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Five Key Stories: 2/19/18 – 2/25/18

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Unsurprisingly, activity around the league has picked up considerably with the trade deadline right on the horizon.  Here are the biggest stories from the past week.

1) The Brassard Kerfuffle: Center Derick Brassard was dealt to Pittsburgh…twice.  After the Pens, Sens, and Golden Knights reached a three-way trade, the deal was vetoed by the NHL.  That led to hours of speculation about whether or not the trade could be reworked.  In the end, a revised swap consisting on three separate trades was agreed on and approved with Ottawa landing a first-round pick along with prospect goalie Filip Gustavsson, defenseman Ian Cole, and Pittsburgh’s 2019 third-round choice.  Vegas, meanwhile, adds rugged winger Ryan Reaves along with and Vancouver’s 2018 fourth-rounder in exchange for retaining 40% of Brassard’s contract plus minor league winger Tobias Lindberg (who also wound up in Ottawa when all was said and done).  In Brassard, Pittsburgh lands a top-six caliber center that they will use on their third line, giving them considerable depth at position for this season and next.  The Penguins also received Ottawa’s 2018 third-round pick in the trade.

Josh Bailey2) Extensions: The Islanders have locked up an important unrestricted free agent, agreeing to terms on a new six-year, $30MM pact with winger Josh Bailey.  The 28-year-old has played alongside pending UFA center John Tavares this season and has already put up career numbers across the board, tallying 15 goals and 47 assists in 59 games; his 62 points rank 17th overall in the NHL.  Even if Bailey can’t maintain this level of production moving forward, this should still be a pretty good contract for New York if he can hover around the 45-50 point mark in the years to come.

Meanwhile, Vancouver reached an agreement to keep one of their defenders around for the foreseeable future, inking Erik Gudbranson to a three-year, $12MM pact.  The stay-at-home blueliner has had trouble staying healthy and has seen his role reduced this season but the Canucks believe that he can still be a quality fourth or fifth defender for a few more years.

3) Nash To Boston: As expected, the Rangers parted with veteran winger Rick Nash, sending him to Boston for a sizable package.  In return, New York acquires the Bruins’ first-round pick in 2018, left wing/center Ryan Spooner, winger Matt Beleskey, prospect blueliner Ryan Lindgren, and a 2019 seventh-rounder.  The Rangers are retaining 50% of Nash’s contract while Boston is doing the same with Beleskey which is notable as he is signed at a $3.8MM cap hit through 2019-20.  Nash should bolster Boston’s second line while New York picks up a pair of key young assets in the first-rounder plus Lindgren and could conceivably look to flip Spooner as well in advance of the deadline.

4) Goalie Swaps: After injuries took out both Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth, the Flyers moved quickly to secure a replacement, acquiring Petr Mrazek from Detroit in exchange for a pair of conditional draft picks.  The Red Wings will receive a 2018 fourth-rounder at a minimum; that pick becomes a third if the Flyers make the playoffs with Mrazek winning five games and shifts to a second-rounder if Philadelphia makes the Eastern Conference Final and Mrazek wins six games.  Detroit will also land a 2019 third-round selection if the Flyers re-sign the 26-year-old.

This wasn’t the only goalie move of the week, however.  The Coyotes picked up Darcy Kuemper from the Kings in exchange for winger Tobias Rieder and netminder Scott Wedgewood (who was subsequently waived and cleared).  Kuemper then agreed to a two-year, $3.7MM extension which gives Arizona a bit of stability between the pipes with starter Antti Raanta eligible for unrestricted free agency in July.  Meanwhile, the Kings land a versatile winger in Rieder who should help bolster their attack for the stretch run.

5) Devils/Rangers Deal: For the first time ever, the Devils and Rangers made a trade with each other as New Jersey picked up winger Michael Grabner from New York in exchange for the Devils’ 2018 second-round pick and defenseman Yegor Rykov.  Grabner has been one of the top even-strength scorers this season with 24 of his 25 tallies have come in that situation.  The speedster should slot in as a middle-six winger as the Devils look to lock down a playoff spot in the very tight Metropolitan Division.

