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:
- Eiserman, F
- George, LHD
- Nelson, C
- Gidlof, G
- Pulkinen, LHD
- Jeffries, W
- Finley, F
- Bednarik, C
- Odelius, LHD
- 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
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:
- Eiserman, F
- Desroyners, C or Frondell, C
- Nadeau, F
- Moore, C
- George, LHD
- Nelson, C
- Trethewey, RHD
- Limatov, LHD
- Wang, LHD
- Gidlof, G
Honourable Mentions: Pulkinen, LHD, Odelius, LHD, Finley, F, Bednarik, C, and Jeffries, F
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
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.
