IslesNorway
Registered User
Bailey and Beauvillier have no value as of today. If they had, they'd been moved by now, especially after the Kadri thing. Any deal involving them that also makes the Islanders better is wishful thinking and only that.I keep coming back to the Jets as a logical trade partner. They have high-end forward talent and a glut at LHD. They need balance/depth on their second and third lines, which the Isles can give them in spades.
I was thinking along the following -
Bailey ($5mm AAV for two years, but $3.5mm per in real money) and Beau ($4.15mm AAV for two years)
for
Ehlers ($6mm AAV for three years, $18 million total in real money) and LHD Dillon ($3.9mm for two years, $5.5mm and $4.0mm in real money)
The Isles would only add $750,000 in cap this season. The Jets would save $12.2mm in real money over the life of the contracts.
I am a big fan of Ehlers and think he can be the winger that Barzal needs. He can keep up with Barzal. I try Dillon alongside Dobson first and Romanov alongside Mayfield.
Who needs to add? Do the Isles need to add anything else, like say a second rounder or B-level prospect?
Short of giving up the Isles 2023 first rounder or a prospect like Raty or Dufour, I am willing to discuss whatever needs to be added to get Ehlers and fill those last two holes. Having Ehlers signed for three years is a big plus in my book too.
Thoughts?
Of course they can be moved but it will not be in a deal like that. Currently, there are 10 or so teams over the cap and none under so there will have be be some serious dollars moving as the season nears. That means bottom feeders can probably get paid to take on players of similar stature, or get them for free on waivers, so no interest in the likes of Bailey.
I suppose Beau can be moved but it will only be for a player in a similar situation, ie. someone with potential but has never quite lived up to it and is on a multi year deal as well. It'll be a "change of scenery" trade more than anything, and ideally the Islanders want to get out of multi year deals for underperforming players.
Now that Kadri is off the market, Islanders actually have a little cap space to play with and use to their advantage. Maybe they can get a good player off a cap ceiling team at a cut price, or even pick somebody off on waivers?