The ultimate list of unrestricted free agents the Islanders can steal from their Metropolitan Division rivals

Teuvo Teravainen, Forward/Carolina Hurricanes

If a player like Guentzel is off the table, Lamoriello could always turn toward someone like Teuvo Teravainen. He would still need to free up cap space, but Teravainen would still be worth pursuing.

Once again, the 29-year-old is enjoying a successful season in Carolina, with 48 points and 21 goals in 71 games, good for between 52 and 53 points when stretched over 82 games. 

Teravainen isn’t the most physical forward on the ice who logs top-six minutes, unlike Guentzel. But here’s a basic statistic to consider: 40 takeaways so far in 2023-24, and there is a good chance he’s getting a stick on the puck even more often. Teravainen has been regularly stealing pucks since his first full season in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, and that aspect to his game is showing no signs of slowing down. 

Much like Guentzel, Teravainen’s 5-on-5 game has been epic, with a Corsi For of 59.0 and a career Corsi of 56.2 over his eight seasons in Raleigh. He would also help in the power play and while short-handed - with the latter being something the Islanders could use from any incoming free agent, not just a high-end player like Teravainen. 

No, Teravainen isn’t as much of an impact player as Guentzel, but he’s still an excellent consolation prize to the star winger.