Islanders Must Pursue Pastrnak if Available

The list of possible available players this coming offseason continues to grow. Let's start by saying that obviously New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello cannot acquire them all. What he does need to do is have his hands in all of the negotiations of the available players and come away with at least one of them. The latest player that has been named to possibly be available is Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak.

The firing of head coach Bruce Cassidy is possibly just as surprising as the Islanders firing Barry Trotz. Removing Cassidy from the equation comes with the belief that the Bruins are now on their way to a rebuild, especially given the number of injuries they'll have to start the season. In order to retrieve assets, the Bruins will have to fork over something. Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic even went as far to suggest that they'll have to dangle Pastrnak on the trade market:

"A coaching change, surgeries to critical contributors and a pending rebuild will not encourage David Pastrnak to sign an extension with one year left on his deal. In fact, the right wing may be general manager Don Sweeney’s best trade piece to trigger a teardown."

- Fluto Shinzawa

Pastrnak would far and away be the top player on the trade market, so much like Alex DeBrincat, this trade would have to be huge. The Czech winger is a five-time 34-plus goal scorer that includes two 40-goal seasons, one in which he scored 48 goals in 2019-20. The 26-year-old winger is another forward who has the right age to fit in with the core of the Islanders which remains an important factor when adding to this group in order to extend their "win-now" window.

Again, the ask will be enormous. If it takes the Islanders' 2022 13th overall pick, Oliver Wahlstrom, and Aatu Räty for DeBrincat, you might have to add Anthony Beauvillier (or something that further entices Bruins GM Don Sweeney) to that package in order to retrieve Pastrnak. If the Bruins are just interested in prospects, the Islanders might not have what it takes.

Either way, Pastrnak is a forward you cannot just allow to pass by. He's one of the best wingers in today's game and that's what the Islanders are in the market for this offseason. With Pastrnak, DeBrincat, Kevin Fiala, Johnny Gaudreau, and Filip Forsberg as all possible available players this summer, Lamoriello has to find a way to retrieve one of them.