded this offseason. A trade for him would be complicated due to his no trade clause, but the Islanders may be in luck. A rumored list of teams Tarasenko would approve a trade had the Islanders included on it. If this rumor is true, Tarasenko could be the missing superstar to take the Islanders to the next level. Prior to injuries over the last two pandemic shortened seasons, Tarasenko was one of the league’s best goal scorers.
He scored over 30 goals in five straight seasons before the 2019-2020 season. Adding him to the first line alongside Lee and Barzal would make it a prolific scoring line. Tarasenko’s presence on the team would also help the power play and the overall offensive output. Tarasenko should be a priority for the Islanders this offseason, assuming the rumors are true.
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If the Islanders could put together their idea of a perfect player, Matthew Tkachuk would be close to it. With rumors that Calgary could move him this season, the Islanders should have high interest. His style in being a hard hitting agitator is an absolutely perfect match for Islanders hockey. He had 132 hits in 2021, which would’ve been third on the team right behind Clutterbuck and Martin. Clutterbuck and Martin’s hard hitting style is what makes the fourth line so great, so adding another player like them would certainly help.
But unlike Clutterbuck and Martin, Tkachuk is capable of scoring over 20 goals. He’s done so in three different seasons with the Flames, even getting 34 goals in 2019. His point production wasn’t great this season, but the entire Flames team had around him relatively poor season. In addition, with him being 23 years old he has great potential to improve across the board.
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The Islanders have one of the oldest rosters in the league and limited cap space to use in free agency. Anthony Duclair offers a solution that remedies both of those problems. At only 25 years old and going to his possible 7th different team, he shouldn’t be a very expensive acquisition. Although he’s never really lived up to his potential, the Islanders could be a very good fit for both sides.
For one, he’ll be working under one of the best coaches in the league in Barry Trotz. A coach of that calibre could help bring the best out of the still young Duclair. In addition, Duclair already has chemistry with a current Islanders player. He played on a line with center J.G. Pageau in Ottawa, and put up a career high 21 goals in that very season. Simply put, Duclair is a low risk, low cost and potential high reward acquisition who could help immediately and well into the future.
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Who doesn’t love a good reunion? Hamonic was a beloved player in his first stint with the Islanders and the fanbase would be happy to have him back. Andy Greene is a free agent and also is turning 38 years old, leaving the Islanders to possibly seek out a younger option. They also could lose Nick Leddy to the expansion draft, leaving a hole even if Greene returns. With reports that Hamonic is willing to play outside of Canada next season, he could be a great addition for the Islanders. The most obvious reason for this is because of his familiarity playing with this team. This option presents a way for the Islanders to bring in a player who won’t need long to adjust to their style of play. He also regularly played on a line with Leddy in the past, adding to his familiarity value if Leddy is on the team next season.
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Conor Garland is the type of player that every team would love to have. Well, every team except for the Arizona Coyotes that is. With Arizona not making any progress on contract talks with the RFA, trade rumors have begun to swirl. The Islanders would have to clear up more cap space to give Garland a new contract, but he could be a great fit.
His stellar work on the defensive side of the puck will surely be valued in the Islanders system. Most notably he’s had a positive takeaway to giveaway ratio in his three seasons, his best being in this most recent season. What’s also very notable about Garland is his consistent offensive production while playing on a bad team. He’s scored 39 points in each of his last two seasons, leaving many to anticipate what he can do on a better team. With Garland potentially working with Lee and Barzal on the first line, he could in for even more production with the Islanders. All in all, Garland is a player the Islanders can trust to commit to their defensive system and elevate their offensive attack. And he can do it all at the young age of 24, adding to his long term value.
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