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New York Islanders Four Alternate Better Realities

Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight looks on from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight looks on from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The New York Islanders defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 8, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Retains Two of Three FAs

I love Matt Martin as much as the next guy, but for the money he signed for I’d let him leave for Toronto. What he offers just isn’t worth that type of long term investment. But the other two that the Islanders let go? That’s another story.

First, there’s keeping Kyle Okposo over signing Andrew Ladd. Kyle has put up 45 points with a bottom feeding team and in a season cut short with injury and illness (get well soon buddy). Andrew Ladd just notched his 30th point in game 80. Is the 15 points that Okposo put up worth more than $500,000? I think so.

New York Islanders

That’s assuming that Okposo puts up the same number of points here than he did with Buffalo. Even though he averaged 61 points in his last three season with the Isles. And it’s not like Kyle put up all these points at the end of the season like Ladd. In his first ten games

In his first ten games with Buffalo, he had already recorded eight points. In Ladd’s first ten games with the Isles, he put up one, just one point.

Then there’s the case for keeping Frans over giving Ryan Strome second line center duties. The fact that Ryan Strome is listed as an RW and not C on his NHL.com page should tell you all you need to know about how that experiement went. Frans has 38 pts with detroit and leads the team in PPP with 14. His 54% FOW percentage would lead this team by a healthy margin. Strome could continue playing the win as he’s doing now anyways and Frans could continue playing second line duties.

Frans has 38 points with Detroit and leads the team in powerplay points with 14. His 54% faceoff win percentage would lead this team by a healthy margin. Strome could continue playing the win as he’s doing now anyways and Frans could continue playing second line duties.

Strome could continue playing the wing as he’s doing now anyways and Frans could continue playing second line duties, putting up points on the power play (which the Isles so desperately need, and just generally do all the good stuff that Frans did over his ten years with the Isles.

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