NY Islanders cut ties with three defensemen after qualifying offer deadline passes

The New York Islanders have officially decided to move on from three of their restricted free agent defensemen. As the 5 PM deadline passed on Monday, Samuel Bolduc, Aidan Fulp, and Scott Perunovich were not tendered qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents.

Bolduc, a 2019 second-round pick, once looked like a potential full-time NHL defenseman. He played 52 games for the Islanders across three seasons, logging eight points (4G, 4A), but fell out of the rotation under Patrick Roy and only appeared in one game last year. At 24, his time with the organization comes to an end after being an AHL All-Star and seeing ice time in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023.

Fulp, 25, never made his NHL debut after signing as an undrafted free agent. He served as a depth piece in Bridgeport, posting just six assists in 31 games. While he brought size and physicality, he was never able to break through to the next level. Fulp has played 81 games over the last two seasons with AHL Bridgeport and held a minus-31 rating, registering 11 points.

Perunovich, a former Hobey Baker winner, was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a low-risk trade (conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick), but his run was short-lived. He registered nine points in 35 games overall and 11 points for the Islanders, but after a tough night against the Rangers on Feb. 25, he was scratched until the final two games of the season. Once viewed as a high-upside offensive defenseman, his future now lies elsewhere. Overall, there was some hope that he could stick on Long Island when the Isles acquired him. He was known for his skating and high IQ, but the new front office didn't see a fit for him moving forward.

With Mathew Schaefer, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Isaiah George pushing from below—and Alexander Romanov locked in—the Islanders are clearly making room for a younger, retooled blue line. And as the new wave rises, Bolduc, Fulp, and Perunovich now look for fresh starts outside of Long Island.