Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2024-25: Re-Tool, Re-Group, Re-Mix, Re-Build

[JRD76]

The Rangers’ situation is a good example of how a full rebuild through high draft picks isn’t a guaranteed path to a championship. Teams can miss on those high picks multiple times, leaving the franchise stuck in a perpetual rebuild, similar to what happened with the Oilers before Connor McDavid or what might unfold in Buffalo and Detroit.

The Islanders could consider retooling instead. This could involve moving aging players who will soon be UFAs, such as Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, to gain valuable assets like picks or prospects. A more aggressive approach could include trading players like Semyon Varlamov and Casey Cizikas to clear additional cap space. Varlamov, who will be 37 next season, could even fetch a strong return.

The focus this season could shift to developing the big club while scouting heavily to ensure the best possible draft picks. With cleared cap space, the offseason could present opportunities to add impactful players to the lineup for a chance to contend.

If things don’t pan out in the 25-26 season, there would still be flexibility to retool further at the trade deadline by moving expiring contracts, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee.

Islanders' Top Prospects:​

1. Eiserman, F
2. George, LHD
3. Nelson, C
4. Gidlof, G
5. Pulkinen, LHD
6. Jeffries, W
7. Finley, F
8. Bednarik, C
9. Odelius, LHD
10. Gamzin, G

*Honourable Mentions - Bolduc, LHD, Dufour, RW, Maggio, RW, Berg, C, Nurmi, W

Trade Scenarios:​

• Brock Nelson to Carolina
  • Return: 2025 1st-round pick (CAR) + Bradley Nadeau
• Kyle Palmieri (50% retained) to New Jersey
  • Return: 2025 2nd-round pick (NJ) + Paul Cotter (1y/775k)
• Semyon Varlamov to Colorado
  • Return: 2025 2nd-round pick (COL), Scott Wedgewood (1 year, $1.5M), and Parker Kelly (1 year, $825K)
• Casey Cizikas for Picks
  • Cap space freed: $2.5M

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2025 Draft Outlook:​

The Islanders could enter the draft with the following picks:

• Two 1st-round picks (one in the top 10, the other in the 22–32 range)
• Three 2nd-round picks (one in the 32–42 range and two in the 50s)

If the Islanders struggle this season, they could pick in the top 5, giving them a chance to draft one of these elite prospects: Hagens, Misa, Mortone, Schaefer, or Frondell. A more likely scenario is a top-10 pick, targeting players such as Viktor Eklund, Caleb Desnoyers, Carter Bear, or Ivan Ryabkin.

Potential Selections:​

1st Round:

• Caleb Desnoyers (C) or Anton Frondell (depending how far they fall)
• William Moore (C)

2nd Round:

• Kurban Limatov (LHD)
• Charlie Trethewey (RHD)
• Haoxi Wang (LHD)

Projected Top Prospects 2025-26:​

1. Eiserman, F
2. Desroyners, C or Frondell, C
3. Nadeau, F
4. Moore, C
5. George, LHD
6. Nelson, C
7. Trethewey, RHD
8. Limatov, LHD
9. Wang, LHD
10. Gidlof, G

Honourable Mentions: Pulkinen, LHD, Odelius, LHD, Finley, F, Bednarik, C, and Jeffries, F

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2025-26 Projected Starting Lineup:​

Forwards​

• Duclair – Barzal – UFA (with ~$13M cap space)
• Tsyplakov – Horvat – Nadeau
• Lee – Pageau – Holmstrom
• Cotter – Vet C (league minimum) – Kelly
• MacLean

If Casey Cizikas is traded for picks, the Islanders could free up over $13M in cap space to address roster needs.

They could pursue an elite UFA, such as Mitch Marner or Mikko Rantanen, if they reach the market, by offering a competitive $12–13M AAV. Alternatively, the Islanders could take a balanced approach by signing a player like Nikolaj Ehlers for around $8M+ while re-signing Kyle Palmieri. Instead of re-signing Palmieri, they could reimagine the bottom six by adding players like Sam Steel for skill, Mathieu Olivier for grit and toughness, and Trent Frederic for a blend of speed and physicality.

Defence​

• *Pelech – Pulock
• Romanov – Dobson
• George – Mayfield
• Vet Dman

Adam Pelech’s No-Trade Clause (NTC) shifts to a modified No-Trade Clause (m-NTC), potentially opening the door for a trade. Barry Trotz might be interested in acquiring someone he knows well to stabilize his blue line in Nashville.

A trade proposal could involve Adam Pelech heading to Nashville in exchange for a 2026 2nd-round pick and Jeremy Lauzon (2 years at $2M AAV). The resulting $3.75M in cap savings could be added to the $13M already freed up, allowing the Islanders to pursue another defenseman, such as Vladislav Gavrikov or Jakob Chychrun, or to explore the earlier approach outlined above.

Goalies​

• Sorokin
• Wedgewood
• Högberg

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This approach allows the Islanders to build a competitive team while prioritizing long-term sustainability. By strategically trading veterans and focusing on development, the team can stockpile assets, clear cap space, and enter 2025-26 with a mix of young talent and flexibility.

What about signing Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom and Tsyplakov? All RFA's this offseason.

 

[Big L]

No, you didn't. You just wrote "curious" and then mused that their might be other ways to win the Cup without spelling out what those are for a franchise like the Islanders. Nor have you explained the relevance of which team drafted those players.

As for a spreadsheet and links, it might be a challenge for you but perhaps your curiosity and/or skepticism are great enough for you to see if you can find your way to HockeyDB or one of the many other sites purveying such information. In short, I don't deliver. Good luck.

You make a lot of claims as fact, then can’t back it up. Stop shitposting the board.

The 08 Wings say hello.

 

[SI]

What about signing Dobson, Romanov, Holmstrom and Tsyplakov? All RFA's this offseason.

With 6.6 B in HRR - the league and PA will agree to go over the 5% max increase. There was already speculation it can be as high as 96m.

I figure 18m to sign all RFAs that with current contracts that is 82.2 with 20 man roster and Engvall buyout. 5% max would be 92.5, leaving 10.3 in cap space. If they go as high as 96 - the cap space could be 13.8, if they go somewhere in between that is roughly 12m.