New York Islanders NFL Style Cut List For 2018-19 Season

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 18: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the New York Islanders is beaten by a shot by Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes (not shown) at 2:50 of the first period at the Barclays Center on March 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Jaroslav Halak | G

0.908SV% 3.19GAA, 32-year-old

With a $4.5 million cap hit, and only slightly better numbers than the $1.2 million cheaper Thoma Greiss, it’s easy to make the case to cut Jaroslav Halak. Again, I know that in the real world Halak’s deal expires on July 1. But in this hypothetical situation I’m cutting players the Islanders shouldn’t be keeping, and Halak is one of them.

Year over year Halak has been getting worse for the Islanders. Over the last three seasons, Halak’s SV% and GAA have both fallen, from a .919SV% and 2.30 GAA in 2015-16 (an All-Star season may I remind you) to a .908 SV% and 3.19 GAA in 2017-18.

Cutting his $4.5 million as long as his attitude issues from the team are win-win for the Islanders, and maybe even Halak himself. Both team and player could use a split for the betterment of both.

Remember the drama-filled 2016-17 season, where Halak’s agent took to Twitter to decry the ridiculous goaltending situation going on with the Islanders? It was the second year in a row that the Islanders chose to carry three goalies. And Halak obviously wasn’t happy about it. It eventually affected his play so much that he earned a trip to the AHL before eventually being called back.

Starting goalie for NY Islanders last game had only 1 quality practice in last 5 days before Penguins game. Going on 2 years of this now.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) October 29, 2016

With Halak out and his cap hit off the books, the New York Islanders gain some serious flexibility to get a new starter. Assuming they can actually find one out there on the open market or via trade.