The offseason has answered several questions about the future of this Islanders team. However there are still quite a few remaining questions regarding the Islanders roster for next season. Here are some of the remaining questions facing the Islanders ahead of their 2023-24 season.
As of this writing the Islanders are still awaiting a decision on Zach Parise’s NHL future. This decision looms pretty largely for the team’s third line. Parise has been a quality contributor with a pair of 30 point seasons as well as a 21-goal performance last season. Plus there’s his constant hard work playing off of the puck that has been equally valuable for the Isles.
Needless to say it would be a relatively significant loss if Parise did opt to retire. Having traded away two wingers in Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey their wing depth would suddenly be very thin. Hudson Fasching would likely become a regular starter again with the newly signed Julien Gauthier being an option as well. Neither are particularly bad options but neither have that elite veteran presence or career scoring prowess that comes with Parise.
The Islanders need for a scoring winger has been well documented heading into this offseason. But with no available cap space they don’t have the financial flexibility to add an impact scorer to the roster. With that has come about the idea of trading J.G. Pageau as a means to acquire that kind of player. The idea started amidst the Alex DeBrincat trade saga where Pageau was rumored to be a part of the Islanders unsuccessful trade package.
If the team was willing to trade away Pageau in that instance, it’s not inconceivable for them to try and do so again. That kind of trade could possibly free up cap space for a signing or bring back a scoring winger in return. The hot rumor in that regard is possibly sending Pageau to the Bruins for 26-year-old winger Jake DeBrusk.
However while the rumors make sense, they’re only rumors to this point. Only time will tell if the Islanders would be willing to sacrifice having five reliable centers to try and improve elsewhere.
Oliver Wahlstrom accepted his qualifying offer worth $874,125 to return to the Islanders next season. The former 11th overall draft pick is entering his fourth NHL season with a lot to prove. He hasn’t quite been able to take the next step in his offensive development since scoring 12 goals in 44 games in his rookie season. Many thought he would take that next step with Lane Lambert’s new coaching style last season but he only amounted to seven goals in 35 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
By taking this cheap one-year deal, Wahlstrom is betting on his ability to put it all together this season and earn himself a much bigger deal. He’ll have a great opportunity to play regularly and better showcase the improvements he made in his physicality and defensive game with Bailey and potentially Parise leaving the team. The question is if he does that and consistently uses his wicked shot to become the high-level scorer the Islanders need him to be.
Featured image courtesy of NHL.com
Check out our NHL page for more updates!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers like Justin!
