As the end of August approaches, many Islanders fans are pretty disappointed with the offseason Lou Lamoriello has put together. Missed free agents and trade targets at arguably low prices (Nikita Gusev, Phil Kessel, Jimmy Vesey, etc.) have left the Islanders little options to bolster their roster. With a near-replica of a team that was eliminated in the second round last year, where can the Islanders find players to help take the next step for next season?

Where Can They Improve?
It’s no secret there’s a gaping hole in the Islanders top-six and if they’re going to improve it has to start with finding a top tier forward. The Islanders struggled with shuffling lines constantly to try and find the best fit in their top 6, which not only showed their inability to find six forwards worthy of the minutes, but also made it difficult on the forwards group to find consistency playing with new line mates nearly every night (besides the best fourth line in hockey).
My favorite choice for that role is Jason Zucker. Zucker is a consistent goal scorer, having scored over 20 in four out of the last five seasons, with a reasonable contract ($5.5 million) that takes him through the 2022-2023 season. At 26-years old, it’s fair to believe he can continue that production through the remainder of his contract. With strong statistics and a favorable contract, it is strange that Zucker was the centerpiece of two trades that fell through the last minute within the last six months (Calgary at Trade Deadline, Pittsburgh during offseason in potential Phil Kessel deal). With the Wild seemingly trying to move him, the Islanders should pounce on the opportunity to get a consistent winger to fill out the top-six.
A swap involving Nick Leddy as a good cap equalizer and fit for the Wild along with a top prospect/pick would likely get the job done and leave the Islanders in a good position for their top six. Furthermore, Devon Toews seems primed to take over Leddy’s role and Thomas Hickey or Noah Dobson are both strong options fill out the defensive group. As the roster currently stands, Anthony Beauvillier will likely start the season in the top-six after his contract yesterday, which would be a risk considering his inconsistencies last season. Acquiring Zucker gives the Islanders a clear best six forwards that will help the team tremendously from both a talent and consistency standpoint. It also allows Beauvillier to slide back to the third line with more reasonable expectations for the upcoming season.
Projected lines with Zucker:
Lee – Barzal – Eberle
Zucker – Nelson – Bailey
Beauvillier – Brassard – Komorav
Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck
Pelech – Pulock
Toews – Mayfield
Boychuk – Dobson
Varlamov
Greiss
Scratches – Kühnhackl, Hickey, Dal Colle

---

Use code drive4five on SeatGeek for $20 off your first purchase!