Lou Lamoriello made big news this offseason, trading one of the best players on the Islanders, Devon Toews, for draft picks. For this reason and many more, the Islanders will not be making a big splash anytime soon.

Lou Lamoriello’s Offseason Options

There are countless free agent forwards available on the open market, including Mike Hoffman, Mikael Granlund, Ilya Kovalchuk, Erik Haula, Anthony Duclair, Carl Soderberg, Andreas Athanasiou, Alex Galchenyuk, Corey Perry, Connor Sheary, Matt Martin and Derick Brassard. That group of 12 forwards is better than arguably some NHL rosters and could be had for pennies on the dollars.

Teams with cap space are salivating as they are waiting on these players to get desperate. When that happens, they will swoop in with a discount contract offer.

Mike Hoffman destroyed the Islanders in the 2020 Qualifying Round, tallying three goals and five points. In 69 games last season, he tallied 29 goals and 30 assists and would have most likely hit the 70-point mark if not for COVID-19.

Other players, like Anthony Duclair, Andreas Athanasiou and Corey Perry would provide immense value in the middle-six, help on the power-play and most importantly, they would come at a discount.

However, it is never that easy.

It Is Not Happening

The Islanders just traded Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche for second-round draft picks in 2021 and 2022.

Devon Toews, traded to COL, is an exceptional two-way defencemen who has put up absolutely elite results at both ends of the ice in top four minutes. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/GSvHk7uM2q

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 12, 2020

Toews is a fantastic player. Lamoriello knew the young defensemen was entering restricted free agency and could elect arbitration since Lamoriello became general manager of the Islanders. Nonetheless, a young player with elite potential is now gone.

And he is gone for a reason. The Islanders have very little cap space. They need to re-sign Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock with only $8 million left. Barzal will command that number himself. Not to mention, Pulock is a top-defenseman who will earn his payday as well.

With Nick Leddy staying put and Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ladd, Thomas Hickey, Leo Komarov and Semyon Varlamov still on the roster making a combined $22 million, they are officially in a salary cap nightmare.

Staple on No Sleep till Belmont:

“I have been told adamantly that Nick Leddy will not be moved”#isles

— James Nichols (@JamesNicholsNYI) October 13, 2020

For that reason, the Islanders will not be signing a top free agent this offseason. While their forward unit could use a boost and there are many players that could do that for Barry Trotz’s squad, Lou Lamoriello simply will be unable to add to the offense this offseason.

David Lazar