Since it has been a very busy last few days, here’s a bonus key story:

6) News From Montreal: It hasn’t been a good year for Montreal and the tough news kept on coming.  After feeling some discomfort in his injured foot when he tried to resume skating, the team has shut him down for the remainder of the season and he will undergo surgery to repair a tendon in his left foot.  He finishes up 2017-18 with 16 points (6-10-16) in only 26 games.  Meanwhile, goaltender Carey Price has been diagnosed with a concussion and is out indefinitely.  For the time being, the Canadiens will go with veteran Antti Niemi (unless he is traded by the deadline) and youngster Charlie Lindgren between the pipes.

Meanwhile, Montreal dealt their one prominent pending free agent in center Tomas Plekanec (along with minor league winger Kyle Baun) to Toronto in exchange for the Leafs’ second-round pick in 2018 plus youngsters Rinat Valiev and Kerby Rychel.  The Canadiens are also retaining 50% of Plekanec’s $6MM contract.  In Plekanec, Toronto gets a strong checking center that should play a key role on the penalty kill plus strengthen their depth down the middle while Montreal picks up their fourth second-rounder for the upcoming draft plus a couple of younger players who could benefit from a change of scenery.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens

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With the trade deadline now less than 24 hours away, we continue our closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Montreal Canadiens.

Coming off of a season that saw them win the Atlantic Division, expectations were high in Montreal heading into 2017-18.  However, they have struggled considerably offensively, their new-look back end has had issues in their own end, and their usually-strong goaltending has also been a concern.  As a result, instead of being buyers at the deadline, the Canadiens will be selling off what they can instead.

Record

23-29-9, sixth in Atlantic Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$35.8MM full-season cap hit (including LTIR), 1/3 retained salary transactions, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: MTL 1st, CHI 2nd, MTL 2nd, TOR 2nd, WSH 2nd, MTL 3rd, EDM 5th*, LA 5th^, MTL 5th
2019: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, WSH 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th

* – Pick will become Edmonton’s 2018 fourth-round selection if Al Montoya makes seven appearances of 30 minutes or more with the Oilers this season.

^ – Pick will become Montreal’s fourth-round selection (the Kings acquired it in a deadline day deal last year) if Los Angeles qualifies for the playoffs.

Trade Chips

In terms of rental players, the only player of note was Tomas Plekanec, who was flipped to Toronto this morning.  Beyond him, the Canadiens have a couple of depth players on expiring deals but there won’t be much of a market for them.  Goalie Antti Niemi has rebounded well since joining the team via waivers (2.60 GAA and a .922 SV% in ten appearances) which could be of interest to teams looking for some insurance between the pipes.

Nov 4, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) warms up during the pre-game before a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY SportsThe non-rentals are where things get a bit more interesting.  Left winger Max Pacioretty has been in play for a couple of months and has been one of the more consistent goal scorers league-wide in recent seasons.  He is signed for one more year at a team-friendly $4.5MM and several teams have expressed an interest with the Kings being linked to him in recent discussions.  Despite a down season, he still leads Montreal in scoring this season with 37 points (17-20-37) in 61 games.  A pair of depth defenders in David Schlemko ($2.1MM through 2019-20) and Jordie Benn ($1.1MM through 2018-19) may also draw a little bit of attention from teams looking for defensive depth.

Five Players To Watch For: D Jordie Benn, LW Daniel Carr, G Antti Niemi, LW Max Pacioretty, D David Schlemko

Team Needs

1) Centers – There’s no way to put this lightly, Montreal’s depth down the middle is a major weakness.  Jonathan Drouin, who had spent most of his career on the wing prior to this season, has predictably struggled in the number one center role and while Phillip Danault has had a decent campaign, he’s better served as a third liner than a top-six.  It’s hard enough to find one top-six pivot nowadays but the Canadiens may very well be looking to add two between now and the start of next season.  Needless to say, that won’t be easy to accomplish.

