As the New York Islanders move into the offseason, there is a lot on the to-do list for president and general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello. At the top of this list is a new contract for star center Mat Barzal. The 2018 Calder Trophy winner completed his entry-level contract and will look to get paid like the top-line centerman he has been under Barry Trotz.

As a restricted free agent (RFA), Barzal doesn’t have the leverage of someone like Alex Pietrangelo, where he can choose whatever team he wants. However, we did see William Nylander hold out until December, before the Toronto Maple Leafs caved and gave him a six-year, $45 million deal, which now looks to be a very fair deal.

It likely won’t come to that, but Barzal will command more than the $6.9 million per year that Nylander is being paid. His deal will likely be above $8 million per year unless they Islanders work out a bridge-deal.

The flat cap will probably lead to more bridge-deals — short deals at a lower cap hit to allow for more negotiation an a few years — than normal. These deals will give players security while GMs can navigate the difficult economic landscape of the flat cap world.

This is the first time the cap hasn’t gone up since 2012-13 when it decreased by over $4 million, but teams were allowed compliance buyouts. No such luck this season. A bridge deal for Barzal would probably be in the 2-3 year range with a cap hit of $5-6 million.

Comparatively to his RFA class, Barzal will likely wait until the market is set by guys like Anthony Cirelli and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Both are centers that play top-six minutes for their teams, although Cirelli isn’t on the same level as the other two. Like Barzal, Dubois has developed into the top center on his team. Both should see similar cap hits although the player that signs first will likely be leaving some money on the table.

There is a chance that Barzal could receive an offer sheet from another team. Last year, RFA Sebastian Aho signed an offer sheet from the Montreal Canadiens, although Carolina quickly matched it, even mocking the Canadiens on social media.

It was the first offer sheet signed in six years, however, and could open the door to more in the future. With the flat cap and the potential compensation for poaching an RFA, it’s unlikely, although not impossible, that Barzal will get an offer sheet. Should he sign one, however, it could be at a lower cap hit than the Islanders were prepared to offer, giving them a financial break.

There are many options for the future contract of Mat Barzal: the flat cap, offer sheets and even other players could come into play before he signs on the dotted line. One thing is for certain, though; Lou Lamoriello is going to do everything he can to keep his star around for the long haul.

John Smark