After two months of waiting, the New York Islanders announced four huge signings with forwards Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas and Anthony Beauvillier as well as goalie Ilya Sorokin all agreeing to multi-year contracts. This essentially filled out the team’s lineup for the 2021-22 season.

They do so with about $6 million left in cap space. As of now, all four of the contract values are unofficial. Palmieri’s contract reportedly carries an average annual value of $5 million, Cizikas’ contract pays him $2.5 million per season, Beauvillier $4.15 million and Sorokin $4 million.

However, that $6 million won’t become available until the Islanders move Johnny Boychuk back to long-term injured reserve. Until then, they have no money left, according to capfriendly.com.

That’s probably why we didn’t hear anything from the Islanders about Zach Parise or Travis Zajacs signings or a Vladimir Tarasenko trade yet. Both players were apparently on the Isles’ radar this summer. If the rumors of the Isles bringing them in are both false, I’m fine with this offseason from the team. However, the Islanders can still make a trade to clear up more cap space or sign Parise to a two-way contract. 

Offense

The 2021 offseason to date epitomizes addition by subtraction. Yes, they lost top-four defenseman Nick Leddy as well as first-line right-wing and analytical darling Jordan Eberle, but it’s not all bad. Anders Lee will be ready for training camp. The Isles’ captain led the team in scoring before tearing his ACL in March.

Lee has an unmeasurable impact on this hockey club. He scored 40 goals in 2017-18, and only scored less than 20 once in a full season. Imagine what could’ve been if he played in the playoffs. The Isles will get a full season with him on Mat Barzal’s wing if both stay healthy. 

However, Jordan Eberle will be missed on that line. He had great chemistry with Barzal, but he never fully recaptured his scoring prowess from Edmonton. Since Barry Trotz became head coach in 2018-19, he never scored more than 19 goals in a season (2018-19) and never had more than 24 assists (2019-20). This past season was his second least productive during his four-year stint on Long Island.

That means that Oliver Wahlstrom has an opportunity to capture that spot. He had 21 points in 44 regular season games on the third line. Imagine what he could do on the first line with players like Barzal and Lee. 

In my opinion, that first line is better than the one the team played in 2020-21. Not only that, the Kraken taking Eberle kept the second line intact (Josh Bailey was exposed). Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier and Bailey were dominant during the playoffs, scoring 38 points in 19 games. 

Bringing back Palmieri solidifies the Isles’ offensive depth. He and Pageau were great in the playoffs and are both luxuries on any team’s third line. But what about the left wing — where some thought Parise might play? 

That’s where Kieffer Bellows comes in. Barry Trotz said he was thankful the Isles didn’t trade him at last year’s deadline, though he’s still a restricted free agent. Perhaps the Islanders announce his and more signings when they make some adjustments to their cap situation. The young winger has a bright future and could be ready to step into a full-time role in the NHL. Pageau would be a great center to learn from and play with.

If he still needs grooming in the AHL, Richard Panik — who had 13 points in 48 games last season — could play there. I’d even be okay with Leo Komarov starting there. He wasn’t great on the first line, but I think that’s because it wasn’t where he belonged. He’s a solid penalty killer and a great depth forward for the team. 

The identity line is also back for at least another season. Cizikas’ contract is a bargain, especially considering the Seattle Kraken offered him twice as much money per season. Cal Clutterbuck is a UFA after this season though.

Defense

The Islanders recently secured their top defensive pairing for another year when they signed Adam Pelech to an eight-year contract. Pelech and Ryan Pulock will play heavy minutes next season. 

The third pairing will also return unscathed, as the Isles re-signed Andy Greene to another one-year contract. He can continue playing with Noah Dobson. 

But Scott Mayfield needs a new partner. Luckily there are a few good options. 

The Islanders have Thomas Hickey signed for one more season. The 32-year-old played five games last season and was a +5 after missing the end of the 2018-19 season with an injury and playing the 2019-2020 season in Bridgeport. He might need to re-adjust to the NHL game, but he has a history of being a steady two-way defenseman on some bad Islanders teams. 

Sebastian Aho is also waiting for a full-time NHL stint. He played in three games last year while Noah Dobson was ill with COVID-19. He has 25 games on NHL experience plus another 156 in Bridgeport, where he scored 105 points in three seasons. He’s an offensive defenseman that plays a similar style to Nick Leddy, which can make the adjustment for Mayfield a bit easier. 

If neither of those options work, the Islanders can reach into the prospect pool. Robin Salo, Sam Bolduc, Mitch Vande Sompel and Parker Wotherspoon will each get good looks in training camp to fill the hole on defense. However, I personally think Hickey will win the job out of camp unless the Islanders make more signings or trades. Aho will be the seventh defenseman. 

Goaltending

The Isles timed Ilya Sorokin’s NHL arrival well. Had they done it a year too soon, they would’ve had to expose him in the expansion draft. That would’ve created a debate about protecting him or Semyon Varlamov. Luckily, the Islanders will have both at training camp in September and for at least the next to seasons.

I think the Islanders come into the 2021-22 season with a stronger offense and goaltending than what they had last season. Anders Lee is back, and Bellows and Wahlstrom might finally get a chance to break out in significant roles. In net, Varlamov proved that he is an elite goaltender in the NHL and Sorokin should improve on his strong rookie season. 

The only question marks are on defense, but I think either Hickey or Aho could surprise Isles fans. Hickey has played well in the past and Aho has a promising future. However, they won’t be getting sheltered minutes in a Metropolitan Division that got even tougher this offseason. 

If indeed there are no more signings from the Islanders this summer, then I’m confident in this team’s ability to contend for the Stanley Cup again. 

Ben Baruch

Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.