New York Islanders Pending Free Agents Overview

RFAs

Restrict free agents are interesting as the team that has the rights to the RFA has the last say in whether that player stays with the team or not.

This means that if another team offers a contract, or in this case, an offer sheet to a player that is an RFA, the team that has the rights to this player can match the offer sheet and keep said player. As long as the team offers that player a qualifying offer of course.

However, if the team chooses not to match the offer sheet, the player will join the team he accepted the offer sheet from. Also, the player’s former team will receive draft picks from the new team. What they get in terms of draft pick compensation will depend on the AAV of the offer sheet.

Michael Dal Colle, LW

Drafted fifth overall in 2014, Dal Colle is at the end of his entry-level contract (ELC). The 22-year-old (soon to be 23 in June) has not lived up to the hype of being drafted that high, as he has only managed to produce a measly seven points (three goals, four assists) in 32 career NHL games.

MDC’s current cap hit is only $863,333 and he will most likely get around that with his next contract. His contract probably won’t be longer than two years.

Josh Ho-Sang, RW

As the Islanders second pick in the first round of the 2014 entry-level draft (28th overall), Ho-Sang’s ELC is also expiring. Just like Dal Colle, Ho-Sang has not done much to warrant a luscious new contract.

At 23 years old, Ho-Sang has been going back and forth between the AHL and NHL for the last three seasons. It was thought that he would finally remain on the NHL roster this season with the new management regime.

However, he started the season in the AHL due to his defensive inabilities and lack of maturity. It can be argued that Ho-Sang continues to be sent down to Bridgeport because of his lack of production in the big leagues.

In ten games in the NHL this season, Ho-Sang only produced two points (one goal, one assist) and in 53 career NHL games, he has notched just 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists).

Unless a team decides to take a chance on the young playmaker, the Islanders are most likely to give Ho-Sang a one-year contract with a value close to his current cap hit of $863,333. But, it can be argued that a team would be willing to give Ho-Sang a two-year deal worth around $1.25 million a year.

If this happens, it is uncertain that the Isles would be willing to match. The Islanders would not receive a draft pick in return for losing an RFA for a deal this cheap, but they do not seem very attached to Ho-Sang and do not see him to be of that value.

Anthony Beauvillier, LW

Beauvillier is the Islanders most enticing RFA. Drafted 28th overall in 2015, Beauvillier has the most NHL experience and success of the Isles RFAs. The 21-year-old (soon to be 22 in June) has played in 218 NHL games over his young career, scoring 88 points (48 goals, 40 assists).

However, after scoring 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) last season, Tito was unable to grow off of that this season. Playing in every game but one, Beauvillier only had 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists).

It seems as though Beauvillier’s potential is only that of a really good third-line scorer or a below average second-line scorer. However, teams may be interested in him because of his decent success and experience as a young player in the NHL.

The Islanders will most likely be willing to give Tito a one-year deal worth around $1.25 million. However, teams may offer him a multi-year deal worth more per year. If this happens the Isles will probably be hesitant in matching the offer due to the chance that the young forwards of Otto Koivula, Kieffer Bellows, and Oliver Wahlstrom make the NHL roster.