New York Islanders Three Steps To Being Stanley Cup Contender

Goaltending

We’ve heard rumors that the New York Islanders might be involved in KHL goalie and former Isles draft pick Mikko Koskinen’s return to the NHL. He was good in the KHL, but how does that translate to the NHL? And does he even want to come back to a team that wanted nothing to do with him back in 2012-13? I don’t think so.

What about a goaltender who’s the backup for a team that just missed the playoffs and put up great numbers? How about a goaltender who’s going into the summer as a pending unrestricted free agent?

What about the St. Louis Blues Carter Hutton?

In 32 games played this season he put up a 2.09GAA and a .931SV%. The year before in 29 games played he had a 2.39GAA and a .913SV%. And he’s without a contract.

He isn’t the Islanders long-term solution. He’s certainly on the wrong side of 30. But with those stats how do you pass up the chance? A two year $7 million deal would be outstanding. Heck even and $8 million two-year deal would be fine. That’s still a $1.5 million to $500,000 savings on the cap versus Halak’s $4.5 million deal.

And if Garth wants to be first to the Blues backup, toss them a second round pick to get his rights.

What else can the New York Islanders do between the pipes? Linus Soderstrom is an exciting prospect, but just tossing him the reigns might be too much for a player that’s never played on a North American sized rink. At least competitively.

Next: Garth's 2017-18 Season Evaluation

With Hutton the Islanders get a goalie that stops pucks. Unlike the guys they’ve currently been relying on. With the above average goaltending this team would get from Hutton they are a playoff team. And certainly could challenge for the Cup with that blistering forward core.