Av-merican wrote:
Are the Isles that close to the cap where they'd have to use LTIR space?
I had to look today because I didn't believe it. According to GeneralFanager, they New York Islanders, of the National Hockey League, in fact have the FOURTH highest payroll in the NHL at this time. I know right??? Sounds insane. Detroit & Pittsburgh are actually over the cap at this time, so they'll be dropping down soon, one way or another. But the Isles at this time have a hair over $783k in cap space. They still have too many players too. With that mere $783k in cap space they have 13 forwards, 8 D and 3 goalies, which comes out to 24 players. Adam Pelech & Ryan Pulock don't need waivers, and Pulock has the inside track on the top 7 D, so Pelech & his $854k are almost certain to be sent down. If it's in fact Pulock (it won't be), then they shave another $10k off the cap.
But wait, there's more! They still have both Barzal & Beauvillier in camp. Barzal started camp as the guy most likely to make it out of camp, but Beauvillier has really impressed with his relentless forechecking and backchecking, and has earned higher praise from Capuano (
Gritz factor). They've compared Beauvillier's current skillset to being another Casey Cizikas, which the organization obviously thinks highly of considering his ridiculous contract, with the ability to be the next Franz Nielsen in a few years. So Beauvillier may stick around for up to 9 games. The feeling is that Barzal has a higher ceiling, but that's why they may give him another year back in juniors, to hone his skills more. Either way, the cost would be $894k for either kid, so slightly more than the Pelech contract they'd be sending down. But either kid would only be able to stay if someone else is IRed along with Grabovski, or waived (Quine?), traded for picks/prospects, a quantity for quality trade, or something more creative than I can add to this list. And Steven Gionta is still technically on his PTO because he was injured on the first shift the other night vs the Rangers, and you can't cut a guy who is injured. I expected him to head to Bridgeport if anything. Nobody expects him to make the Isles.
Fans are, of course, looking for the Isles to cherry pick another good player from a cap strapped team, without checking to see the Isles' cap situation.