UFAs
ForwardTavares (!)- Probably the most important UFA this year overall. Most Isles fans think he's as good as gone. Others think he'll re-sign. I flip minute to minute. Obviously hoping he stays.
Kulemin- He was sorely missed on the D side of the puck and PK. Isles don't seem to have a replacement for him in the system. But he's getting slower every year. If he can be brought back for like 2 years, $2 million/yr, great. Nothing more than those though.
Chris Wagner- Meh. Snow finally realized Matt Martin's hits did have some positive effect on the 4th line, so he brought in a buy who hits. Wagner didn't make much difference though. And I know- Martin isn't good besides hitting. But neither was Wagner.
DDe Haan- Snow cheaped out on giving de Haan a real contract during the last off-season, then blamed the season's failure on him being hurt. Can't do that Garth. I fully expect de Haan to get paid very well elsewhere, but I hope they bring him back.
Hickey- Plays bigger than he is, and is always a threat to score a big goal (though few others). I'd like to see him back. He's also played wing when needed.
Seidenberg- Bye Felicia.
GHalak- He wasn't stellar this year, but after last year's waiving, I don't think his heart was in it. Then again, his heart was never in it, which is half the problem with him. No idea who the Isles could sign or trade for, but it's pretty obvious Halak's days in NY are done. "Let it go by" Greiss is signed for 2 more years.
Gibson- He outplayed his long term AHL numbers while up in the NHL. Nice, but not sustainable. If they sign him to a 2-way deal, yay. No way he should be brought back as an NHL goalie. If the tandem is him and Greiss, I'm done with hockey.
Gudlevskis- played in Bridgeport all year. 2-way deal...
RFAs
FNelson- the enigma. He scores in bunches, then disappears for 8-15 games. He's not that good defensively. If he left, I wouldn't be too upset. Makes room for any of Bellows, Ho-Sang or someone drafted high this year.
Prince- Meh. Decent bottom 6 guy, but nothing that can't be replaced with any of the guys mentioned in the Nelson comment.
Johnston- 6 points and 62 PIM in 24 games. Not bad production from a 4th line guy, and brings some toughness. Skates better than a goon. I'd actually like to see him stay for something like 2-3 years, but not above $1.5 million/yr.
Quine- See Prince.
DDavidson- Meh. Quietly decent 3rd pairing guy. Not great, not terrible. I don't recall anything great or awful, but that's probably a good thing for a 3rd pairing guy.
Pulock- He's getting better all the time. Injury prone, or so it seems, but he's an important piece going forward.
Devon Toews- played in the minors and got hurt, but is a damn good offensive d-man. Not sure where the Isles are going to get ACTUAL defense from, but Toews could be another very good puck moving d-man for them next year. He's the only minor league guy I'll bother mentioning, because the rest are probably career minor leaguers. Can't believe his ELC got burned up. I think they intended to bring him up this year, but he got hurt and ruined the plans. 22 points in 30 games for Bridgeport.
No RFA goalies.
Interesting players in the system:
Bellows (F)
Ho-Sang (F)
David Quenneville (D)
Ilya Sorokin (G)- probably never coming over (KHL).
So, time to offer Tavares an 8 year deal for $12 million, while promising him they'll bring in a top tier UFA goalie (are there any?), and a defensive d-man or three. They already brought in his buddy Eberle, re-signed his other buddy Bailey, and he loves playing with Barzal, who may see more of opposing teams' top D next year after beating Tavares for the Isles top point producer (by 1 point), which would free up Tavares a little. If they can get a real #1 goalie and some defensive D, the Isles could actually be a good team. If.... Snow still seems to put no priority on the position he had played.
I think Snow & Weight are here to stay, unless Weight steps down (more likely aside, as he's already assistant GM). I can't see Ledecky & Malking firing Snow. If anything, Snow will become the new President they're supposedly looking for, and maybe Weight steps in as GM, and promotes one of his Edmonton buddies to head coach.