Elliotte Friedman’s predictions for Islanders UFA and trade targets

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DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 26: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche brings the puck off the boards against the San Jose Sharks in the second period at Ball Arena on January 26, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

What’s the word on some of the New York Islanders top free agent and trade targets as free agency frenzy (July 28) approached.

Late last night Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman put out a blog about some of the biggest storylines as we near free-agent frenzy. The New York Islanders have cap space and figure to be players in the free-agent market and the trade market.

After a few trades and the expansion draft, the Islanders have a few gaps on their roster that they need to fill. With Nick Leddy going to Detroit there’s a gap in the top four that needs to be filled.

There’s an argument that one of Sebastian Aho, Samuel Bolduc, or Robin Salo could be in the mix, but with the hesitancy the Isles coaching staff has towards rookies it’s hard to see them putting what is essentially two rookies (Dobson and Aho) in their top six.

Losing Jordan Eberle to the Seattle Kraken opens a spot on the Islanders top line. It’s possible that Oliver Wahlstrom jumps up to play next to Barzal and Lee on the Isles top group, but even then there’s an opening further down the roster that needs to be filled.

So yesterday, Elliotte Friedman looked at some of the big names heading towards free agency and available on the trade market and tried to predict where they would end up. And while this isn’t Friedman saying any of these deals are guaranteed, if anyone knows something its, Friedman.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 18: Alec Martinez #23 of the Vegas Golden Knights waits for a faceoff in the third period of a game against the Minnesota Wild in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Wild 3-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Defense

Alec Martinez: Stays in Vegas

Just before noon on Monday, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli essentially corroborated Friedman’s prediction when he tweeted out that Martinez and Vegas are nearing an extension.

Hearing Vegas @GoldenKnights are closing in on an extension to keep D Alec Martinez off the market.

Expect Martinez to come in around $5 million, perhaps a little more, on a three-year deal.@DFOHockey
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 26, 2021

At $5 million it’s a good deal for the 34-year-old blueliner who was on a $4 million cap hit last season. Martinez was the clear favorite to replace Leddy but it was always going to be a tall task to convince him to leave Vegas or even the South-West where he’s spent his entire NHL career.

Ryan Suter: Dallas

One word. One destination is all Friedman wrote. We found out yesterday that Suter wants a longer-term deal. One that could reach four years. That’s just too long for the Isles to commit to a 36-year-old.

Suter is still a good player and still can be an effective top-four defender, but at the type of term he might command based on the number of teams interested in his services and for the length he wants, it’s a no-go for the Islanders.

With Suter and Martinez effectively off the market, the Islanders options shrink. No word on Mike Reilly though. The Boston Bruins defenseman is headed to the market it seems. He doesn’t have the same sample of being a top-four guy like Martinez or Suter, but he’s a good puck mover that could be even better than he’s shown so far.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 24: Kyle Palmieri #21 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 24, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Forwards

Kyle Palmieri: Islanders probably have him locked up

Things are quiet. Too quiet on the Kyle Palmieri front. Which means he isn’t likely exploring his options outside of the Island. Which in turn means that Lou Lamoriello probably has it all said and done. Just like he did last year with Andy Greene and Matt Martin.

Vladimir Tarasenko: Islanders or New Jersey

As much as Jersey has the cap space to add Tarasenko and have a number of promising young players, they aren’t as competitive as the Islanders are at the moment. The Devils have made the playoffs once over the last nine years.

This seems like an easy decision. Sorry, Jersey,

Gabriel Landeskog: Colorado finds a way

This is why these predictions aren’t certain. While Friedman believes Colorado and their captain find a way to get a deal done, it seems that things have gone south between Landeskog and the Avalanche.

I think things took a turn for the worse with Landeskog and Avs. Not optimistic anymore like I was he’d be back.
That said, things can always change. But it sounds like things turned for the worse.
— Adrian Dater (@adater) July 26, 2021

Things can certainly change, but with 48 hours till free agency opens this could be how things go between the Avs and their captain.

Now I’m not here to say who is the better target (Landeskog vs. Tarasenko) but it’s clear both are indeed targets. It’s possible both are available to the Isles.

Brandon Saad: Isles linked

This one is confusing. Saad is a good player, but with Kyle Palmieri basically, signed why target a similar player? Like my colleague Matt O’Leary wrote this morning: “Adding Saad wouldn’t be enough”.

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