2) Top-Four Defenseman – With the departure of Andrei Markov, Montreal went with a by-committee approach to filling his roster spot.  That hasn’t worked.  Karl Alzner was unable to handle the top minutes, Schlemko, Benn, and the recently-traded Jakub Jerabek are better served on the third pairing, while rookie Victor Mete isn’t ready for a top-pairing role yet either.  The only way this gets addressed now is if Pacioretty gets moved for a top defender; otherwise, this is a need that GM Marc Bergevin will look to address in the summer instead.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Snapshots: Scratches, Hornqvist, Cullen, Cole

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As expected, a pair of veteran wingers have been made healthy scratches tonight in order to ensure they will be healthy to be dealt.  Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy was first to report (via Twitter) that Canucks winger Thomas Vanek is being held out of the lineup although News 1130’s Rick Dhaliwal adds (Twitter link) that this merely precautionary and that this should be interpreted that a trade is getting closer to being worked out.  Meanwhile, Oilers winger Patrick Maroon has also been held out of their lineup tonight against Anaheim.  Interest in him has picked up considerably as the day has progressed and he is expected to be dealt before the deadline.

Other notes from around the league:

  • Although the Penguins have committed more money on their payroll for next season with the acquisition of Derick Brassard earlier this week, GM Jim Rutherford told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the trade will not impact their attempts to sign winger Patric Hornqvist to a contract extension. Mackey speculates that the 31-year-old could land $6MM on his next deal and Pittsburgh already has more than $64MM tied up in 15 players for next season, per CapFriendly.  Even with a projected bump in the salary cap, that doesn’t leave much wiggle room to work with.
  • Still with the Penguins, they are still showing interest in Wild center Matt Cullen, reports Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription required). Where he would fit in isn’t as obvious now with Brassard’s addition but Pittsburgh is certainly familiar with him with the 41-year-old having played there the last two seasons.  On the surface, Riley Sheahan could potentially shift to the wing to make room.  However, the Wild have yet to indicate that Cullen is available and instead, plan to use the savings from losing Chris Stewart to waivers (or from sending him to the minors if he clears) to free up some salary cap flexibility.
  • The Senators are seeking a third-round pick in exchange for recently-acquired defenseman Ian Cole, reports Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. Cole was acquired as part of the Derick Brassard swap earlier in the week but with Ottawa in full sell mode, expectations were that he was included in the trade solely to be flipped before the deadline.

Central Notes: Sobotka, Stars, Avalanche, Jets

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After being widely expected to be buyers in advance of the trade deadline, a six-game losing streak may have the Blues changing course.  Sportsnet’s John Shannon reports (Twitter link) that St. Louis has started to make some of their players available.  In particular, forward Vladimir Sobotka is now believed to be available although the asking price is high.  The 30-year-old has had a fairly quiet season offensively with 24 points (9-15-24) through 61 games and while he was a high-end faceoff specialist in his first NHL stint, he has primarily played on the wing since rejoining St. Louis late last season.  Sobotka has two years remaining on his contract after this one with a $3.5MM cap hit and if there is a team that thinks he can return to his original position, he should be able to garner some interest.

Elsewhere in the Central:

  • Although the Stars have the ability to take on roughly $4MM in a full-season cap hit (per CapFriendly), GM Jim Nill told Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News that they would like to only spend about $2.5MM of that in order to preserve some flexibility for any late-season recalls in case injuries strike. Heika suggests that Dallas is okay with their center situation despite the frequent injuries to Martin Hanzal but that Nill would like to add some scoring help up front.
  • One team that is unlikely to be active on Monday is the Avalanche. GM Joe Sakic told Mike Chambers of the Denver Post that they intend to stick to their plan and stay the course.  In particular, he noted that they will not be trading draft picks or prospects nor will they be looking to add any pending unrestricted free agents to their roster.
  • The Jets had a pair of scouts watching the Blackhawks on Friday, notes Postmedia’s Ken Wiebe. The scribe suggests that Winnipeg is looking to add a top-nine forward and some depth on the back end and that Chicago’s Ryan Hartman and Jan Rutta could have been the players being watched.  He also believes Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov could be on their radar after failing to land both Derick Brassard and Tomas Plekanec.

Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes

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With the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, we continue our closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Carolina Hurricanes.

The NHL Trade Deadline is tomorrow at 2:00PM CT. Not only have the Carolina Hurricanes yet to make a move, but there have hardly been any whispers of GM Ron Francis and company talking to to other teams. The Hurricanes are in a tough position with the deadline growing closer and closer. Carolina is in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race, three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final postseason spot, grappling for position with the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers. They also have an NHL-worst eight-year postseason drought to think about when considering their deadline position. At the same time, few would call the ’Canes lineup a true contender this season. Carolina is a bottom-ten team in both goals for and goals against with a -25 goal differential that ranks last among any team remaining relevant in postseason contention. So while the team is desperate to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, they may be lucky to still even be in contention and could question giving up assets at the deadline without a real chance at a title run. The fact that the Hurricanes have had no presence on the trade market thus far speaks volumes about their own indecision on how to handle the 2018 trade deadline.

Record

27-25-10, seventh in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Standing pat

Deadline Cap Space

$72,699,714 in deadline cap space
49/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th, VGK 7th
2019: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CGY 6th

Trade Chips

If the Hurricanes are sellers, then they have a few impending free agents with value to contenders. The main target would likely be Derek Ryan, who has had yet another strong season in Raleigh after breaking into the NHL seemingly out of nowhere. A versatile, two-way forward with strong possession abilities, Ryan is an ideal pickup for any team looking to add depth and fill out their bottom-six. Veteran Lee Stempniak is also a serviceable bottom-six forward who is no stranger to being dealt at the deadline and finding a role for himself on a new team. Of course, the big name that could move from the Hurricanes would be career keeper Cam Ward, the hero of Carolina’s magical Stanley Cup run in 2006. Ward is an impending free agent and, although he has taken the starting job back from newcomer Scott Darling, is not likely to stay with the ’Canes for much longer. There are one or two teams out there looking for relief in net and Ward could be an attractive target if made available. For anyone expecting the Hurricanes to “sell” players like Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner, don’t hold your breath, at least at this deadline.

If the Hurricanes are buyers, they offer several promising young prospects and a near-full collection of draft picks to sellers. Blocked by a deep top-six with staying power, young defenseman Roland McKeown is becoming more expendable as the days go on. The highly-regarded 2014 second-rounder could use a change of scenery to somewhere with more opportunity and Francis would be willing to deal him for the right return. Similarly, forward prospects like Valentin Zykov and Lucas Wallmark have been kicking around the AHL for long enough, without a real chance to showcase their NHL ability, that the value of their recent draft positions is beginning to wear off. The Hurricanes would be wise to move on from them if the right deal presents itself.

Players To Watch: F Derek Ryan, F Lee Stempniak, F Josh Jooris, D Klas Dahlbeck, G Cam Ward

Team Needs

1) A Star and A Starting Goalie

The main reason that the Carolina Hurricanes are most likely to stand pat at this deadline is because the two things they need to take the next step are the two things that are most difficult to find in hockey: a game-changing player and a top goaltender. It’s not unreasonable to think they can acquire these players somehow, but at the deadline it’s next to impossible. More than anything, the ’Canes need a legitimate first-line power center and that player simply isn’t available at this deadline. Maybe this summer, but not right now. The Darling experiment has been a failure, but there’s no one on the market who is a lock to outplay him long-term in net. Carolina’s two biggest needs are much easier to address in the off-season. Expect their efforts – and top trade assets – to be put to use then, rather than during the next 24 hours.

