Going over Islanders four offseason priorities

This offseason is easily going to be one of the most exciting/busy ones for the New York Islanders in a long time. For good or for bad; Lou Lamoriello is going to be busy at work the entire summer.

He's got a number of holes to fill. Holes that he himself created to be fair. But if the Islanders are going to compete for a cup as early as next season, the Isles GM must plug those gaps. How he does that is going to be very interesting.

So, this post is going to take a stab at how Lou is going to fill those gaps.

Just to be clear, here are the "gaps" I'm talking about:

-Top Line Winger
-Top-4 defenseman
-Extend Dobson
-Get it done with ~$13 million in cap space
✅New Coach

Here's how they might just go about addressing those priorities.

Top line Winger

The Isles have needed more "pop" upfront for years now. At least since 2018-19 when the Lou Lamoriello era began (and arguably before that). The Isles are ranked 25th in the NHL since 2018-19 in terms of goals-for. Again, they need more offense.

Getting that offense has been a struggle for the Isles. Now, there haven't been too many options available to them to bring in. But still, they haven't brought anyone in over those years. Now they have to get some. There's no option not to.

Strictly looking at pending UFAs, Johnny Gaudreau or Filip Forsberg are great options for the Islanders. Gaudreau seems like the best option of the two, but either would do.

Of course, Calgary will try to retain their star player. But they still have to sign RFA wingers Mathew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane. The $27.5 million in cap space the Flames have doesn't seem like enough to get all three (including Gaudreau) re-signed for 22-23. So it's possible the 115-point pending UFA winger shakes loose.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Islanders have to go all-in on Gaudreau if he's available. Since 2014-15, only five players in the entire NHL have more points than Johnny Gaudreau. Putting him on the wing with Mathew Barzal down the middle could be a hell of a duo.

If free agency doesn't prove fruitful, as in both Gaudreau and Forsberg are either re-signed by their respective clubs or the Isles are out bid by another team, going the trade route is the next option. Of the obvious, trade candidates, Minnesota Wild Kevin Fiala is the best option.

Putting up 85 points in 82 games seems like the right output for the Isles. Getting him won't be cheap of course, but the Isles aren't in a position to get bashful at the cost for an upgrade to the offense.

Top4 Defenseman

With Chara seemingly set to retire and Andy Greene possibly right behind him, that's two spots on the Islanders blue line that need to be filled next season. Robin Salo might be given a spot on the left side of the third pair, leaving potentially one more spot to fill.

Everyone seems to want Jakob Chychrun. And that's fair. His production in 20-21 turned a lot of heads. With 18 goals and 41 points in 56 games, Chychrun showed he's a top-end player from the blueline. And exactly what the Isles could use.

But what about Seattle's Vince Dunn? There's no indication that he's on the trade block, but the Islanders can likely make the deal worth it for the Kraken. And honestly, Dunn would fill the void well on the second pair for the Islanders.

Think of the Isles top six this way:
Pelech-Dobson
Dunn-Pulock
Salo-Mayfield

That's excellent balance from handedness to the right blend of offense and defense.

I know we see Chychrun's 18 goals in 20-21 and think "that's what we need". And, well, sure that would certainly be nice, but the Islanders need someone to transport the puck out of the D-zone and push the play up the ice. And Dunn is the better player there.

Dunn's offense isn't something to disrespect. The Islanders could have used the 35 points in 73 games Dunn scored this year. After Dobson, no isles defenseman hit 30 points on the year. Pelech was the next highest scoring D-man for the Isles with 28 points.

Bringing in Vince Dunn seems like the right play for the Isles to get what they need and at a reduced cost compared to someone like Jakob Chychrun.

Manage the Cap

While Lou's primary focus is on improving the playing roster, he can't go all "treat yo' self" and buy whatever he wants without considering the price. He's only got ~$13.5 million to work with. And that's without giving extensions to Dobson, Bellows, and Salo, three players we expect to have spots on the roster next year (or at least compete for one for Bellows and Salo).

Lou has to manage the cap so he can (1) bring in or sign the players he wants through free agency and also (2) have enough space to re-sign the guys he wants to keep.

How he achieves this will be very interesting.

I imagine someone like Josh Bailey might have to be moved. Shedding $5 million in salary would be massive for the Islanders attempts to re-sign their RFAs and have enough cap space to bring in the players they need elsewhere around the roster.

If that's not enough space does he move Anthony Beauvillier? Likely in a deal to land either a top-line winger or top4 defenseman? Probably.

There's still a possibility that Varlamov is moved, but with his trade protection (16 team no-trade list), it's hard to see him moving.

If the Islanders need to shed even more cap space either Beauvillier or Bailey will likely be moved. Maybe even both. That's how Lou could manage the cap to get everything he wants.