New York Islanders Restricted Free Agent Contract Grades

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NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 31: Ryan Pulock #6 of the New York Islanders reacts to the loss to the New Jersey Devils on March 31, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.The New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

By July 23rd, the New York Islanders had completed their internal summer business after signing the last of their restricted free agents to contract extensions. What grade do Isles get on the deals?

Going into the 2018-19 offseason, the New York Islanders had a number of restricted free agents to sign. By July 23rd, they signed their final RFA, Brock Nelson to a single year deal.

The “show me what you got” theme can be easily identified by the short length of each deal. A fitting commonality with what GM Lou Lamoriello has said since he came in. He and his staff still need to know what the Islanders have on their roster.

Are these players as good or as bad as the previous regime believed them to be? Lou and head coach Barry Trotz and their respective staff have to figure that out for themselves.

So, for now, short-term deals are the order of business. At the moment the strategy is clearly to first identify, then pay them what they’re worth. There’s no sense in committing big money tied up in long-term deals that have the potential to flop before the ink can dry.

It’s a strategy that may cost them in the end. Guys like Pulock and Toews could still earn big money once their deals expire. But at this point, money isn’t a problem for the Islanders. They still have $10.6 million in cap space left going into 2018-19.

So how do you grade the Isles deals for their three big restricted free agents?