The New York Islanders’ season has been very surprising. A Stanley Cup favorite now has almost no hope of making the postseason. However, the oldest team in the NHL is looking to keep the core intact and retool for a cup run next season. The team does have some older players such as Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene coming off the books, but younger players like Noah Dobson and Robin Salo will need extensions. Therefore, here are my predictions on what the Islanders roster may look like after a quick rebuild this offseason.

Lee-Barzal-Gaudreau
Beauviller-Nelson-Bellows
Palmieri-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Johnston
Pelech-Pulock
Staal-Dobson
Salo-Mayfield
Sorokin
Halak

Add Johnny Gaudreau

The Islanders clearly need a goal scorer and Johnny Gaudreau fits the bill perfectly. He is still relatively young at age 28 and has put up 64 points in 49 games this season.

Mathew Barzal would finally get his elite winger to match his play making ability and his speed. This line could bring elite goal-scoring and transition offense, something the Islanders have lacked this year.

I believe the Gaudreau contract will be around six years for $9.5 million per year.

Trade Josh Bailey

At the Trade Deadline this year, the Islanders should try to trade Josh Bailey, even if it requires giving up a draft pick in the deal. Kieffer Bellows can take his spot next year. Getting rid of Bailey is needed in order for the Islanders to be a younger, faster and more aggressive team.

Bellows, 23, has 13 points in 27 games. Bailey, 32, has 23 points in 42 games. While Bailey has higher point-per-game total, he averages roughly five more minutes of ice time per game than Bellows on the season. He has the same amount of goals in almost double the games played. Additionally, Bailey only has 14 hits compared to Bellows’ 61 and 42 shots on goal compared to Bellows’ 47.

Bailey simply isn’t the physical player the Islanders need nor is he getting pucks on net. I don’t see a role for him on this team in the future.

Bellows is a restricted free agent at the end of the year but I believe can blossom into a 20-goal scorer next season. Therefore, the Islanders should extend him to a two-year contract at around $1 million per year. 

Trade Cal Clutterbuck

Ross Johnston can take over for Call Clutterbuck, who could also traded at the Trade Deadline. A fourth line with Johnston and Martin would not create offense, but be physically intimidating.

This also would be a way to save cap space, as the Islanders will not need to add a bottom-six winger in free agency.

Sign Marc Staal

Marc Staal can replace Chara next year. Staal is a veteran defenseman who currently plays on the Red Wings. Staal can play with Noah Dobson, who can once again take in a plethora of knowledge from the veteran defensemen. Staal would be a great veteran addition to the team. A one-year deal at veteran’s minimum should do the trick.

Dobson, who will be a RFA at the end of the season, should earn a nice new deal — perhaps at two-years, $3 million per year.

Salo can slot into Greene’s spot, who can potentially be traded at the Trade Deadline. Salo, who’s seen limited time this year, has put up four points in 18 games this season. He can be paired with Scott Mayfield, a seasoned veteran. Salo would get sheltered minutes, but he has the ability to run the second power-play unit which is a huge asset for the Islanders.

Like Dobson, he can absorb a plethora of knowledge from a veteran. Salo, an RFA at the end of the year, can be re-signed to a league minimum contract.

Sign Jaroslav Halak

The final thing the Islanders should do is trade Semyon Varlamov and sign Jaroslav Halak. Strictly a backup, Halak could provide knowledge to Sorokin and quality goaltending in a Barry Trotz system.

He is having a bad year, but he is just two years removed from a Jennings Trophy in Boston. That year, after starting 29 games, he had 2.39 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.

He would be a perfect goalie until Jakub Skarek is ready for the NHL. I think a one-year deal for $1.5 million should be more than enough.

I think Varlamov would garner a first-round pick.

Summary

Trading Bailey and Varlamov — plus Greene and Clutterbuck — would get $10 million off the books next season and give the Islanders some draft picks they can use in a trade or use themselves.

This is a great plan for the Islanders as they get younger, save cap space and obtain draft capital for the coming years.

John Smark