The New York Islanders’ core is a mixture of youth and veterans acquired by way of the draft, trades, and free company. At this level, every contract has been signed by basic supervisor Lou Lamoriello. Some offers are team-friendly and a few are usually not. With Noah Dobson and Anthony Duclair rating as a few of the higher contracts on the staff, which offers are holding the staff again?
Contracts are ranked by the remaining time period, AAV, clauses, and the participant’s position on the staff.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Pulock (6 x $6.15 million AAV), Ilya Sorokin (8 x $8.25 million AAV), Bo Horvat (7 x $8.5 million AAV)
Ryan Pulock, Ilya Sorokin, and Bo Horvat are all pretty compensated gamers who’ve been pivotal to the staff’s current success and future outlook. Regardless of every participant being on an affordable AAV, the phrases of every deal go away them as honorable mentions.
5. Adam Pelech (5 x 5.75 million AAV)
Adam Pelech embodies what it means to be an Islander by way of his gritty, team-first, and defensive-oriented playstyle. Nonetheless, the previous two seasons have proven a decline in his play as a result of a number of long-term accidents which have precipitated him to overlook 45 video games. Even when the soon-to-be 30-year-old was on the ice, he didn’t appear like his traditional self.
Pelech’s 38.8 and 48.8 aim percentages (G%) previously two seasons have been extremely disappointing, particularly for somebody speculated to be one of many Islander’s high defensemen. It doesn’t make me joyful to be so vital of a fan favourite who has endured a lot adversity, however the actuality is he must be higher. There ought to be little doubt he can bounce again this season, however till then, his contract is poor worth.
4. Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2 x $5 million AAV)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau will not be essentially overpaid, however his questionable position on the Islanders lands him on this checklist. For $5 million AAV, being an amazing defensive heart will not be sufficient. There’s a clear marketplace for gamers like Pageau, however for a staff as cap-tight because the Islanders, it doesn’t make sense to be paying a third-line heart a lot cash. This isn’t a foul contract however fairly a complicated one which has prevented the staff from making the mandatory additions to bolster the highest six.
3. Pierre Engvall (6 x $3 million AAV)
Regardless of many fan’s beliefs, Pierre Engvall had a stable 2023-24 season. He ranked third amongst Islanders’ forwards in G% (57.3), first in anticipated objectives share (58.0), sixth in anticipated objectives (16.5), eighth in objectives (10), and eighth in factors (28). By way of the annual common, his $3 million AAV is team-friendly. He’s not a top-six winger, however he supplies all the pieces the Islanders need in a bottom-six winger along with his velocity, defensive consciousness, and hockey IQ.
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Nonetheless, paying a 28-year-old depth ahead for six extra seasons, particularly one which depends so closely on their skating, is a polarizing contract. Even when Engvall maintains his velocity, his contract is unmovable given his 16-team no-trade clause and six-season time period. If there have been two years left this may be a unique story, however given the time period and commerce clause, it’s a powerful contract to have.
2. Anders Lee (2 x $7 million AAV)
Regardless of having nice analytics final season, Anders Lee’s manufacturing took an enormous hit, and there’s little motive to imagine this season shall be any completely different. The Islanders captain is 34 years outdated, has misplaced his edge, and is more likely to be demoted to the center six. Paying $7 million for a 20-goal scorer with little offensive upside and minimal defensive affect will make it tough for any staff to navigate the wage cap. Lee is a superb individual, works exhausting, and cares lots in regards to the Islanders, however he might want to beat the chances to dwell as much as the ultimate two seasons of his contract.
1. Scott Mayfield (6 x $3.5 million AAV)
Whereas itemizing Scott Mayfield because the Islanders’ worst contract is inherently demeaning, his placement is because of many components, not simply his on-ice affect. He is a superb defensive defenseman, however his position on the Islanders makes his contract a burden. The way forward for the best facet of the protection is secured with Dobson and Pulock, so paying $3.5 million AAV for six years with a no-trade clause for somebody assured to be caught on the third pairing is insufferable.
Whereas Mayfield struggled with a severe harm for the whole thing of the 2023-24 season, Dobson and Pulock accounted for 77.4% of attainable ice time. Even when Mayfield stayed wholesome and carried out properly final season, his placement on this checklist wouldn’t change. At 31 years outdated, six extra seasons, and $3.5 million AAV with a no-trade clause for a third-pairing defenseman, there isn’t any world the place this deal ages properly.
Fortunately for the Islanders, most of their contract points stem from the size of every deal fairly than the AAV. If the staff can go on just a few deep playoff runs within the subsequent few seasons, the size of those offers shall be bearable. Nonetheless, if they continue to be in mediocrity, the way forward for the franchise can have some darkish seasons in retailer.
