New York Islanders: 10 Step Plan To Fix The Franchise

Step 10: Re-Sign Chris Wagner For Fourth Line

At the trade deadline this year the New York Islanders added Chris Wagner in exchange for Jason Chimera. Wagner is set to be a UFA at the end of the year but is someone that might be worthwhile to hold on to.

Wagner has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 69 games this year which is a career high for him. Wagner has 230 hits this year which would lead the Islanders if he played the entire season with them.

It would cost you virtually nothing to bring back the 26-year old. He’s currently making $637,500 so I think a two-year $2 million contract ($1 million AAV) is more than fair in order to keep Wagner around as the fourth line RW.

Yes, that Casey Cizikas cap number is still a lot at $3.35 million through 2020-2021 but the Islanders fourth line left and right winger should cost them very little. Ideally, Ross Johnston would be the fourth line LW rounding out a much cheaper version of their old fourth line.

Ross Johnston is essentially a poor mans Matt Martin, and Chris Wagner is cheaper than Cal Clutterbuck so I’m all on board for this fourth line. When looking at the Islanders top-three lines it’s hard to imagine this line getting much ice time so why make a bigger splash than you have to.

If you’ve learned anything from the Garth Snow era it should be not to overpay your fourth line. I never want to see a cap hit like we saw with Kulemin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck from a fourth line ever again.