The Islanders have a massive offseason ahead of them

The New York Islanders‘ 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoff hopes ended abruptly on Thursday night as they lost 9-2 to the New York Rangers on home ice. 

While they have four games remaining, they boast a 34-33-11 record and 79 points and will fall short of the postseason for the first time since 2021-22. 

Still led by 82-year-old general manager Lou Lamoriello, the Islanders have a massive offseason coming up as they look to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and establish themselves as a contending team in the Metropolitan Division.

On Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Colby Cohen break down just how the Islanders may approach the next few months heading into 2025-26. 

Yaremchuk: A few years ago, this team was going on runs to the Eastern Conference Finals. I think they’ve lost their shine a little bit, and a lot of people are kind of hoping this team will go in the direction of doing the little retool on the fly.

When you look at this summer, they have some draft picks; they’ve got an extra first-rounder. Next year, they have one first-rounder this year, and they’re going to have close to $30 million in cap space this summer as well. Do you think  Lou Lamoriello and company are going to be the ones to take their foot off the gas and say, let’s do a little reset, or do you think they’re gonna spend that money?

Cohen: I just can’t believe Lou Lamoriello is the guy who’s doing it. Honestly, I’m really surprised at that. Yes, they have $30 million in cap space, but Noah Dobson is an RFA. Romanov is an RFA. You go up to the forward position, and Maxim Tsyplakov is an RFA, and Simon Holmstrom is an RFA – they like him, and Marc Gatcomb.

I’m not saying any of these players will break the bank. Kyle Palmieri is the only UFA who makes significant money that comes off the board on their entire roster, right? Nobody who’s a UFA or RFA really makes more.

I don’t understand what they’re doing in New York, right? Like, they didn’t have a massive sell-off. They held onto Palmieri and he’s going to walk now, probably for nothing. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has two more years at his number; the biggest issue is that you’re just anchored right now. 

Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech have these long-term deals that cost you $11, $12 million you throw Scott Mayfield in and, you’re up to almost $15 million between three players that have just dropped off significantly in the way that they’ve been able to recover from injuries, and they’re quality players. 

I think the Islanders need an overhaul, and I believe that overhaul starts at the top. I respect Lou Lamoriello and what he’s done in the NHL, but it is time to turn that place over. That starts with the front office, moves on to the roster, and gives the fan base something to be excited about. 

You can catch the rest of the segment and the full episode here…