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

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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.

New York Islanders Michael Dal Colle (28) (Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports) /

Regular Roster Players

(Any player with a * has arbitration rights)

Anthony Beauvillier*
Qualifying Offer: $2.4 million

There’s no reason for Beauvillier to leave. He followed up an incredible 2020 playoff run by putting up his best regular-season performance since he entered the league in 2016-17. With 28 points in 47 games, Beau was on a 49 point pace over a full 82 games.

After years of inconsistent play, Beauvillier put up a consistent performance alongside Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. What that means for a payday will be interesting. But he’s staying.

Adam Pelech*
Qualifying Offer: $2.5 million

Pay him what he wants, right?

Obviously, that’s not meant literally, but more as a nod to how important Adam Pelech is to the New York Islanders. Both sides want to keep up their relationship. So it’s not a matter of if, but how much with Pelech.

I believe his deal will be $4.5 million AAV over four years. You?

Ilya Sorokin*
Qualifying Offer: $1 million

What a rookie season for Sorokin. It started terribly, but he got to the point where he looked like the elite-level goalie we all knew he could be. He played so well that’s it’s possible the Islanders try and move Semyon Varlamov to (a) make some cap space and (b) give the reigns to Sorokin.

Remember, Lou has no problem moving on from a Vezina caliber goalie. He did it with Robin Lehner, and the Isles didn’t miss a beat.

His qualifying offer is less than his $2 million cap hit, why? He was only getting a $1 million base salary. The other million was a signing bonus.

Michael Dal Colle*
Qualifying Offer: $750,000 (two-way)

What’s going to happen with Dal Colle? At best he seems like a 13th forward on this team. Which isn’t what anyone was hoping for when he was drafted fifth overall in 2014, but it is what it is.

We’ll see what he gets. Though a $750,000 deal, like his qualifying offer, seems perfect. No?

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 26: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Non-NHL Roster Players

(Any player with a * has arbitration rights)

Kieffer Bellows
Qualifying offer: $874,125 (two-way)

He couldn’t make the Isles roster full-time this year. He even found his way to Barry Trotz’s dog house at one point. He could be selected by Seattle in the expansion draft, but he might stay as well. If he does maybe we see Lou pull out a carbon copy of Michael Dal Colle’s bridge deal?

That was a two-year $1.4 million contract. With the league minimum being $750,00 bump that to a $1.5 million deal over two years.

Dmytro Timashov*
Qualifying offer: $750,000 (two-way)

Timashov might not be an NHL’er but he could be a good AHL’er in the right circumstance. Perhaps with more skill headed to Bridgeport, Timashov could find some good chemistry and put up points. His eleven points in 22 games don’t sound great, but few had good years in Bridgeport.

I expect him to stay and have a better year in 2021-22.

Otto Koivula
Qualifying offer: $769,125 (two-way)

This is season was a bit of a disappointment for Otto Koivula. It seems he was let down when he returned to the AHL after being so close to an NHL spot. Maybe Seattle comes for the big Finn instead of Bellows, I feel like he might jump at the chance to get a new start for an expansion club.

If he stays I fully expect to see him sign for a league-minimum $7500,000 AAV with an increased minors payday (he was getting $70,000 to play in the minors).

Anatolii Golyshev*
Qualifying offer: $750,000 (two-way)

Thanks to COVID delays, Anatolii Golyshev never got to play a game in North America before the season came to an end. The Russian forward arrived too late to take part in any of the Sound Tigers games. But, like Sorokin last year, he’s had plenty of practice time.

The Islanders have a plan for him. What that plan is might seem more obvious when he’s actually put pen to paper on that next deal.

Bobo Carpenter*
Qualifying offer: $750,000 (two-way)

If there’s anyone on this list that might not get a qualifying offer it’s Bobo Carpenter. Not to say he won’t be qualified. Josh Ho-Sang received a qualifying offer last year after all.

Carpenter had an alright 2021 AHL season with the Sound Tigers. He could be a good bottom-six veteran for them in 2021-22.

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