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Islanders: Thomas Greiss To Test Free Agent Market

By Matt O'Leary

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 30: Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 30, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 30: Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 30, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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According to Thomas Greiss’ agent, Greiss is expected to test the goalie market as his Islanders career is likely over.

Thomas Greiss testing free agency isn’t really surprising. Unfortunately, the Islanders just don’t have the room or need for him on the roster anymore with both Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin on the roster for next year.

The two of them combine for a $7 million cap hit, and allocating any more of the cap to the position would be a poor way to manage the roster.

It was Greiss’ agent, Ray Petkau, who told NHL insider Pierre LeBrun the plan for the 34-year-old goalie. It’s a hard truth, but one that Isles fans were expecting.

Over the course of his five years with the Islanders, he was solid for the team. He finished, 101-60-17 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.70 goals against average. He sits fifth-most in games for a goalie, fifth-most in wins, and sixth in shutouts in Islanders history (H/T: Rob Taub).

The odd part was that Greiss was brought in as a backup on a two-year $3 million ($1.5 million AAV) and boy did he outgrow that contract quickly. In his first year, due to Jaroslav Halak going down, he played 41 games and finished with a .925 save percentage and a 2.36 goals against average.

In the playoffs, he was stellar registering a .923 save percentage and a 2.46 goals against average. Both he and John Tavares were the lone reasons the Isles advanced to the second round. In the Florida series, he finished with a Godly like .943 save percentage.

When Barry Trotz came on board before the 2018 season, Greiss was coming off the worst year of his career. Well, he bounced back in a big way with the new coaching staff. He has a .921 save percentage over the last two years which is good enough for seventh in the NHL.

Some team is going to be lucky and get a good one in Greiss, who is best served as a 1B type of goalie. Greiss’ agent did say that Thomas loves Long Island and would be open to returning but I just don’t see a scenario where that is likely.

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Greiss is an extremely underrated Islander, and it’s going to be yet another example of us not appreciating someone until they are gone. Thanks for everything, Greisser.

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