As July 1 approaches, the Islanders have some real choices to make - and not just because free agency is about to open. They already have a full roster, especially with Kyle Palmieri back after an ACL tear, but there are still spots that could use a jolt. The right side of the defense is one area worth watching, and so is the middle six if New York wants a short-term upgrade.
Three names stand out as possibilities: Rasmus Andersson, Mason Marchment and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Rasmus Andersson is the swing-for-the-fences option. He’s also the toughest one to pull off.
New York already has Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield and newly extended Tony DeAngelo on the books, but that doesn’t necessarily shut the door on a move. If the Islanders wanted to create room, Pulock would make the most sense as a trade chip because of his veteran track record and booming shot.
He does have a no-trade clause, though, so nothing about this would be simple.
Andersson would be the prize. The right-handed defenseman is a two-way force, and he put up 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 81 games this season while splitting time between Calgary and Vegas.
There were some signs of regression defensively, as he finished at plus-4 after a career plus-minus of minus-11, though that could also be tied to the upheaval in Calgary and his move to the Golden Knights earlier in the year. Vegas is also working to clear cap space, especially after trading RFA Pavel Dorofeyev on draft night, so the Islanders would be entering a crowded race.
Still, the fit is obvious enough to make sense. Andersson could give the Islanders a top-pairing right-shot defenseman and, at the same time, help Matthew Schaefer’s development. But if New York wants him, it’s going to have to put a strong offer on the table.
Contract projection: $8.75 x 6 AAV
Mason Marchment brings a different kind of value. He’s the sort of veteran winger who can slide into a middle-six role, play with some edge and chip in offense without needing the spotlight. He also has familiarity with Peter DeBoer from his time in Dallas, which only adds to the appeal.
Marchment’s path this past season was a busy one. Dallas traded him to Seattle during the 2025 offseason, then Seattle moved him to Columbus before the new year.
He settled in quickly with the Blue Jackets, logging useful middle-six minutes and helping steady a roster that was trying to find its footing. He also had one notable moment against the Islanders when he tripped Matthew Schaefer, leading to a retaliatory slash by Mat Barzal.
On the ice, the production was solid. Marchment finished with 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 68 games between Seattle and Columbus.
His best season came in 2023-2024 with Dallas, when he posted 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points in 81 games. He’d bring depth, experience and a little bite, and that could make him an appealing short-term target if the Islanders choose to shuffle their forward group.
Contract projection: $5.67 x 3 AAV
Vladimir Tarasenko is the veteran scoring bet. He’s no longer the same player he was at his peak, and the years of bouncing around the league have shown some regression.
Even so, the resume still carries weight. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a former franchise player and a winger who can still help in the right role.
That role would need to be a manageable one. Tarasenko makes the most sense as a middle-six piece, especially if the Islanders want a player who can help teach some of their younger forwards. Victor Eklund appeared at the end of the 2025-2026 season and looks like a candidate to make it out of training camp, while Cole Eiserman is another young scorer who could benefit from Tarasenko’s experience.
The question is whether the timing works. Tarasenko’s best season in recent years came in 2021-2022, when he recorded 34 goals and 48 assists for 82 points in 75 games.
This season, he had 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points in 75 games. That’s a clear drop from his peak, but it still leaves him as a possible short-term contributor if the Islanders want another veteran voice and a player who can still score in the middle six.
In Other News...
Former Islanders Trade Piece Takes Another Brutal Turn
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For the Islanders, it is another reminder of how unsettled the trade market can look once the dust settles. Drouin left Long Island after finishing with 3 goals and 18 assists in 55 games, and now his new team is confronting the same inconsistent production that followed him through the season, leaving his next landing spot and the larger ripple effect of the move still hanging. [Read more 🡒]
Ducks Suddenly Look Poised To Land The Veteran Help Fans Want
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For the Islanders, Lees situation is the one to watch because it speaks directly to how this roster will be built for the next few years. The market is expected to be active, and while New York would obviously prefer to settle things sooner rather than later, the longer the forward evaluates his options, the more this becomes a story about balancing loyalty, role and contract length in a market where help for contenders is at a premium. [Read more 🡒]
Why Islanders Fans Should Care About This Late Round Pick
Bobby Cowan did enough in his first season at Western Michigan to put himself on the Islanders radar, and the seventh-round pick is the kind of late-round swing that can matter more than it looks on draft day. The rookie winger led all NCAA freshmen in points, showing the sort of offensive touch and quick adjustment that teams love to uncover after the early rounds are long gone.
There is also a built-in Islanders angle that makes Cowan worth following: he and captain Anders Lee are both from Edina, Minnesota. For a player who had to reenter the draft before hearing his name this year, Lee offers a useful reminder that late selections can still turn into real NHL careers, which is exactly why Cowans path is one fans will want to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]