(Photo courtesy of @NHL on Twitter)
Before July 1st, the Islanders have to make a decision whether to bring back 15 Free Agents or let them go to another team.
In this blog, I will talk about each one and decide if they should be brought back or not!
Semyon Varlamov: It is very hard to find as good of a backup goaltender as Semyon Varlamov, and he has exclaimed his desire to stay here and there is no one I would rather to pair Ilya Sorokin with than Semyon Varlamov, so this is an easy STAY.
Richard Panik: Panik was in the Nick Leddy trade and has only played 4 NHL games for them and played in Switzerland last year, so this is a GO.
Pierre Engvall: Pierre was acquired at the trade deadline and was so good on the “Perfection Line” alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, I would love to bring Pierre back on the Island, STAY.
Cory Schneider: Cory is a good AHL goalie and has been a great mentor for the young goalies, so I would like him to STAY.
Oliver Wahlstrom: Oliver tore his ACL in December and probably hurt his chance to get a decent payday, but is one of the main building blocks of their future so this is another easy STAY.
Scott Mayfield: Scott has been a New York Islander since the 2013 season and has provided us so many memories, so it hurts me to say that he has probably played his last game as a New York Islander. I am going to say GO because he will cost us too much money and I think the Islanders need to go after a more offensive-minded defenseman.
Samuel Bolduc: Bolduc had his debut season last year and showed flashes of being a solid top 6 defenseman, STAY.
Jakub Skarek: Skarek needs to improve and stay more consistent as a goalie in Bridgeport but his ceiling projects him to be a future backup, STAY.
Bode Wilde: Short and simple, Bode has been a head case since he was drafted and I do not see any future with him in the Orange and Blue, GO.
Zach Parise: Zach exclaimed that it was either New York or retirement, so if Zach chooses to stay for one more year, you aren’t going to find a player that works as hard as him as cheap as he is, STAY.
Blade Jenkins: Awesome name aside, Blade struggled in Bridgeport and was sent down to the ECHL for seasoning. I do not see him as an NHL player but he can be good minor league depth, STAY.
Collin Adams: I actually really liked Adams, but he is now 25 years old and he is struggling to develop in Bridgeport so I do not see much of a future for him, but I do think he stays in Worchester, STAY.
Jeff Kubiak: Jeff has been in Bridgeport in the last couple of seasons, but younger players need to develop down in Bridgeport, and I do not need Jeff Kubiak hindering that, so this is a GO for me.
Cole Bardreau: Another person who has been an AHL player, but he has been really solid and a good locker room guy, so it cannot hurt to bring him back, STAY.
Parker Wotherspoon: Last but not least, Parker made his NHL debut in his age 26 season proving that anyone can take their time developing and he showed he can be a really solid, bottom pair defensive defenseman. I do not think he is anything to wow over, but I do want to keep him as a depth option in case injuries occur, STAY.
And that will wrap up on who I think will be coming back or not!
We shall see if any of this ends up happening, but this was fun to look into!
Thanks for reading and Lets Go Islanders!