3 free-agency needs for the Islanders, and players who could fit those needs
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stops the puck during the third period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., on June 4. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
1. Backup goalie
The Islanders expect Semyon Varlamov, who has not played in the NHL since Nov. 29, 2024, and had partial replacements on both knees, to back up Ilya Sorokin. Still, they need a Plan B, and it doesn’t appear to be last season’s backup, unrestricted free agent David Rittich, who went 14-10-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .894 save percentage on a one-year, $1 million deal. Frederik Andersen, who won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes; Stuart Skinner, who struggled with the Oilers and Penguins, and the well-traveled Cam Talbot are affordable UFAs.
2. Forward scoring and grit
Captain and power forward Anders Lee likely will leave via free agency. Pesky Mason Marchment, who split last season between the Kraken and Blue Jackets and played for coach Pete DeBoer with the Stars, would fit nicely into the Islanders’ bottom six.
3. Defense depth
Righthanded Tony DeAngelo agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension on Friday, so the top six seem set with lefthanded shots Matthew Schaefer, Adam Pelech and Alexander Romanov and righties Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield. The organization seems to want lefthanded Isaiah George, 22, to make the team out of training camp. But injuries happen and it’s impossible to have a surplus of defensemen. The Sharks’ Vincent Desharnais, a righty, would bring size at 6-7, 225 pounds and solid defensive metrics.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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