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Islanders five players who could be gone next season

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 03: Tom Kuhnhackl #14 of the New York Islanders lays on the ice after being hit by a teammates stick against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 03, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-2 and won the series, 4-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 17: Andy Greene #4 of the New York Islanders in action during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 17, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 2-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Andy Greene

I’m sure he’s a great pro and maybe the organization can make room for him in some sort of off-ice role if Lou Lamoriello likes him that much. But it’s the end of the line for Andy Greene and the New York Islanders.

The 37-year-old is at the end of a five-year deal worth $25 million that he signed back when Lou was still GM of the New Jersey Devils.

Going into 2020-21 the Islanders have seven defensemen already signed to NHL contract. There just isn’t room to keep a player who’s going to turn 38 at the start of the 2020-21 season on the roster.

Adam Pelech will be back and healthy. Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews will be re-signed following the expiry of their bridge deals. Scott Mayfield, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk, and Noah Dobson are still signed for a few more years.

And Thomas Hickey is still under contract with a $2.5 million cap hit until 2021-22. That’s eight defensemen on the roster.

Maybe Greene still has enough left in the tank for a year or two. He’s played 63 games this season between the Devils and Islanders. He could be a good depth defenseman anywhere in the league. Just not with the Islanders who have their blueline sorted out for the following season.

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