Islanders: Both seconds should be on table to trade away cap issues

Moving both second-round picks from the Colorado Avalanche need to be in play to create cap space for the New York Islanders.

When the New York Islanders traded away defenseman Devon Toews to the Colorado Avalanche they did so in order to: (1) clear whatever cap commitment they would have had to make in order to keep him and (2) acquire assets to offload one of their big contracts.

We’re now almost a month since Toews was trade to Colorado and the Islanders haven’t yet been able to offload one of their big contracts. There could be a number of reasons as to why that is, one could be that the Isles need to sweeten the pot.

Two Picks in Play

The Islanders, just like a number of teams, could use a salary cap lifeline. The Isles only have $3.905 million in cap space and Mathew Barzal still to sign. That’s not enough room. To get the star center under contract.

Even if he’s willing to take a team-friendly deal.

Getting Johnny Boychuk‘s $6 million cap hit or Andrew Ladd‘s $5.5 million cap hit could give the Islanders an incredible amount of breathing room. Now, moving Ladd’s deal – that doesn’t expire until 2022-23 – is virtually impossible. And it’s likely that Ladd finds himself on LTIR at the start of the campaign.

Boychuk is still a serviceable bottom pair defenseman that could easily still play 17 minutes a night for most of the regular season. A team looking for a leader on the blue line could use Boychuk.

But clearly, his $6 million cap hit and $5.25 million in total money owed is giving teams second thought. With little money coming through the door for NHL team’s it’s understandable they’d be hesitant to bring in more money. So Lou’s going to have to make team’s an offer they can’t refuse.

That’s why sending both second-round picks acquired from the Colorado Avalanche need to be in play to tempt a team to take Boychuk.

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Two seconds and Johnny Boychuk for what would be “future considerations” going back to the Islanders isn’t a great return in a regular year, but with little cap space to speak of and no one willing to pick up extra money it’s not a regular year.