New York Islanders: Artemi Panarin Drama Continues

There are conflicting reports with the New York Islanders and Artemi Panarin. It’s just another layer to the drama that is NHL Free Agency.

Don’t you just love NHL Free Agency? If you’re someone who is getting sick and tired of all the free agency rumors than today isn’t your day. There seems to be conflicting reports regarding Artemi Panarin and the New York Islanders.

First, Andy Strickland said that the race was getting “interesting” between the Islanders and Panthers for Panarin and Bobrovsky. That would give you the impression that the Islanders are very much involved.

Well, on Sirius NHL Network Radio, David Pagnotta said the Islanders were out on Panarin. So what the heck does that really mean?

Arthur Staple chimed in and hinted at the Islanders pursuing Sergei Bobrovsky still if they miss out on Artemi Panarin. If the Isles are really out on Panarin then you can’t get Bobrovsky in here by himself, it makes no sense.

The only way Bob should come is if Panarin comes with him. A package would likely cost upwards of $20 million AAV for the two former Blue Jackets but if it’s the only way to get Panarin then I think you bite the bullet and just do it.

Operating under the assumption that Panarin is no longer an option, that should take Bobrovsky out as well. At that point, I would be doing everything in my power to re-sign Anders Lee and Robin Lehner.

It should cost you probably between $12 million AAV and $13 million AAV for the pair, leaving you with enough to add a Ryan Dzingel or Gustav Nyquist to the mix. Dzingel and Nyquist are options that would likely cost you between $4.5 million and $5.5 million AAV giving you potentially three options at $17.5 million instead of just two for $20 million.

There’s a lot of ways that Lou Lamoriello can go here. The only thing he truly can’t do is miss out on Bobrovsky, Lehner, Panarin, and Lee. Some combination of those four has to be on the team next year, if not that’s a really tough look for Lamoriello.