Free agency began yesterday and the Islanders did not make one move. Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows are two players that could benefit.

However, the New York Islanders are going to be a very busy team as they have three major restricted free agents (RFAs) to re-sign in Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews. Matt Martin and Derick Brassard are two bottom-six forwards that are unrestricted free agents (UFAs) as well. The Islanders should not overpay to replace or re-sign these players, as they should give some young players a chance and improve the team from within.

With players such as Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Leo Komarov getting paid hefty amounts for bottom-six players and the Isles being in a tight cap situation, it almost makes too much sense to play the rookies. Two players that have a great oppurtunity to crack the Isles 2020 opening day lineup are Oliver Wahlstrom and Kieffer Bellows. They both saw a small amount of NHL action last year but this year they have the chance for a full-time role.

A big question mark on this is that both Wahlstrom and Bellows’ names have come up in trade talks. They have been considered as pieces in a deal for Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine. These two prospects have tremendous upside and it is not worth it for the Islanders to give up on these young players so early.

These young players also would help the Islanders salary cap situation. Bellows and Wahlstrom both are on entry-level deals which is great if the Islanders could get a lot of production out of these players at a cheap price. If the Islanders and Lou Lamiorello continue to overpay for depth players, the cap situation can get even uglier. Don’t forget at the end of next season, two emerging stars Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech will both be RFAs. Beauvillier is coming off a career season and Pelech has been the Isles most consistent defender.

A big reason Bellows and Wahlstrom deserve a chance is to shake things up and insert youth into the lineup. The Islanders are one one of the oldest teams on average currently in the NHL. Outside of players like Barzal, Pageau and Beauvillier the Isles lack a lot of speed. Inserting some young players into the lineup maybe could spark the offense, which is something the Islanders definitely need.

Overpaying for bottom-six forwards would make the Islanders salary cap situation worse than it already is. The Islanders should let the youth movement begin.

John Smark