Islanders: Leo Komarov Could Be Next To Be Traded

The New York Islanders moved Devon Toews in a deal, could Leo Komarov be next up to get moved out in the cap crunch?

Slowly but surely Lou Lamoriello is starting to make moves for the New York Islanders. His biggest move so far was trading Devon Toews to Colorado and that’s likely just the beginning of the cap dumping.

Johnny Boychuk is a name that is brought up a ton, and he absolutely could be on the move for the Isles. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, added another Islander to the list of players to watch who could be on the move.

Leo Komarov comes in at 11th on the list of the trade watch list. Komarov is set to $1 million in signing bonus and $1.5 million in base salary this year and next year is due $2 million in total salary (all base).

Komarov comes with a cap hit of $3 million, so perhaps Lou can deal him to a team needing to make the floor. Ottawa, Detroit, or New Jersey seem like the three best places as all three teams have over $18 million in cap space right now.

The deal for Leo in 2018 never made much sense to me. He was a fourth-liner coming off a $2.95 million AAV. The bump in salary and term was a head-scratcher, especially when considering that the market for Komarov was essentially nonexistent.

In 130 games over two years with the Isles, Komarov has 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists). Paced out over a full season that’s a 25 point pace.

The Isles seem to have interest in bringing Matt Martin back, at a low cost, and I’m not sure I can stomach another year of Uncle Leo on line three so if the Isles can attach a pick with him and get him out, then I’m all for it.

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In this market, it’s not going to be easy but you’d have to imagine Lou is considering any and all opportunities to free up some room.