The New York Islanders have already been getting calls, and the names at the center of it are the ones that matter most.
Elliotte Friedman said the Islanders did hear from teams on both Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, but the picture has shifted because of the money attached to each player now. Horvat is at 8.5, Barzal is 9.15, and that changes how the market views them.
“I think they did get calls on Horvat and Barzal, but now Horvat is at 8.5, Barzal is 9.15, all the sudden those are great contracts… I think they look at it like, if we lose these guys, those are going to open up huge holes to fill.”
That kind of contract value makes the Islanders’ position clearer. Moving either player would create a massive void, and the cost of replacing that kind of production would be steep.
In New York, the Rangers may not be done shopping either. Vincent Z.
Mercogliano of The Athletic reported that, based on what Chris Drury has hinted at and what he has heard, the Rangers should not be ruled out as buyers for another forward. The idea is that they may still need an upgrade to Oliver Bjorkstrand in their top six.
There’s also a defensive wrinkle tied to Braden Schneider. He appears headed for the third pair and has been part of the rumor mill, but the increased talk around Will Borgen has made it more likely Schneider stays put. Even so, he could still be moved if the Rangers decide to chase a top-nine forward.
Out in Vancouver, Elias Pettersson’s contract is being viewed a little differently than it was before. On Sekeres and Price, David Pagnotta discussed how the deal may be becoming more workable for the Canucks, though it could still take some salary retention and possibly a sweetener to get it done.
Blake Price put it bluntly: “He’s a perennial 60 point guy. He’s signing for 10 million bucks, isn’t he?
Pagnotta answered by framing Pettersson as the kind of player teams pay for at center.
“Effectively, you’re describing a second line center. So second line centers are either are, or are going to be in that eight to 10 (million) range, and 11.6 isn’t that far off.
Price: “That’s what I’m saying.”
Pagnotta: “You know, if, if they’re, and we’ve talked about this too, like there’s been a moderate appetite. An inkling that maybe they’ll retain a little bit on that deal, and you started to hear two, 3 million bucks. I don’t even know if they wanted to go that far, but 1.6, get him at 10.
Again, you’re going to have to incentivize the team to do it. It’s the trade, and then it’s the dollars on top of it. But it seems like it’s a lot more palatable now than it’s ever been based on recent production.”
In Other News...
Islanders Just Sent A Strong Message About Barzal And Horvat
The trade chatter around the Islanders has been pretty straightforward: other teams have checked on Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat, and the answer has been no. That kind of response matters in a league where even established centers can become available if a front office is willing to listen, and it says plenty about how New York views the two players at the heart of its forward group.
For the Islanders, holding firm on Barzal and Horvat is as much about message as it is about roster construction. It tells the rest of the league that the club is not looking to strip down its core, even as the rumor mill keeps spinning around other Eastern Conference names and front offices wait on their own unresolved situations. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Face A Defining Cole Eiserman Decision This Season
Cole Eiserman already has the kind of resume that keeps Islanders fans watching the development track closely. The 2024 first-round pick split last season between Boston University and Bridgeport, and now the question is how quickly he can turn that pedigree into real NHL value. For a team that has been searching for more skill and finish, the appeal is obvious, but so is the caution: young scorers can only grow if they actually get to play.
Eisermans path this season may depend less on a grand plan than on opportunity. If the Islanders trim veteran ice time, or if the lineup gets shaken by injuries, there should be openings for him to get a longer look. The real test is whether the club is willing to give him enough responsibility to matter, because a brief cameo on the margins would do far less for his future than a steady role that lets him show what he can do. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Forwards Carry One Massive Burden Into Next Season
The Islanders late-season fade last year was about more than just a cold stretch, and the forward group is now carrying most of the weight for what comes next. With the club projected to sit above $101 million against the cap, a huge chunk of that money is tied up in the forwards, and the pressure lands squarely on the biggest names in the room, from Mathew Barzal to Bo Horvat to Ondrej Palat.
That makes the composition of the top nine especially important as training camp approaches. Horvat, Emil Heineman, Kyle Palmieri, Barzal and Matias Maccelli are all expected to factor into the lineup in meaningful ways, with some coming off injuries and others fighting to carve out larger roles, so the Islanders are not just trying to score more - they are trying to make sure the expensive parts of the roster actually fit together. [Read more 🡒]