So now what?
The Islanders’ longest playoff run in 27 years ended Thursday night, but the team had a strong season, coming just two wins away from qualifying for the Stanley Cup finals. There are six players who could be headed for free agency this offseason and the signing of highlytouted goaltending prospect Ilya Sorokin may complicate the situation in net. The Post’s Mollie Walker looks at what questions the Islanders are facing this offseason:
Q GOALTENDING: After the Islanders let Robin Lehner walk following the 2018-19 season, they
signed Semyon Varlamov as a free agent to a four-year, $20 million deal in
July 2019. Thomas
Greiss (right), who is set to become an unrestricted free agent next season, has somewhat been bumped by Varlamov as the No. 1 goalie this postseason after seeing rather equal time during the regular season. To make matters even tighter for Greiss, the Islanders signed Sorokin in early July only to burn a year off his entrylevel contract and sign him to an immediate one-year extension for the 2020-21 season worth $2 million.
Q UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Aside from Greiss, Andy Greene is the only part of the defense who will be an unrestricted free agent. The Islanders have made it clear how highly they think of Greene and his veteran presence on their back end, but after bringing in a cap hit of $5 million, there likely will have to be a cut taken in order for him to remain on the team.
As part of the Islanders’ fourth line, or Identity Line, Matt Martin had a career playoff run with five goals. But the Islanders collectively paid $9.5 million dollars for their fourth line, and though a productive part of the team, that’s rather high. Martin’s cap hit was $2.5 million.
Derick Brassard found himself as a healthy scratch a handful of times this postseason as he struggled offensively, putting up just two goals and six assists in 18 games. Carrying a cap hit of $1.2 million it’s questionable if there would be a bigger deal on the table.
Q RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Defenseman Ryan Pulock and Mathew Barzal are the only two restricted free agents. Pulock, 25, did a tremendous job on the top
defensive-pairing with Adam Pelech and played a big part in the defensive core. Pulock had a cap hit of $2 million for the 2019-20 season.
GM Lou Lamoriello made it clear in March that Barzal would have an offer sheet matched by the Islanders if it ever got to that point. Barzal has proved his upside could be monumental, and that could mean a solid pay day for the 23-year-old center, especially after his cap hit sat at just $863,333 from his entry-level contract.