2) A Scoring Forward 

If, and it’s a big if, the Hurricanes decide to go for it this year and make a deal that significantly increases their odds of making the playoffs, they need to improve their scoring. The team is solid on the back end and the situation in net is what it is, but up front they have many nice complementary players, but lack that one player who can transform them into a cohesive unit (hence the need for a star forward). A player who can improve the team’s ability to put the puck in the net, not specifically a shooter or play-maker but simply a player with great offensive instincts, would be of interest to Carolina. An impending free agent or a player with term could be sought out; they certainly have the cap space to afford a long-term, expensive contract if need be. With a horrid playoff drought and a new, proactive owner, it’s definitely possible that Carolina could jump into the conversation for a Mike Hoffman or Max Pacioretty, but more likely than not, they save the assets needed to acquire either one for the summer trade market.

Anaheim Ducks Sign Chris Kelly For Remainder Of The Season

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Hours after the Boston Bruins signed Team USA Olympic captain and long-time pro Brian Gionta to a contract, the Anaheim Ducks have made a similar move. Veteran center and Team Canada captain Chris Kelly is on his way back to the NHL, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that he has inked a one-year deal with the Ducks. However, Kelly is commanding $1.25MM plus bonuses, adds Lebrun, compared to just $700K for Gionta.

The difference in salary between the two veterans could be explained by their recent production, as Kelly recorded three points en route to a bronze medal with Canada. In contrast, Gionta failed to record a point as the Americans were bounced in the quarterfinals. However, going back to 2016-17, Gionta performed far better, registering 35 points in 82 games for the Buffalo Sabres. Kelly too played a full 82-game season last year, suiting up in every game for the Ottawa Senators, but saw only limited ice time and added just 12 points. Yet, it is Kelly who will make nearly $300K in pro-rated salary before bonuses, while Gionta will make just over half of that with Boston.

It could also just be that Kelly is being valued on his expected role with the team. While Gionta is likely to be a 13th or 14th forward for the Bruins, who have for all intents and purposes already clinched a playoff spot with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, Kelly will likely push for a starting spot on the team’s fourth line as they fight for a playoff spot in the tight Pacific Division and Western Conference wild cared race. While scoring and power play production have been the bigger issues for Anaheim, Kelly’s two-way ability and intelligence will only further solidify a strong defensive team. It’s a savvy for GM Bob Murray and company, especially this year when the price of trading for assets has been so high.

 

Predators Add Depth In Minor Move With Sharks

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The Nashville Predators announced they have made a minor deal as they acquired forward Brandon Bollig and goaltender Troy Grosenick from the San Jose Sharks for a sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

It’s the second move for the Predators today, who earlier traded away forward Pontus Aberg in a three-team deal, that netted them a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

Bollig, a 31-year-old veteran, hasn’t played a game for the Sharks this season. The winger has played the past two years in the AHL and likely is being brought aboard to increase the depth on the Milwaukee Admirals, their AHL affiliate. With the Barracuda, Bollig has eight goals and two assists in 45 games this year with 68 penalty minutes.

Grosenick also will provide the team some depth on the goaltending depth chart. The 28-year-old has served as an emergency backup this year for the Sharks, but has never appeared in a game. He currently has a 2.98 GAA with the Barracuda in 20 appearances.

Minor Transactions: 2/25/18

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With the trade deadline coming to a fast-moving finish tomorrow, plenty of teams will need to make adjustments to their roster today. Check in to see what teams are up to:

  • The Minnesota Wild have recalled two players to the team in forward Joel Eriksson-Ek and defenseman Nick Seeler from the Iowa Wild. For Eriksson-Ek, the move is just a way to save some salary cap space. For Seeler, he returns after almost two weeks after being sent back to the Iowa Wild. The 24-year-old defenseman has played six games for Minnesota, while playing most of the season with Iowa where he’s played 49 games.
  • The New Jersey Devils have assigned center John Quenneville to the Binghampton Devils of the AHL. He had been sidelined since Feb. 10 with a knee injury. The former 2014 first-rounder has played in just two games for New Jersey. In Binghampton, he has 10 goals and 11 assists in 31 games this season.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned recently acquired forward Vincent Dunn to his team in the ECHL, the Brampton Beast Sunday. Dunn, who the team got from the Ottawa Senators in the Derrick Brassard trade Friday, started the year with the Belleville Senators in the AHL, but got demoted to the Beast. The Penguins will keep the 22-year-old with his former team, rather than sending him to one of their affiliates. Dunn has seven goals and an assist in 17 games for Brampton, but tallied just four assists in 16 games with Belleville.

