One dream, one realistic, and one bargain player for the NY Islanders in free agency

The NY Islanders could sign a dream free agent in the 2024 offseason if general manager Lou Lamoriello created some much-needed cap space, but that doesn’t seem likely. Luckily for the Isles, there is one cost-effective dream free agent, albeit an older one, who may be on the market come July 1st if their current team doesn’t re-sign them. 

It’s a player who is a surefire future Hockey Hall of Famer and one who knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. Plus, they would help augment the Isles scoring, something we can all agree they need in 2024-25 if they plan on finishing in the Metropolitan Division’s top three again. 

We’ll talk about that dream free agent below, plus another player who would make for a logical signing and another who could become a force on the Isles fourth line. 

Dream Free Agent: Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings

This time last season, we didn’t know if we would enjoy the Patrick Kane Sweepstakes in 2024. Coming off of a procedure and rehab whose track record in the NHL was poor, Patrick Kane responded with 47 points in 50 games, and he’s a scoring threat the Islanders could easily afford since he’s likely to once again choose another potential contender at a reduced rate.

No, Kane doesn’t quite fit the Isles physical persona, but they have enough big hitters as it stands. Plus, for those potentially leaving the Isles following the season, there are also plenty of options in free agency that Lou Lamoriello can pursue for his team to keep their hard-hitting identity.

So if the Isles signed Kane, he would augment a scoring unit that ranked 22nd in the league last season with 246 goals scored during what was a bad year for goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin is still a great goaltender, and it’s reasonable to believe he will bounce back. But this past season did show that the Isles must anticipate some poor stretches for their franchise goaltender.

Finishing with 3.0 goals scored per game won’t help take pressure off of Sorokin, which is why the Islanders need a cost-effective yet solid scorer Patrick Kane still is. Now that we know Kane should play most, if not all, of an 82-game season and put up at least close to a point per game, he should rank highly on Lamoriello’s shortlist.