3 options the NY Islanders should consider as free agency opens July 1

With the New York Islanders preparing to enter the 2026 free agency period, the team has a few options to consider if they are looking to bolster their lineup. While they do have a full roster at the moment, especially with Kyle Palmieri returning to the lineup after suffering an ACL tear, the team could look to upgrade a few positions, such as their right-handed defensive side or maybe a short-term upgrade to the middle six. With those positions highlighted, here are three options the Islanders could consider on July 1st.

Rasmus Andersson 

Compared to the other names on this list, Andersson is both the most difficult acquisition but also the most exciting. While the Islanders currently have Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, and newly extended Tony DeAngelo on the payroll, it doesn't mean that a move couldn't be made to acquire some additional capital and free some cap/roster space.

If the Islanders were to make a trade, Ryan Pulock currently makes the most sense considering his veteran experience and his powerful shot. While he does have a no-trade clause, the right-handed defenseman could have value to competing teams or franchises looking to take that extra step towards contention. While he has had a positive impact on Matthew Schaefer’s development, the Islanders could use a younger and more impactful upgrade at the right-handed position through Rasmus Andersson . 

Rasmus Andersson is a two-way defenseman that asserts his dominance on both sides of the ice. Split between Calgary and Vegas, Andersson produced 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 81 games this year. However, recently, Andersson has struggled and has seen a slight regression in his defensive capabilities where he ended the season with a +4 +/- rating, a career rating of -11 +/-, but this could also be attributed to the turbulent situation in Calgary as well as his transition to the Vegas Golden Knights earlier in the year. 

The main obstacle to signing Andersson is that the Vegas Golden Knights are freeing up the cap space to sign the Swedish defenseman after trading RFA Pavel Dorofeyev on draft night. It could be argued that the Golden Knights are looking to solidify their defensive corps before allocating their resources towards another young star, but the Islanders could find themselves in the mix due to the prospect of having Andersson play alongside rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer. 

There is no doubt that Anderson could be an excellent mentor and influence on Matthew Schaefer, with the additional benefit of having a top-pairing two-way threat patrolling the blue line, but for now the Islanders will need to make an attractive offer to have him sign on the Island. 

Contract projection: $8.75 x 6 AAV

Mason Marchment 

The journeyman winger seems to be on the move again after his notable stint in Columbus. Mason Marchment is a veteran winger with valuable playoff experience and gritty playmaking. Marchment is no doubt a multi-tooled asset that could fit Peter DeBoer's roster needs, especially considering Marchment’s familiarity with DeBoer during his time in Dallas. 

The seasoned winger had a decent season after being traded twice in one year: by Dallas to Seattle during the 2025 offseason and then by Seattle to Columbus before the new year. Marchment wasted no time making a name for himself, playing valuable middle-six minutes to stabilize a turbulent Blue Jackets’ roster and becoming a thorn on an opposing team’s side. Of course, his most notable run-in against the Islanders occurred during his questionable trip on Matthew Schaefer, which resulted in a retaliatory slash by Mat Barzal. 

Nevertheless, Marchment’s production is an asset that the Islanders could use on a roster that is still undergoing a multifaceted retool with competing aspirations. This past year, he posted 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 68 games, during his split season with both Seattle and Columbus. His most notable year was during the 2023-2024 season with the Dallas Stars where he produced 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points in 81 games. 

As a result, Marchment could have many suitors on free agency day, but the Islanders could very well be in the running should they choose to make a trade or two to reshape the trajectory of the forward group. In summation, Marchment could be viewed as a fascinating transitional tool, if signed to a short-term deal, to add meaningful depth and experience to a roster filled with veterans and developing prospects. 

Contract projection: $5.67 x 3 AAV

Vladimir Tarasenko 

The Russian sniper, while he has undergone a journeyman type tour of the NHL in the twilight of his career and has clearly seen some regression to his game, is still a player with bountiful experience. The two-time Stanley Cup champion and former franchise player could pose to be an interesting middle-six asset if signed to a reasonable deal. 

Tarasenko, who is filled with invaluable experience and scoring prowess, is a player the Islanders could use in an educational role for developing players that could crack the roster this year. With players such as Victor Eklund, who made an appearance at the end of the 2025-2026 season and a favorite to make it out of training camp this offseason, and Cole Eiserman, a burgeoning goal scorer with an itchy triggerfinger, both prospects could prosper from Tarasenko's tutelage. 

The main obstacle is the timeline and necessity. The Russian winger has regressed in his recent seasons across the league. Tarasenko’s last best season was in 2021-2022, where he posted 34 goals and 48 assists for 82 points in 75 games. This past year he contributed 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 75 games played. As a result, Tarasenko is probably more of a short-term asset but still a player with much wisdom to provide and goals to score if set to a middle-six contributory role. 

Contract projections: $3.39 x 1 AAV

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