Offseason Outlook: New York Islanders
With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: C
The New York Islanders nearly salvaged their season after swapping out Jack Capuano for new bench boss Doug Weight.
The change was made in mid-January, with Weight, the former assistant, filling in throughout the stretch drive. Under his guidance, the Islanders went 24-12-4, but missed the postseason by a single point.
Free agents
Only three Islanders are in need of new contracts, with just one regular among the trio. Defenseman Calvin de Haan had a breakout year, appearing in all 82 games and finishing with 25 points while holding down top-four minutes.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Gionta (F) | UFA | 33 | $575K | 6 |
| Calvin de Haan (D) | RFA | 25 | $1.967M | 25 |
Meanwhile, the three-headed monster in New York's crease will be no more, as Jean-Francois Berube can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. That leaves Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak to tend the twine for the Islanders.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean-Francois Berube (G) | UFA | 25 | $675K | .889 |
2017 draft picks
The Islanders have five picks in the coming draft. They had the lowest odds at the draft lottery, with just a 0.9 percent chance at the first pick, and a three percent shot to move into the top three. In the end, New York held on to its top pick and will select 15th overall.
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 0 |
| 7 | 1 |
Summer priorities
1. Sign John Tavares to a long-term extension
It could be the Steven Stamkos saga all over again. The captain and face of the franchise needs a new contract, but this time it's in Brooklyn.
Tavares' contract expires after next season, but the Islanders can put pen to paper with their leader as soon as July 1, when a maximum eight-year extension could be in the cards.
But while New York needs a commitment from their captain, the top center also needs to see more from the club. The Islanders' future remains in flux, with complications from bad ice conditions to poor fan experiences potentially leading to a quick exit from the Barclays Center.
Whether the franchise ends up in Belmont Park or heads back to a renovated Nassau Coliseum remains to be seen, but there's no doubt Tavares will need a concrete idea of the club's future before agreeing to a long-term pact.
2. Surround Tavares with a scoring winger
After Tavares has signed on for the long term, or in enticing him to do so, it's up to general manager Garth Snow to find his prized center a comparable winger.
The Islanders walked away from former first-rounder Kyle Okposo last summer, replacing him with free-agent addition Andrew Ladd. Okposo, who signed with the Buffalo Sabres, excelled in his first season in Western New York, scoring 45 points, while Ladd was limited to just 31.
If the Islanders wade back into the free-agent pool this summer, there's no better option at wing than T.J. Oshie, who potted 33 goals this season with the Washington Capitals. Oshie is familiar with playing alongside big-game talent in D.C., where he lines up with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, and he'd have a similar scenario in New York with Tavares.
3. Ride Thomas Greiss as the go-to goaltender
Greiss has earned the top job. Now it's time to leave him in the crease. Despite outdueling Halak a year ago - posting more wins and a better save percentage - there were still too many question marks in goal in New York this season.
Related: Islanders complete 3-year extension with Greiss worth reported $10M
Greiss has proven he's capable of holding down the top duties. He appeared in 51 games this season and should be rewarded with more starts next year.
2017-18 outlook
The Islanders adjusted to Weight, who has since lost his interim tag for the full-time coaching duties. If he can translate his half-season success to a full year, chances are his team will return to the playoffs in 2017-18.
The biggest question mark entering the coming season will surround Tavares if a long-term extension isn't on the books. Getting that out of the way will keep the captain's focus where it needs to be: on the ice.
Offseason Outlook Series
COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WSH
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJS | STL
NYR | EDM | MTL | ANA | MIN
CBJ | CHI | OTT | PIT | NAS
LGK
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)