The New York Islanders’ core is a mixture of youth and veterans acquired by 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 aren’t. With Noah Dobson and Anthony Duclair rating as a number of the higher contracts on the workforce, which offers are holding the workforce again?
Contracts are ranked by the remaining time period, AAV, clauses, and the participant’s function on the workforce.
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 workforce’s current success and future outlook. Regardless of every participant being on an affordable AAV, the phrases of every deal depart them as honorable mentions.
5. Adam Pelech (5 x 5.75 million AAV)
Adam Pelech embodies what it means to be an Islander by his gritty, team-first, and defensive-oriented playstyle. Nevertheless, the previous two seasons have proven a decline in his play as a consequence of a number of long-term accidents which have prompted him to overlook 45 video games. Even when the soon-to-be 30-year-old was on the ice, he didn’t appear to be his common self.
Pelech’s 38.8 and 48.8 aim percentages (G%) up to now two seasons have been extremely disappointing, particularly for somebody speculated to be one of many Islander’s prime defensemen. It doesn’t make me glad to be so essential of a fan favourite who has endured a lot adversity, however the actuality is he must be higher. There must be little question 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 shouldn’t be essentially overpaid, however his questionable function on the Islanders lands him on this record. For $5 million AAV, being a terrific defensive middle shouldn’t be sufficient. There’s a clear marketplace for gamers like Pageau, however for a workforce as cap-tight because the Islanders, it doesn’t make sense to be paying a third-line middle a lot cash. This isn’t a nasty contract however slightly a complicated one which has prevented the workforce 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 strong 2023-24 season. He ranked third amongst Islanders’ forwards in G% (57.3), first in anticipated objectives proportion (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 isn’t a top-six winger, however he supplies all the things the Islanders need in a bottom-six winger along with his pace, defensive consciousness, and hockey IQ.
Associated: Islanders Want a Blockbuster Commerce to Develop into Critical Contenders
Nevertheless, paying a 28-year-old depth ahead for six further seasons, particularly one which depends so closely on their skating, is a polarizing contract. Even when Engvall maintains his pace, 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 robust contract to have.
2. Anders Lee (2 x $7 million AAV)
Regardless of having nice analytics final season, Anders Lee’s manufacturing took a large hit, and there’s little purpose to imagine this season can 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 impression will make it troublesome for any workforce to navigate the wage cap. Lee is a good individual, works arduous, and cares so much in regards to the Islanders, however he might want to beat the percentages 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 impression. He is a good defensive defenseman, however his function on the Islanders makes his contract a burden. The way forward for the suitable aspect 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 critical damage for the whole lot 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 record wouldn’t change. At 31 years outdated, six further seasons, and $3.5 million AAV with a no-trade clause for a third-pairing defenseman, there isn’t a world the place this deal ages properly.
Fortunately for the Islanders, most of their contract points stem from the size of every deal slightly than the AAV. If the workforce can go on a couple of deep playoff runs within the subsequent few seasons, the size of those offers can be bearable. Nevertheless, if they continue to be in mediocrity, the way forward for the franchise may have some darkish seasons in retailer.
