Islanders possible compliance buyout candidates in the event they get one

Johnny Boychuk

Contract
Term remaining: 2 years
Cap Hit: $6 million
Value remaining: $8 million ($5.5 million SB/$2.5 million Salary)
Age: 36

I like Johnny Boychuk so considering this sucks.

But Boychuk (and Brock Nelson) carry the second-largest cap hit on the Islanders roster at $6 million. And Boychuk is under contract for another two seasons. If the Islanders need to clear the most room possible they could look at Boychuk as a compliance buyout candidate.

Unlike Ladd, Boychuk has been a relatively productive player. And he’s certainly been worth the money.

We all knew that when the Islanders signed him to a seven-year $42 million deal in 2015 there would come a day when Boychuk wasn’t contributing like a $6 million blueliner. But if he could play like one before that day came we’d all be fine with the contract.

Boychuk did that. He was exactly as advertised. Paired with Nick Leddy, the two gave the Islanders a legitimate top defensive pair until 2018-19 when Barry Trotz came in.

Now in 2019-20, Boychuk may not be producing like a $6 million blueliner, but he’s still an effective bottom-pairing defenseman for the Islanders and could be one for at least another season.

If the Islanders need to move his deal, they’d be better off finding a team that could use the cap hit.

While Boychuk carries a $6 million AAV, his total salary for each of his remaining two years is $4 million. He’s due two $2.75 million signing bonuses and he gets a $1.25 million base salary in both seasons.

If the Isles can move him on July 2, after signing bonuses are paid, the team picking him up would only have to pay him a total of $5.25 million over both years while his contract would count for $6 million on the books in each year.

(Hi Eugene Melnyk!)