Do they have the assets and the financial space to acquire a player who would move the needle from a fringe NHL team to the top three in the Metropolitan Division?
Leading up to the 2024 NHL Draft, The Hockey News learned that the Islanders had inquired about Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers , who is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the club.
Ehlers has one year left on his deal worth $6 million.
The expectation was that Ehlers would be moved at the draft, yet all seven rounds came and went, and the 28-year-old Danish forward remained in Manitoba.
The asking price around and during the draft may have been too high for opposing teams. Winnipeg may have believed that once certain teams missed out on their No. 1 free agent options, they could start a bidding war for their prized possession.
Let the bidding commence.
Although there has been radio silence since the draft regarding Ehlers and the Islanders, one must think there's still interest there, even after adding Anthony Duclair .
Hockey News confirmed reports on Friday that the Carolina Hurricanes are very interested in Ehlers, which makes a lot of sense.
The Hurricanes failed to retain 2024 Trade Deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel, who chose to go to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They also lost defensemen Brady Skjei (Nashville) and Brett Presce (New Jersey), as well as forwards Stefan Noesen (New Jersey) and Tuevo Teravainen (Blackhawks).
They also have to decide on restricted free agent Martin Necas, who filed for arbitration on Friday and has been heavily rumored to be on his way out.
If Necas is offered in a deal for Ehlers, the Islanders or any other team would have a tough time matching that from a personnel standpoint.
The Jets would likely have to part ways with more pieces than Ehlers to make the move, as Necas may hold more value.
But, if you are an Islanders fan saying that there's no way the Islanders -- a team whose prospect pool is finally not at the basement of the NHL -- could land Ehlers, let history show you that it's not always about the assets.
The Islanders were never expected to land Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat.
Not only did the Islanders acquire him for Aatu Räty -- New York's top prospect -- Anthony Beauvillier and a 2023 first-round pick, but he signed a long-term extension before stepping foot on the beaches of Long Island.
At that point, the Islanders were two points out of a wild-card spot, and the playoffs were anything but a sure thing.
It's hard to believe that the Islanders' assets were the best Vancouver was offered.
Räty was a second-round pick after his stock fell due to COVID-19, and he wasn't necessarily killing it in Bridgeport before getting 12 games (two goals) with the big club ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline.
But a lot of it likely had to do with Horvat's willingness to sign an extension wherever his new home was.
Will Necas be willing to sign an extension in Winnipeg?
We know Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello doesn't usually bring in players unless he knows he has a rather strong chance at retaining them (Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, and Pierre Engvall, to name a few).
Islanders fans would love to see Pageau and his $5 million go back to Winnipeg for Ehlers, and financially, that makes sense to help counteract the Ehlers $6 million cost.
Salary retention could balance out the moves, but New York would have to add picks (2025 first or a few future second-rounders) and prospects (maybe some of their new ones) to get Ehlers and get rid of Pageau.
That's just how it would be, and it would make complete sense.
I wouldn't be so certain that the Islanders want to move Pageau, their only right-handed centerman, but we know the finances.
Whether Winnipeg trades with Carolina, the Islanders, or another team, what do they want in return?
The Jets have lost four players this free agency period: Defenseman Brenden Dillon, goalie Laurent Brossoit, and forwards Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan.
The Jets' center depth is slim, with Vladislav Namestnikov currently their No. 2 centerman.
Their defense is also questionable, but they did just acquire Dylan Coghlan from the Hurricanes for future considerations.
If the Jets want to bolster their team, moving Ehlers to get the same position and a similar output back while not addressing other areas may not be the best plan.
Necas may be the sexier plan, but is it the right one?
If the Jets -- who don't have to give up Ehlers until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline and can try to hammer down an extension -- don't want to overpay to move a player with a positive value, they certainly aren't going to do that.
If Necas is involved, the Hurricanes may ask for more than Winnipeg wants, whereas the Islanders wouldn't.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Yes, the Islanders may want Winnipeg to take on a bigger contract, but one would think that Lamoriello is going to have to pay a draft-pick price for that, which means Winnipeg gets more.
No, Ryan Pulock or Adam Pelech aren't going back the other way. Pierre Engvall isn't being moved.
But the 2025 NHL Draft is expected to be a good one, and if the Islanders, who just had a fantastic draft, are willing to part ways with next year's picks along with prospects and maybe NHL players, that might entice the Jets more than shipping Ehlers-plus to Carolina.
The Islanders have $900,000 in available cap space, and that's before Simon Holmstrom (qualifying offer) and Oliver Wahlstrom (likely on his way out but filed for arbitration) get re-signed.
Time will tell, but the best asset doesn't always mean the right one.
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