According to a recent article in The Athletic, the New York Islanders face the most challenging salary cap situation in the NHL.
James Mirtle analyzed the financial standings of all 32 teams, evaluating their projected salaries for the upcoming season, restricted free-agent (RFA) contracts, and dead money, ultimately placing the Islanders at the bottom of the list.
Let’s delve into Mirtle’s findings regarding the Islanders’ struggles with the salary cap.
Projected Cap Space for Next Season
For the upcoming season, the New York Islanders are expected to have $9 million in cap space, which ranks them 29th in the league. However, they also face an anticipated $18 million obligation for their pending RFAs, including Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom, Maxim Tsyplakov, Simon Holmstrom, and Alexander Romanov.
This list is significant, and the cost could surpass $18 million per year, depending on the Islanders’ valuation of Dobson and Romanov, as well as their commitment to the other RFAs.
Even with a potential $4 million increase in the salary cap, the Islanders may still struggle to find sufficient room for all their players. Tough decisions will be required to create enough space to accommodate everyone.
Difficult Free-Agent Decisions Ahead
The Islanders’ major unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this summer are Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, both of whom have had decent but not outstanding seasons. The team must choose whether to retain them moving forward, and if they opt not to, trading them by the deadline would be the most logical choice.
Additionally, Mike Reilly, Matt Martin, and Hudson Fasching are also set to become UFAs. While Martin and Fasching are on minimum contracts, Nelson and Palmieri together account for $11 million. Finding the necessary cap space to accommodate these players alongside the previously mentioned RFAs is a pressing concern for the Islanders.
Even with a potential cap increase, it appears unlikely that the team can find sufficient room to retain everyone unless some unusual measures are taken.
Inefficient Use of Resources
Even if the Islanders manage to navigate their financial situation, it may not be enough to rectify their performance issues. Mirtle highlights that the team’s current output is not reflective of their spending. Presently, the Islanders sit 29th in the league in goals per game at 2.50, have the worst power play percentage at 12.3%, and rank 31st in shooting percentage at 7.9%.
These statistics illustrate the limited returns the Islanders are getting from their current roster. Despite having a strong goaltending duo of Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin, the team lacks the necessary firepower to compete effectively in a competitive Metropolitan Division.
Thus, the pressing question remains: Should the Islanders attempt to keep the current roster intact and hope for improvement, or should they consider a significant overhaul and salvage what they can?
While it’s too early to reach a conclusion, the current trajectory suggests that a major shakeup may be the most viable path forward.
