Islanders: Three Reasons Ryan Johansen Trade Rumor Doesn’t Work

Two Roster Players

The MyNHL trade rumor states that the Islanders offered the option on two of the following three roster players:

Anthony Beauvillier
Ryan Pulock
Josh Bailey

That’s obviously too much. No matter who you’re matching together.

Anthony Beauvillier, with his 12 points in 18 games, is finally the player the Islanders drafted 28th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft. For years, the Isles have been perplexed on how to get the best out of Beauvillier. In 2019-20, they’ve seemed to have found the answer.

He’s on pace for 60 points and has two years on a low $2.1 million cap hit. Why move him now?

Ryan Pulock is Barry Trotz’s most trusted blueline. Lou Lamoriello has to know this. Why would they more their most important defender for Ryan Johansen?

To be fair, trading Josh Bailey is entirely possible. I think he’s a good player. He and Anders Lee have a great connection together that has gone underappreciated by Barry Trotz. He’s also now the fourth longest-serving Islander ever. I don’t want to see him leave.

But none of those are reasons to keep him on the roster. So long as the player coming back is a clear upgrade. Is Johansen a clear upgrade? He’s on pace for 60 points this season. Bailey, with 13 points in 18 games is on pace for 59 points.

Bailey is also $3 million cheap on the cap with a $5 million AAV to Johansen’s $8 million AAV. Bailey’s deal expires in 2023-24 while Johansen’s deal expires a year later. In terms of actual dollars, Johansen is owed another $40 million after this season while Bailey is owed $17 million. That’s another $23 million commitment from the Islanders to Johansen for…reasons.

It’s hard to see how Johansen is worth a toss-up between these three players let alone adding a prospect or pick as the rumor implies.