According to a report the New York Islanders have placed veteran forward Leo Komarov on the trade block in order to stay cap compliant.
With only days before the 2021 season begins, and for the New York Islanders to be cap compliant, Lou Lamoriello is trying his hardest to move some medium-sized contracts in order to sign Barzal and a host of depth signings. Veteran Leo Komarov is one of the players on the trade block.
One of the first moves that Lou Lamoriello made as President and GM of the New York Islanders was to sign former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov to a four-year $12 million deal. Two years later with a flat cap Lou is trying to move the veteran forward.
Uncle Leo
According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Islanders are shopping “Uncle Leo” in order to stay compliant with the $81.5 million flat cap in 2021.
As the NYI/Barzal negotiations continue, multiple sources tell me the Isles are engaged in trade talks to stay cap compliant. One source said the NYI are "shopping multiple players" -- aside from Hickey, I'm told Komarov is one of them (again). Don't think a deal is close, yet.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) January 6, 2021
Komarov is in the third year of his four-year deal that carries a $3 million cap hit. In terms of actual money, Komarov is owed $3 million over the next two years. This year he’s owed $1.5 million after his $1 million signing bonus was already paid.
That’s not a lot of money, but in this economy, there aren’t many teams who can absorb the hit. Only eight teams – nine if you count the Islanders- have more than $3 million in cap space right now. One of those is the Rangers so bring that list down to seven teams really.
That’s a small market and each one of those teams knows how desperate the Isles are to move money. Based on the laws of economics the price will be high. It’s going to take at least one of those second-round picks the Isles acquired from the Avalanche for Devon Toews in order to move Leo Komarov.
Complicating matters in any trade involving Leo Komarov is his modified no-trade clause. According to CapFriendly, Leo has a seven-team no-trade list. But we’ve seen Lou even convince Andrew Ladd to waive his full no-trade clause at the 2020 trade deadline. So it’s possible that Leo accepts to be moved to a team on his list.
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In two years with the Islanders, Komarov has 40 points in 130 games. He’s seen his ice-time reduced as his effectiveness on the ice erodes. But Leo is a favorite in the locker room and by all accounts is an incredible teammate and professional.
For a rebuilding team looking to create an identity or shape young professionals coming into the league (looking at you LA and Detroit), Leo wouldn’t be a bad pickup, especially if he comes with a second-round pick.