The New York Islanders have hit a rough patch on the injury front-and it couldn’t come at a more delicate time in their season.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing shoulder surgery, and forward Kyle Palmieri is also done for the year with a torn ACL. That’s a tough double blow for a team trying to find its footing in a competitive Eastern Conference. But while the injuries hurt on the ice, they do open up a significant opportunity off it-specifically when it comes to the salary cap.
With Romanov and Palmieri both eligible for Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), the Islanders could unlock up to $11 million in cap relief. Add in Pierre Engvall’s $3 million already on LTIR, and potentially Semyon Varlamov’s $2.75 million if GM Mathieu Darche decides to go that route, and the Isles could be working with as much as $16.75 million in available cap space.
That’s a big number-and it puts the Islanders in a unique position as the trade market starts to heat up.
Now, let’s be clear: Darche isn’t expected to swing for rentals or make any splashy, short-term moves just to plug holes. That’s not the direction he’s shown interest in.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Darche is playing the long game. If he does make a short-term move, it’ll be low-cost and strategically sound-something that fits the broader vision for the team.
So what does that look like in practice?
Rather than chasing high-priced veterans or quick fixes, the Islanders could use their cap flexibility to take on contracts from other teams looking to shed salary, acting as a third-party broker in larger trades. In return, they could collect draft picks or prospects-assets that align with a longer-term build.
Under NHL rules, a team can retain up to 50% of a player’s salary and can do this for up to three players. That gives Darche and his front office some real leverage in a market where cap space is at a premium.
There are always contenders looking to make a big addition but needing a third team to help make the money work. The Islanders, with their cap room, could be that team.
It’s a savvy way to turn misfortune into opportunity. Injuries to key players like Romanov and Palmieri aren’t easy to navigate, especially when both play significant roles on the ice. But if the Islanders can leverage their LTIR space to stockpile future assets, they might come out of this stretch better positioned for the seasons ahead.
The bottom line: The Islanders have cap space to work with-and they’re not in a rush to burn it. Expect calculated, forward-thinking moves from Darche, not desperation buys. And if they play it right, this unfortunate injury wave could end up fueling the next phase of their roster evolution.