Edmonton’s Maroon Could Be Next Chip To Be Moved

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With a few trades already in the books today, the trading scene only seems to have intensified. Now with the market established for several players, teams are working the phones even harder now. In fact, Pierre LeBrun reports that Edmonton Oilers scorer Patrick Maroon could be the next piece to go as the scribe reports that seven teams have reached out to Edmonton.

Having already moved Mark Letestu in a three-team deal earlier in the day, general manager Peter Chiarelli can focus more on Maroon. The 29-year-old winger could easily bring in a similar haul that the New York Rangers got for Rick Nash when they traded him to Boston this morning for a first-round pick, Ryan Lindgren and veterans Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey. Even better is Maroon’s contract situation, which is better than Nash’s. Nash had a cap hit of $7.5MM, but Maroon is in the final year in which he is making $1.5MM, meaning many playoff teams could easily fit that into their remaining cap space.

While he’s not duplicating the 27-goal season he put together a year ago, Maroon has 14 goals and 16 assists this year with the Oilers and at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he is a physical winger who can put the puck in the net, a prized possession for a team looking for playoff help.

Deadline Primer: New York Islanders

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With the trade deadline now just a few days away, we continue our closer look at the situation for each team.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the New York Islanders.

The New York Islanders know that time is running out for them. The team is doing everything it can to re-sign their franchise player John Tavares, but as the offseason seems to be getting closer and closer, the Islanders are also find themselves battling for one of the final playoff spots and are currently on the outside looking in. With a struggling defense and a goaltending tandem that leave a lot to be desired, the Islanders must feel a sense of urgency to make some changes in hopes they can fix their team enough to vault them into the playoffs. While making the playoffs is no guarantee they can extend Tavares, missing the playoffs certainly won’t help either.

Record

29-26-7, sixth in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$4,381,086 in deadline cap space
45/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2018: NYI 1st, CAL 1st, NYI 2nd, CAL 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 7th
2019: NYI 1st, CAL 2nd*, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th

*If the Flames miss the playoffs in 2018, the Islanders receive a 2019 second-round pick. If the Flames make the 2018 playoffs, then the Islanders get a 2020 second-round pick.

Trade Chips

Feb 13, 2018; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (55) takes a shot during pregame warmups prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY SportsWhile defense is a big weakness on this team, the biggest trade chip this team has are the picks they received from trading defenseman Travis Hamonic to the Calgary Flames in the offseason. The team has Calgary’s first and second-round picks and could dangle those assets along with their own picks and some of the Islanders young talent such as Joshua Ho-Sang or Anthony Beauvillier. The team could also consider moving some of their pending unrestricted free agents such as Thomas Hickey or Dennis Seidenberg, but would probably need a defenseman back before they weaken their defense even further. Jaroslav Halak’s expiring contract could be a piece in upgrading in goal.

Players to Watch: W Anthony Beauvillier; G Jaroslav Halak; W Joshua Ho-Sang; D Thomas Hickey; D Dennis Seidenberg

Team Needs

1) Defense

Desperate for defense, the team already unloaded a third-round pick to acquire defenseman Brandon Davidson, but the team has allowed the most goals in the NHL this season as they have allowed 223 goals this season. Injuries to defenseman like Johnny Boychuk and Calvin de Haan haven’t helped, but the team needs to solidify its defense if they want to make a playoff run. Don’t be surprised if the team tries to grab a quality defenseman to stabilize their blueline core.

2) Goaltending

While you can’t blame the goaltenders for everything as the defense doesn’t help out Halak or backup Thomas Greiss, the Islanders are desperately in need of a shakeup in the pipes. With Halak’s contract about to expire, could the team try to upgrade and bring in a Robin Lehner or an Aaron Dell in hopes that one of them might decrease the amount of goals that are getting past them?

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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