KoC Isles 2018 Free Agency, Part 1

Day 1:

Our Islanders lined up with 30 other NHL teams for the noon open to the July 1^st start to free agency. It was new President and GM, Lou Lamoriello’s Isles debut.

Captain, John Tavares signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs a few hours after the open to free agency. Reports have Tavares deciding a destination on Friday and his Agent, Pat Brisson, was apparently working out the terms of the deal with Toronto on Saturday. Tavares said it was a dream come true to go back and play for his hometown Leafs. And he did it at a discount.

Tavares didn’t want to talk extension with the Isles last summer, he asked them to not be traded around February, and rumors have Isles Owner, Scott Malkin, honoring that request. Perhaps Tavares really wanted to stick it out with the Isles and give it one more try after a 9 year stay with limited success in New York. That’s great.

What isn’t great is that he changed his mind as pending free agents are prone to do, and has “earned that right.” I appreciate the contributions Tavares made during his time with the Islanders after being drafted 1st overall in 2009. What I don’t appreciate is not giving ownership any notice that his plans to stick around had changed. We know Tavares said it was a difficult decision and that it was down to the Isles and Leafs, but after reading his quotes and seeing the Toronto press conference, it didn't mean much.

So instead of the Islanders getting a lot of quality in return for an elite player like John Tavares prior to the trading deadline last season, they got nothing. Or anything at all a few weeks before the homestretch to free agency, Tavares didn’t let anyone else involved in his courtship until July 1st, including the team he was the captain of.  It's also not great to see JT leave a team that Lamoriello is the GM of for a team Lou took from last place to a playoff contender in 3 years when he was GM there.

John Tavares, "I don't think I can put into words how much my time there meant to me... I know it's been a bittersweet day, but I really believe they've got a bright future ahead of them."

Per Pierre LeBrun, “Tavares contract breakdown: Year 1, $650k salary, $15.25M sb; Year 2, $910k salary, $15.25M sb; Year 3, $910k salary, $11.09M sb; Year 4, $910k salary, $8.44M sb; Years 5-7, $910k salary, $7.04M sb in each of those years.”

"Told the Sharks ended up offering more than $13M per season for Tavares. The Islanders upped their offer from $11M per to $11.25M."

I’ll have a more detailed feature on the Tavares departure in the coming days.

D, Thomas Hickey re-signed for 4 years for $10M, at a $2.5m AAV. Hickey is a nuts and bolts, quality defensemen who was a +20 last year and is +30 for his career. Hickey is solid. Based on the contracts that have been done today for lesser players, it’s a good keep for the Islanders IMO, especially in a thin market on defense.

Hickey had a career-high 25 points in 69 games, with five goals, one shy of his career high. His 20 assists last season tied a career best. He has 22 and 89 for 111 points in 409 regular-season NHL games.

Per David Pagnotta, “Isles remain in talks with Calvin de Haan, but so are another 6-7 teams. Ongoing discussions.” de Haan is another good D-man who blocks shots and plays well when healthy. Unless a trade is made for an upgrade, de haan is still one of the top defenders available.

F, Leo Kamarov signed a 4 year, $12M deal with the islanders today with an AAV of $3M ($4M, $3.5M, $2.5M and $2M.) The 31-year-old agitator and penalty killer will play a bottom, defensive first forward role in New York. Last season with Toronto, Kamarov had 7 and 12 for 19 points in 74 games and found himself scrathed in the post season and somehow got a limited NTC with a list of 7 teams. He was the guy Brad Marchand licked on the face in the first round of the Boston-Leafs series.

C, Valteri Filppula signed a 1 year, $2.75M contract with the Islanders. Filppula, 34, scored 11 and 22 for 33 points for the Flyers last season. Filppula was traded to Philadelphia in March last year for former Isles D, Mark Streit. Filppula is a good skater, defensively responsible and can make plays as a two-way forward. It’s a decent move, even better for a year commitment to play a necessary role for a team rebuilding their defensive game.

The Islanders were in the running for the Sabres F, Ryan O’Reilly, but St, Louis gave up a 2019 1st, 2nd in 2021 and three players. The Isles equivalents would have probably included a Bellows, Pelech, Ho-Sang, etc. He's good, but to me, not worth all that was paid. There were a few other players being sought by New York, but nothing else came across the wire as completed or confirmed.

Per Arthur Staple, “Isles still have ~$24.5m in cap space after today. Need a goalie and another D, a deal for Ryan Pulock, maybe Brock Nelson as well if they don't find another 2/3C on the trade market.”

Overall, a frustrating and underwhelming day 1 of free agency for our New York Islanders. Let’s hope there’s a lot more to come. And maybe some trades. Soon.

Here’s to tomorrow.

Isles Notes:

Isles signed F Matt Lorito, later on yesterday, but wasn’t confirmed until today. Lorito, 27, on a 2 year, $675,000. His 2nd year in an NHL one-way deal. Lorito is coming off 2 straight AHL All-Star seaons. He recently played for Grand Rapids and has also played in Devils' system.

Per Andy Strickland, “Carter Hutton turned down more money, about $500k a year, from the #Isles to sign with #Sabres. Great opportunity for him in Buffalo.”

NHL Notes:

Per NHL on Sirius:

Top 5 remaining UFA Goalies: Robin Lehner - #BUF - 14W 3.01GAA .908SV% Kari Lehtonen - #DAL - 14W 2.58GAA .911SV% Steve Mason - #MTL - 5W 3.24GAA .906SV% Ondrej Pavelec - #NYR - 4W 3.05GAA .910SV% Jeff Glass - #CHI - 3W 3.31GAA .898SV%.

Top 5 (2017-18) scoring UFA's still available: James Neal - #VGK - 70GP 44PTS Patrick Maroon - #NJD - 73GP 40PTS Joe Thornton - #SJS - 47GP 36PTS Rick Nash - #BOS - 71GP 34PTS Valtteri Filppula - #PHI - 80GP 33PTS.