Islanders, Finally, Have Cap Space – What Can They Do With It?

Andrew Ladd #16 of the New York Islanders (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The New York Islanders have made a huge move, trading Andrew Ladd and three draft picks to Arizona. They will receive nothing in return but free up $5.5 million of cap space for the next two seasons. This trade makes an enormous difference to the Isles’ offseason plans.

For a few years now, the Islanders have been in cap trouble. They’ve had to sacrifice players, most notably Devon Toews, in order to sign their current core, and haven’t been able to add much (Kyle Palmieri was only made possible by Anders Lee’s season-ending injury).

That all changes now. When Johnny Boychuk is moved to LTIR, the Islanders will…