A year later, free agency may again bring seismic changes to the Islanders.
Captain Anders Lee could follow his predecessor, John Tavares, off Long Island. Goalie Robin Lehner’s tenure with the Islanders could end after one season.
But the Islanders may be serious contenders to haul in the two Blue Jackets atop the free-agent class, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and playmaking left wing Artemi Panarin. There’s even speculation the Islanders could extend a rare offer sheet to restricted free agent Mitch Marner.
The free agent market opens on Monday at noon and Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello should know within a few hours how radically different his roster may be for this upcoming season.