The New York Islanders may not be major players in what’s left of the NHL’s unrestricted free-agent market this summer, but the real action for Mathieu Darche could be a year away.
Darche has already talked about the Islanders having about $40 million in salary cap space next summer, once some contracts come off the books and the cap is expected to rise. That sets up a very different kind of shopping trip, and it opens the door to some big names.
One obvious possibility is a familiar one from Darche’s Tampa Bay days: Nikita Kucherov. He’s heading into his 13th NHL season, all with the Lightning, and the milestones are piling up fast.
The 1,000-game mark is close, and he just reached 400 career goals. With that kind of history, plus the Darche connection, the Islanders would at least be in the conversation.
But the bigger swing might be another scorer altogether.
Alex DeBrincat has long been a name to watch for the Islanders. Lou Lamoriello was previously linked to him, but DeBrincat ended up back in his home state with the Detroit Red Wings. Since that move, the 28-year-old has piled up 107 goals, including 41 this past season in another year without a playoff berth.
DeBrincat also joined forces in Detroit with another former Blackhawks forward, Patrick Kane. That situation may not stay intact for long, though, with Kane expected to leave Detroit this summer and captain Dylan Larkin having requested a trade out of the organization.
What makes DeBrincat especially interesting for the Islanders is the timing. He won’t be 30 when he reaches unrestricted free agency, and he’ll have plenty of teams chasing him. New York would have to fight through a crowded market, but the fit is easy to see.
The Islanders have not had a 40-goal scorer since Anders Lee in the 2017-18 season, and DeBrincat would instantly change the look of their attack. Put him next to Matthew Barzal, and it’s the kind of pairing that would get Islanders fans dreaming. He’d also give the power play a real jolt after scoring 15 goals last season with the man advantage, while the team’s top power-play scorer last year was Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer.
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