Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders Are Perfect Match
The Detroit Red Wings can help the New York Islanders.
They have ample salary cap space, a hole on defense and a history of acquiring assets along with bad contracts.
The fit is perfect. The Islanders are in trouble and the Red Wings can save the day.
The Islanders Salary Cap Dilemma
The Islanders have just under $4 million with Mathew Barzal to re-sign. They are in a bad situation.
Currently, the Islanders have a few options. They can send Andrew Ladd to the long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which would allow Lou Lamoriello to go over the salary cap by $5.5 million. However, that is less than ideal, as the LTIR creates problems if team contract incentives are met.
They can also make a trade. Johnny Boychuk, Thomas Hickey and Leo Komarov are trade candidates and will not be important roster players for New York next year. But in order to do this, the Islanders will need a trade partner. Enter the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings Can Help
The Detroit Red Wings have over $9 million in salary cap space with only one restricted-free agent left to sign.
Up front, the Red Wings have only two players signed to contracts longer than two years. And those two players, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, are signed to great deals.
Besides that, the roster is wide open. Leo Komarov and his two-year, $6 million contract over the next two seasons, for example, would fit right in. He would provide leadership on the fourth line and the Red Wings could recoup other assets in a potential deal.
Things get interesting on the backend. The Red Wings have seven players signed to NHL deals. Five of them are on expiring contracts.
Johnny Boychuk (two-year, $12 million remaining) or Thomas Hickey (two-years, $5 million remaining) would be a perfect match. Both players have contracts that will last the duration of Detroit’s rebuild and can still play at the NHL level.
Like Komarov, their leadership is valuable. And like Komarov, the Red Wings would acquire additional assets in a potential deal.
If the Red Wings received a second-round pick for taking the final season of Marc Staal’s contract from the Rangers, a second-round pick would be fair compensation for Komarov or Hickey. The Islanders just received two second-round picks from the Colorado Avalanche for Devon Toews, so the Islanders can match this price.
And if the Red Wings want Boychuk, a first-round pick could be in play.
No matter what transpires, the Islanders are in a salary cap dilemma and the Red Wings could help. Now, the ball is in Lamoriello’s court to make something happen.
