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New York Islanders Starting Goalie Available at 2018 NHL Draft

ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 17: Dainius Zubrus #9 of the San Jose Sharks (not pictured) scores an empty net goal during the third period against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 17: Dainius Zubrus #9 of the San Jose Sharks (not pictured) scores an empty net goal during the third period against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 27: Goalie Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Washington Capitals tends the net against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at Capital One Arena on February 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Philipp Grubauer | Washington Capitals

Record: 35 games, 15-10-4, 2.35GAA, 0.925SV%
Status: RFA

He’s been linked to the Islanders for some time now. Since his Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup the links between the two have escalated quickly.

The Capitals already have cup winner Braden Holtby under contract for two more years. And they recently signed Ilya Samsonov to a max entry-level contract. Making Philipp Grubauer expendable for the Caps.

With Grubauer being expendable and John Carlson needing a big contractual upgrade. Sending the Caps some of the Islanders extra draft picks is the perfect fit. They get high-value draft picks and they don’t have to pay Grubauer the raise he obviously deserves.

For the Islanders, they get a goalie who has above average number in the NHL. Remember, the NHL average last season was a 2.78 GAA and .912SV%. Grubauer was .43 points below the GAA average and .13 points above the SV% average.

Give the 2017-18 New York Islanders that level of goaltending and their fate changes dramatically.

The issue regarding Grubauer is that he’s never played more than 35 games in a season. Can he replicate that above average goalkeeping between 50-60 times in a season?

Based on the price other RFA goalies have fetched in the recent past, like Martin Jones, a second-round pick and a player going Washington’s way should be enough to get the deal done.

Isles Appeal Rank: 7/10

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