Islanders: Top 5 Players Who Could Be Taken By Seattle

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 21: Majority owner Bill Foley and general manager George McPhee of the Vegas Golden Knights annouce their picks during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

With the 2021 season over for the New York Islanders, it’s time to look forward. The next big thing for this team is the expansion draft coming up on July 21. Each team, with the exception of Vegas, will have to participate in the draft as the Seattle Kracken are added to the league.

Last time, back in 2017, Garth Snow traded Jake Bischoff, Mikhail Grabovski, a 2017 1st, and a 2019 2nd in order for the Vegas Golden Knight to select JF Berube. This go around, I’m not sure the Islanders have the luxury of trading draft capital.

They just gave up a first in order to acquire Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. They need to hold on to some capital and use it either via the NHL Entry Level Draft or to attach to a player to move cap space.

So I guess what we have to start with is who would be protected. Each team can protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. This would be my protected list for expansion:

Forwards: Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, JG Pageau, Josh Bailey, Anthony Beauvillier, Casey Cizikas

Defense: Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield

Goalie: Semyon Varlamov

KEY EXEMPT: Oliver Wahlstrom, Anatoly Golyshev, Noah Dobson, Samuel Bolduc, Robin Salo, Bode Wilde, Ilya Sorokin

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 14: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 14, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Number 5: Otto Koivula

The Islanders can’t afford to protect a kid like Otto Koivula with the state of their roster. The 22-year-old has just 12 games of NHL experience but that’s likely the fault of a deep veteran group of forwards in front of him.

He’s had three years of success at the AHL level. In 2018-2019, he had 21 goals and 46 points followed by 22 points in 36 games, and then nine in 20 this year.

At six-foot-three and 220 pounds, he seems destined for a bottom-six role at the next level. As an RFA he’s cheap and controllable and as someone who plays all three forward positions, he can be a versatile piece for Seattle.

Number 4: Sebastian Aho

Similar to Otto Koivula, Aho has only 25 games at the NHL level due to a deep veteran group in front of him. The former 5th rounder has really blossomed into a solid AHL player with someone who has potential for a third-pair role at the NHL.

In 2018-2019, he had 46 points in 67 games with Bridgeport and then followed that up with a 30 points 2019-2020.

With Samuel Bolduc and Robin Salo on the left side in the prospect pool, Aho is expendable. For just $750,000 he’s a cheap add as well for the Kraken.

Number 3: Kieffer Bellows

I have no idea what to make of the former first-round pick. Bellows, who was selected 19th overall in 2016 hasn’t really gotten a chance at a full-time role in the NHL. He has five goals in 22 games spread out over the last two years.

For whatever reason, the Isles seemed to prefer Michael Dal Colle, Travis Zajac, and Leo Komarov’s game over Bellows which doesn’t bode well for his future on the Island.

It would be a shame to lose a former top-20 pick for nothing, but at this point, I don’t think he has much trade value for this team. Maybe Seattle looks at him and thinks they can get him to his full potential.

Dec 29, 2019; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) shoots during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Number 2: Nick Leddy

Nick Leddy has one more year of a seven-year $38.5 million deal remaining. While the first few years of that contract looked like great value, Leddy has seen a seemingly inexplicable regression since the second half of 2017-2018.

To be fair, he’s coming off his most productive offensive season in a while. He had 31 points in 56 games which paces out to 45 points over a full season.

He’s still a puck-moving defenseman that can play upwards of 21 minutes. Some teams value that, even if he has seemed to lose a step over the past couple of years. He may be a player who would thrive in a more offensive system.

Number 1: Jordan Eberle

Most teams aren’t exposing top-line players but the Islanders kind of have to. Eberle has three years left at $5.5 million. This past season, playing alongside Mat Barzal, Eberle had 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games.

Over the past two years, Eberle has 73 points and 32 goals in 113 games. That’s a pace of 53 points and 23 goals. If you want someone who can give you 50 points on the wing then Seattle may claim him despite the term and AAV.

As for the Islanders, they probably wouldn’t be crying about freeing up a $5.5 million cap hit. Plus Barzal could probably use a change on his wing anyway.

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Most of the NHL is dealing with salary cap issues due to the flat cap once again. The expansion draft could be a useful tool for teams to strategically leave bigger money guys exposed in hopes that they are chosen.

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