Islanders can take advantage of Bruins cap crunch to acquire defense

The New York Islanders have needs and the Boston Bruins need cap space. Heading into this summer, Bruins GM Don Sweeney has a mere $2,383,333 to work with and some important players to resign if Boston plans on continuing to contend. Patrice Bergeron just won his NHL record-setting fifth Frank J. Selke trophy, breaking his own and Hall-of-Fame forward Bob Gainey's four captures. Bergeron is also due for a new contract this summer, so the Bruins have to decide what their future looks like and if that includes or does not include their captain.

Another important position that Sweeney needs to maintain is the Bruins goaltending. Linus Ullmark is signed for another three seasons at $5 million per season including a full no-movement clause this season, and a partial no-movement clause the next two seasons. Ullmark was solid in net for the Bruins with a .917 SV% and 2.45 GAA accruing 26 wins. 23-year-old Jeremey Swayman had an almost identical season with a .914 SV% and 2.41 GAA accruing 23 wins, but their problem is he also needs a new contract. The Bruins goalie tandem is one of the best duo's in the league and in the modern two-goaltender NHL, it's safe to assume Sweeney wants to keep his tandem together, especially since we've seen the goalie carousel for a lot of teams in the 2022 NHL Playoffs.

The Bruins have eight defensemen signed on for next season (five left-handed, six if they re-sign Jack Ahcan) while the Islanders have just three at the moment in Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, and Scott Mayfield. There's no question Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello will extend Noah Dobson and he'll also need to sign Robin Salo, but there's no guarantee the latter will be a full-time NHL defenseman next season. With just four blue liners a sure thing for the Islanders in 2022-23, Lamoriello has the opportunity to take advantage by giving Sweeney a call to pluck one of his defenders and relieve some cap for the Bruins in order to retain some pretty important assets.