Eyes On Isles
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Islanders RFAs: What’s the story on all 2021 restricted free agents

By Michel Anderson

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Ilya Sorokin #30 and Adam Pelech #3 of the New York Islanders skate against the New York Rangers at the Nassau Coliseum on April 11, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Rangers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Ilya Sorokin #30 and Adam Pelech #3 of the New York Islanders skate against the New York Rangers at the Nassau Coliseum on April 11, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Rangers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New York Islanders
Anthony Beauvillier #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal during the first overtime period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Semifinals. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Islanders have nine restricted free agents. Who are they and what’s their story as they approach the end of their contracts on July 28?

A few days ago I looked at every single one of the New York Islanders unrestricted free agents. That meant all of those on the regular playing roster and off of it. The goal? To see where the Isles (and the player) stood as the free agency period approached on July 28.

Today, I wanted to focus on the other group of free agents; the restricted ones.

These are the guys who can’t go to the open market, per se. They can sign an offer sheet with another club if they wanted to, but the Islanders have the right of first refusal on any offer sheet. Basically, they still have control over RFAs where they don’t have that same control for UFAs.

So, who are all of the Islanders RFAs, and where do they and the organization sit?

On Offer Sheets

I wanted to address this first. I don’t see an offer sheet coming for any of the Isles RFAs. Yes, Lou Lamoriello is operating near the peak of the salary cap, but so are a number of teams.

And while any team can offer an RFA a contract the player actually has to sign it. I can’t see any of these RFAs signing one considering this team has been a few wins away from the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back years.

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