There could be some offer sheets made this summer that the NY Islanders may look to get in on

Yesterday saw some massive movement that will reshape the NHL landscape, as Keith Tkachuk received the best Father’s Day gift possible when news broke that Brady Tkachuk had been traded to the Florida Panthers from the Ottawa Senators, where he’ll team up with his brother Matthew. The Panthers paid a ransom in the deal, giving up three first-round picks and a second-round pick as compensation.

With the first round of the NHL Draft set for Thursday, we could see more movement around the league, and with free agency set for July 1, we may see more offer sheets presented than in years past, per Elliotte Friedman.

While the NY Islanders have the compensation available to offer a deal to any RFA, it’s unlikely that Mathieu Darche is willing to pull the trigger. Jason Robertson, who could see an offer sheet or two thrown his way, is reportedly seeking up to $14M a season and is the big fish out there this season. With 45 goals last season, he would be the ideal addition for the Islanders.

Despite the organization's need for a scoring winger, the compensation for a player who signs an offer sheet over $11,939,167 is four first-round picks, more than what the Senators received in the Brady Tkachuk deal. 

While the Islanders could make the cap space work and have the capital, sacrificing a first-round pick from 2027-30 is something Darche isn’t in a position to do. While Robertson or someone of his caliber would make this team better, Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer were all that kept this team from being a bottom-dwelling team this past season. The organization needs to continue building its prospect pool and make deals that aren’t as rich as RFA compensation for an elite player.

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