New York Islanders Two-Year Retool Plan

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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 23: Anders Lee #27 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal at 1:31 of the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at the Barclays Center on December 23, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2018-2019

Lee – Barzal – Eberle

Bailey – Duchene – Ho-Sang

Beauvillier – Filppula – Ladd

Martin – Cizikas – Komarov

Leddy – Faulk

Toews – Pulock

Hickey – Boychuk

Lehner

Greiss

2019-2020

Lee – Barzal – Bailey

Bellows – Duchene – Wahlstrom

Ladd – Beauvillier – Ho-Sang

Martin – Cizikas – Komarov

Leddy – Faulk

Toews – Pulock

Hickey – Boychuk

Lehner (if he’s good)/Soderstrom

Greiss

Islanders fans are tired of rebuilds. If this all worked out for the Islanders it would be a re-tool instead of a rebuild. In 2019, Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom get added to the mix as rookies. Bellows can potentially get some playing time this year, but right now it’s a crowded forward group.

Beauvillier moves back to his natural position of center, and I think he can end up being a productive third line center behind Barzal and Duchene. Ladd’s contract still is going to be burdensome, but Ho-Sang can get something out of him. He did it with Brock last year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to do it in 2019 with Ladd either.

Goalie is a bit of a question mark in 2019 also. If Lehner is good you can bring him back, but if it doesn’t work out this year then maybe you hand things off to Linus Soderstrom.

Next: Islanders need to decide on Lee and Eberle

Obviously, Tavares was the dream and best scenario, but this isn’t a bad second option for the Islanders at all. If the Isles roster looks like this in two years, I’ll be pretty excited.