New York Islanders Free Agency and Trade Predictions

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders celebrates his third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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BUFFALO, NY – APRIL 2: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on during the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center on April 2, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /

Free Agency

The biggest need for the Islanders is adding scoring to their top-six. They don’t land a top guy like Matt Duchene or Artemi Panarin but they are able to land themselves Jeff Skinner who is coming off a 40 goal season.

Last year in Buffalo, Skinner had the best year of his career. He finished with 63 points (40 goals, 23 assists). It came at the perfect time because he was set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.

Skinner has eclipsed the 30 goal mark four times in his career, and after nine years he is still only 27 years old.

In my scenario, the Islanders sign Skinner to a seven-year $56 million ($8 million AAV). That would carry him through his age 33 season giving the Islanders another guy who has the capability to pop in 40 goals.

This is the only big free agent I have the Islanders bringing in. I don’t think they’ll be very active besides re-signing Anders Lee and Robin Lehner.