New York Islanders Valtteri Filppula Will Be On Roster in 2018-19

Even if Valtteri Filppula has a terrible camp for the New York Islanders, he isn’t going anywhere. Not even to waivers or to the minors. Thanks to that no-move clause.

Maybe I’m the only one who thought this, but when I found out that the New York Islanders signed Valtteri Filppula to a single year contract worth $2.75 million with a full no-move clause, I figured the Islanders wanted to assure him he wouldn’t be traded.

I never considered that a no-move could be anything but trade protection.

But when you think about it makes sense that a no-move clause easily grants a number of other perks for the player. Like having to give consent to be placed on waivers or to be sent to the minors. It’s a no-move the player is immovable.

Filppula’s no-move isn’t just trade protection, but its NHL status protection for the duration of his single year contract. Which has impacts on the Islanders roster.

Lock for 3C

It’s not that I feel Valtteri Filppula needs to go or doesn’t deserve a spot. He’s been fine for the New York Islanders in training camp. He’s been “accountable” and “responsible”. The two things, above all else, that management wants to see from its players in camp.

In his two games so far Filppula has been as advertised. He’s been good on the faceoff and has done a good job on the defensive end of the ice. In terms of a third line center the Islanders could do much worse.

By that same token, they could technically do better as well. But as it stands there hasn’t been a standout option at the 3C spot.

Mathew Barzal is a lock for the 1C spot. The Isles are deadset on playing Brock Nelson at the 2C spot. Leaving the third line center spot to Filppula and Kovar to fight over.

Kovar has been getting better every time he hits the ice. He scored his first goal the other night in the Isles fourth game against the Flyers in the preseason. But he’s going to have to do more to unseat a player the Islanders can’t move…because they gave him a no-move clause this summer.

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If the New York Islanders are going to make room for Kieffer Bellows or Josh Ho-Sang, Valtteri Filppula isn’t going anywhere. Other players, like perhaps Kovar might have to make room.