The future of the Islanders can go in many directions. Will the Islanders make some minor changes and immediately return to being contenders? Will they ship off veterans in the coming years and try to build a new core over time? With a team mixed of veterans and young talent, there are many ways Lou Lamoriello can play his cards. A handful of players are question marks, and may or may not be back with the Islanders next season. What about in three years? Who would be gone by then? What new players will be drafted, signed, or traded for?  Here’s a prediction of what the Islanders roster could look like for the 2024-25 season.

Forwards

1. Mathew Barzal

Starting with the current Islanders is star forward Mathew Barzal. In terms of point production, Barzal unfortunately has declined since his rookie season. Hopefully, in one of the next two seasons, Barzal can reach at least 70 or 75 points under Lane Lambert’s new system. Barzal will be an RFA in 2023. I expect him to re-sign for at least five years in the $8 to $9.5 million range. 

2. Anders Lee

Set to make $7 million annually until 2026, the captain is likely still an Islander in three years. Naturally, the 31-year-old will see some regression, but will likely still be a solid scorer. If Lee can remain healthy, there’s a chance he’s the Islanders’ captain for many years, possibly never playing elsewhere. 

3. Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson is another very loyal Islander and shouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Nelson is coming off by far the highest goal-scoring season in his career. This gives hope that the 30-year-old can still score at a high level a few years in the future.

4. Jean-Gabriel Pageau

This one isn’t so pretty. Pageau has been trending in the wrong direction for the majority of his time with the Islanders. Making $5 million annually until 2026, this will likely become an unmovable contract by this point. At 29-years-old, Pageau got a little better as the season progressed, so hopefully, he’s still a solid asset.

5. Kyle Palmieri

Palmieri’s outlook is pretty similar to Pageau’s. Palmieri also picked up towards the end of the season, but is older and regressing. He will make $5 million annually until 2025, hitting free agency one year before Pageau. Still, it is a contract the Islanders will most likely be stuck with until it runs out. I do have faith that Palmieri can remain a quality veteran piece and secondary scorer

6. Oliver Wahlstrom

At times, the 21-year-old impressed last season. At others, he very much did not. His ceiling may seem a bit lower after scoring three more points than last season in 29 more games. Regardless, I expect him to be a very valuable scorer in the coming years. His rookie contract ends in 2023, and he will likely receive a two or three-year bridge deal at about $2.5 to $4 million.

7. Kieffer Bellows

Bellows is yet to prove to be a forward capable of an everyday starting role. But he’s getting close and took some steps forward last season. In a modernized system, Bellows’ role on the Islanders is likely to increase in the coming years. Bellows is an RFA this offseason, and I’d predict he signs a two-year deal with $850K to $1.5 million each year. In 2024, he could get a longer extension closer to $2-$4 million if he plays well.

8. Aatu Raty

After a disappointing season in the Finnish League, Raty’s draft stock plummeted. He fell all the way to the Islanders, who selected him 52nd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. Last season, selecting Raty proved to be a steal, as he had an incredible season with 40 goals in 41 games after being traded to another Finnish team. He also played well when he joined the Bridgeport Islanders for the AHL Playoffs. Raty has a bright future and issue to be a talented NHL player someday

9. William Dufour

The 2020 NHL Draft appeared to be underwhelming for the Islanders.; however, William Dufour in the fifth round felt like good value. After last season, it most certainly was. Dufour had a monster showing with the Saint John Sea Dogs, finishing second in the entire QMJHL in points with 116. The 20-year-old will join the Islanders next season. He will likely start in Bridgeport but will hopefully make the NHL before long.

10. Simon Holmstrom

In his first two years since being drafted, Simon Holmstrom looked underwhelming in Bridgeport. But last season he looked significantly improved. His ceiling may not be as high as the Islanders anticipated when selecting him in the first round in 2019. Regardless, he is starting to trend towards a career in the NHL.

11. Conor Geekie

The Islanders hold the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and I don’t anticipate them trading it. If Conor Geekie is still available by that pick, he could be a great fit. The center had 70 points in 63 WHL games on a successful Winnipeg Ice team. Even if a player is drafted in the top 15 picks, it could take them a while to reach the NHL, so there’s no guarantee Geekie is ready by 2024.

12. Keegan Kolesar

It’s very likely that in three years at least one of their forwards has no connection to the current team and was acquired along the way. This is next to impossible to predict but Keegan Kolesar makes sense. With the fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck becoming less effective, it’s hard to see them still on the team by then. Cizikas’ contract wouldn’t expire yet, but with his linemates gone, I predict the Islanders eventually trade him. Kolesar is a perfect replacement. He’s an RFA now, so a two-year extension seems likely, making him an Unrestricted Free Agent in the 2024 Summer when he turns 28. He is a fighting winger but can also be a secondary scorer, and he wouldn’t be too old or expensive, so he’s a logical signee.

Defensemen:

1. Adam Pelech

Adam Pelech got a long eight-year extension last offseason and had a tremendous first season. He was hard to score on as usual, and also had a career-high 28 points. He represented the Islanders in February when he appeared in his first career All-Star Game. Pelech is going to be atop the Islanders’ blueline for a long time

2. Ryan Pulock

Pelech and Pulock spent some time apart on the blueline, and the defense hurt. Pulock’s contract is even longer than Pelech’s, ending one year later in 2030. With the two still in their 20s, hopefully, they continue becoming one of the league’s best defensive pairings.

3. Noah Dobson

Noah Dobson was one of few bright spots for the Islanders last season. The 22-year-old defenseman managed to finish third on the Islanders in points. Now an RFA, Dobson will probably get a decent payday on a two-or-three year contract. After that contract, if he continues his progression, Dobson could make even more on his next contract and be a huge piece to the Islanders’ success.

4. Robin Salo

In his first season in North America, Salo played his first 21 NHL games. He looked very solid and scored five points. With the likely retirements of Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara nearing, Salo will likely get a bigger role soon. He’s an RFA now but will likely get another contract under $1 million. In the next three years, he will likely become a very solid defenseman.

5. Samuel Bolduc

It may all take all three years until this season to see Samuel Bolduc. He’s been in Bridgeport the past two seasons and looks to be progressing but still needs some work before reaching the NHL. The former second-round pick still has a high ceiling and should someday be a valuable Islanders piece.

6. Jordan Oesterle

Islanders’ Scott Mayfield will hit the free agency market in 2023 and will likely fetch over $4 million per year. With Dobson progressing rapidly and other players needing to be paid, the Islanders may not be able to compete with other Mayfield offers. If this happens, the Islanders could look to a cheaper option like Jordan Oesterle. He’s a solid defenseman who could probably be acquired for less than $2 million per year in 2023. He will be 30-years-old by then, but the Michigan native may want to re-sign with his hometown Red Wings if possible.

Goalies:

1. Ilya Sorokin

It didn’t matter how the team in front of him was. Sorokin gave the Islanders a chance almost every time he was in goal. He had a 0.925 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average, incredible stats from a goalie of a non-playoff team. Sorokin will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024, so the Islanders are really going to need to re-sign him.

2. Chris Driedger

Sorokin likes sharing the crease with Semyon Varlamov, but at some point keeping both won’t be possible. Like Mayfield, Varlamov will be a free agent in 2023, and he too may have to be lost in order to sustain the rest of the roster. Chris Driedger was a decent backup for the Seattle Kraken last year and will likely have the same role next year. The Islanders could sign him to be their new backup for under $2.5 million..