New York Islanders Tender Qualifying Offers to RFAS

The New York Islanders tendered qualifying offers to a number of their restricted free agents. Not all of them got one, making them UFAs and free to explore the open market outside of Long Island.

A day after the NHL draft is over teams as supposed to tender qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. It’s believed that the New York Islanders gave qualifying offers to five of their players.

All of Ryan Pulock, Brock Nelson, Devon Toews, Ross Johnston and Kyle Burroughs received qualifying offers from the Islanders. Which simply means that the Islanders retain their negotiating rights under the CBA.

But it also means that those who didn’t get a qualifying offer become unrestricted free agents.

The Unchosen Ones

Alan Quine, Shane Prince, Brandon Davidson, and Kyle Schempp were not given qualifying offers by the Islanders. All will become UFAs and won’t return to the team. To be fair none deserved a qualifying offer.

Alan Quine

Aside from a heroic second overtime goal three years ago against the Florida Panthers, Alan Quine has had little to no impact for the Isles. I routinely refer to him as Casey Cizikas light. As in he does everything Casey can do, just not as well.

The Islanders already pay handsomely for Casey Cizikas, there’s no reason to keep another one on the roster.

New York Islanders

Shane Prince

Unfortunately, Shane Prince missed most of the season due to injury. But over the last three seasons since Garth Snow acquired him at the trade deadline from Ottawa he’s produced 25 points in 84 games. That’s just not enough to keep around.

The Islanders have other players on the roster or in the system that they can keep as scratch pad players. Like Tanner Fritz for example.

Brandon Davidson

Acquired for a third-round pick at the 2018 trade deadline, Garth Snow brought him in to give the defense some much-needed support. It failed spectacularly.

Not only was Davidson not able to help the Islanders turn around their terrible defense, he actually ended up causing more harm than good. Remember this?

Davidson put the puck in his own net more frequently then it went in at the other end. He was the definition of counter-productive.

Kyle Schempp

Who? He was drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. Last season he had six points in 33 AHL games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Schempp had eight point in 46 career games in the AHL. He just wasn’t good enough to keep around.

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Next: Isles Top 5 Fighters Since 2000

The New York Islanders continue to get rid of the deadweight in the organization. With these RFAs now out the door, it gives the Isles room to bring in better players within the organization into the active roster.