Why the Islanders likely won't make any major moves when NHL free agency opens

Mathieu Darche has not been subtle in saying the Islanders’ roster might not undergo much change this offseason. The general manager knows that a better chance for flexibility in an overhaul will come next summer with approximately $17 million coming off the payroll and the salary-cap ceiling expected to rise another $9.5 million to $113.5 million.

But the Islanders still want to snap a two-season streak of missing the playoffs and have a veteran core with a win-now mentality. Coach Pete DeBoer was not brought in with four games remaining last season to oversee a rebuild. He too is a win-now bench boss.

“I don’t expect any significant changes,” Darche said on Saturday after the two-day NHL Draft in Buffalo concluded. “It’s not going to be four players out and four players in because, the reality, like I’ve mentioned last year, we had a lot of guys signed.”

So what would constitute the Islanders — specifically Darche — being successful in free agency right now?

The free-agent market opens on Wednesday at noon and the Islanders have $6.2 million in salary-cap space. If Darche is going to remain true to his public word and not splurge on pricey long-term contracts that could hold the team back in future seasons, their most pressing need is a goalie who can serve as Ilya Sorokin’s backup if Semyon Varlamov is unable to play or stay ready while playing for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, Ontario.

Anders Lee, 35, who has served as the Islanders’ captain since 2018 and made his NHL debut with the team in 2013, is the Islanders’ most prominent unrestricted free agent, coming off a seven-year, $49 million deal.

Darche and Lee’s agent, Neil Sheehy, have kept the lines of communication open, but the expectation has been that the sides will not come to an agreement that satisfies both parties.

But for all of Lee’s value to the franchise as a power forward and leader, losing him via free agency wouldn’t make this an unsuccessful offseason.

The Islanders need to get younger up front, especially after re-signing Jean-Gabriel Pageau, 33, to a three-year, $14.55 million deal and trading for Ondrej Palat, 35, who has one season remaining on a five-year, $30 million deal, and Brayden Schenn, 34, who has two seasons left on an eight-year, $52 million contract.

Having a roster spot available for Victor Eklund, the 16th overall pick in 2025, and/or sharpshooter Cole Eiserman, the 20th overall pick in 2024, would be ideal.

That’s also why a reunion with restricted free agent Max Shabanov, who had five goals and 13 assists in 44 games on a one-year, $975,000 deal after coming to the NHL from Russia, or fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb, a restricted free agent with arbitration rights coming off a one-year, $900,000 deal, is not certain.

UFA defenseman Adam Boqvist, who played only 28 games last season as a frequent healthy scratch on a one-year, $850,000 deal, already has been informed he won’t be re-signed. UFA defenseman Carson Soucy, acquired from the Rangers on Jan. 26 as injuries beset the Islanders, also is highly unlikely to be back.

Perhaps Darche could look to sign a depth defenseman. But the organization’s preference is to have Isaiah George, 22, finally become a full-time NHLer.

So Darche’s priority, almost by default, is signing a goalie.

UFA David Rittich went 14-10-3 with a 2.76 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage on a one-year, $1 million deal in his first season with the Islanders.

Varlamov, 38, entering the final season of a four-year, $11 million deal, has not played in the NHL since Nov. 29, 2024, and has undergone two partial knee replacements, though he did well in two late-season AHL appearances. Darche said the hope is that Varlamov is able to play 25 to 30 NHL games.

“I’m not just pushing myself to come back and play one game,” Varlamov told Newsday on April 15 after making 18 saves in a 5-2 win in Hartford. “My goal is to come back and play in the NHL.”

But if not . . .

“We’re excited the way he played in the AHL,” Darche said. “If he’s healthy, we plan on him. But we’re obviously going to sign other goalies because we have to protect ourselves.

“We’re looking at a bunch of goalies, but if we’re being honest with the Varly situation, the established backups are probably not the first option we’re going to look at because they could be No. 3 with us also.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.