The New York Islanders may already be circling back on a name they’ve checked in on before.
Stefen Rosner reported that the Islanders had previously spoken with the Carolina Hurricanes about RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but at that point, they likely couldn’t match the AAV he was seeking. That picture could change now that Alexander Romanov is expected to miss six to eight months. Rosner raised the possibility that the Islanders might be able to make the money work this time around.
Simon Edvinsson is another defenseman drawing interest, and his situation could get complicated fast.
Eric Cruikshank of The Hockey News reported that Elliotte Friedman said over the weekend the 23-year-old RFA would prefer a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. Any team landing Edvinsson would need to clear room for a major contract, and that’s before even paying the price to acquire him.
Cruikshank pointed to three teams that could make sense. The San Jose Sharks, he wrote, could use a puck-moving defenseman like Edvinsson and have the high-end prospects and draft picks to put together an offer.
The St. Louis Blues have already been linked to Alexander Nikishin, and Cruikshank said they’d likely need to move salary to fit Edvinsson as well. He mentioned Cam Fowler and Pavel Buchnevich as possible pieces in that kind of shuffle.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were also named as a possibility. Cruikshank noted that new GM John Chayka isn’t afraid to swing, but the Leafs don’t have much to work with.
If Detroit’s leverage drops, Toronto could try to settle for less. Even then, the Leafs would still need to move salary, despite having some LTIR space.
Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet added another layer to the Edvinsson story. According to sources, the Red Wings have told teams they’d prefer NHL-ready players in return, but if the offer is strong enough, they would consider a more future-focused package built around draft picks and prospects.
That idea has led some teams to wonder whether Detroit is thinking about another rebuild. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for the past 10 seasons.
In Other News...
Islanders Fans Have A New Puppy Story To Follow This Season
The Islanders spent part of their week at UBS Arena doing more than hockey work, taking part in the 10th annual Pucks and Paws Calendar photo shoot with the Guide Dog Foundation. The project pairs current and future service dogs with players, and the calendar goes on sale Nov. 25 with proceeds supporting the foundations work for veterans, first responders and people who are blind.
It also keeps the teams Puppy with a Purpose tradition rolling along in its seventh year, giving fans another offseason-adjacent storyline to track once the ice gets busier. This latest puppy is just getting started on the path that service-dog candidates follow, and the Islanders are again tying one of their most feel-good community efforts to a cause with a bigger purpose than anything that shows up in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Already Face A Depth Problem Four Games Into The Season
Four games into the season, the Islanders are already trying to patch together a lineup that has been hit from several directions. Mat Barzal is still working his way back from a knee injury after missing training camp, and the blue line has taken another hit with Isaiah George suffering a long-term injury in a recent game. For a team built around structure and depth, that kind of early attrition puts pressure on every pairing and every line combination far sooner than anyone expected.
The timing is especially awkward because the injury list keeps growing before the schedule has even settled in. With Alexander Romanov unavailable and the defense already thin, the Islanders do not have much room for error as they sort through replacements and call-up options. And with Bo Horvat also dealing with a head injury, the team is now facing questions up front as well, leaving its depth chart looking a lot shakier than it did just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Prospects Big Opportunity Just Took A Brutal Turn
The Hamilton Hammers got a real showcase night in their first home game as the Islanders new AHL affiliate, with more than 14,000 fans packing the building and giving the operation an immediate jolt of buzz. Even in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Toronto Marlies, there was plenty for the organization to like about the setting, which had the feel of an important first step in building the next wave of Islanders depth.
Isaiah Georges night, though, changed the tone quickly. The defenseman left in the second period with an injury, and head coach Jay McKee did not sound optimistic about a quick return, a tough development for a young player who had already dealt with injuries last season. For an Islanders prospect group that needs every meaningful game it can get, losing one of its more interesting blue-line pieces this early is a brutal twist to start the affiliation era. [Read more 🡒]