3 Islanders Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

Though the New York Islanders are finding themselves more securely in a playoff spot, they are close to the cap and have too many veterans on their team. Both of these factors are why there must be changes in the offseason to their roster. So let’s take a look at three Islanders who won’t be back next season.

Josh Bailey

The Islanders have been trying to insert more youth into their lineup, but it’s very tough with so many veterans signed to deals spanning multiple years. The worst of the veterans and someone who has fallen off the most is Josh Bailey as he has not only spent time on the fourth line, he has also been a healthy scratch at times this season. He has just eight goals and 25 points in 62 games this season and the 33-year-old should be moving on in the offseason.

More than just his level or production this season, the Islanders will be able to move on from Bailey arguably the easiest because of his contract. Of the seven forwards making $5 million AAV or more next season, Bailey is the only one in the final year of his contract. Other than Mathew Barzal for the first year of his new deal, Bailey is also the only one of those players without a not-trade/no-move clause in his contract, meaning the Islanders won’t be limited to their options to send him. At this point it may cost a mid-round pick, but worth it if the Islanders want to head in the right direction. The other option is a buyout.

Semyon Varlamov

With the emergence and complete domination by Ilya Sorokin over the past couple of seasons, there is no logical reasoning to keep Semyon Varlamov around. He is an unrestricted free agent after the season and his cap hit of $5 million will be a much-needed deduction from the team’s salary cap next season.

Related: 4 NJ Devils Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

With the talent level of Sorokin as a solidified top-five goalie in the NHL, the Islanders don’t need to pay more than $1 million for a backup, especially when their starter can carry the load of 55-plus games per season. Varlamov will be 35 at the start of next season and has only suited up for 22 games this season. His numbers are good and he will be a good 1a/1b or starter for another team for a couple of years. His cap hit will be too high and unneeded to keep around in New York.

Scott Mayfield

I spoke about the Islanders and their need to get younger. This also applies to their defence as they have started to get some good young players into the lineup. Scott Mayfield may be the oldest defenceman on the team, but there are many young defenders pushing for a spot on the roster including Samuel Bolduc, Robin Salo, and Bode Wilde.

Mayfield may be having a career year, but with that will come a pay increase. He happens to be the only upcoming UFA on the Islanders defence, so the parting of ways makes sense. If they keep him around, it limits the opportunities for the young defencemen and they will have to commit to him for a few years at the very least. He will be able to get a bigger payday somewhere else and it will be best for both parties.