The NHL’s free agency signing period opens today at noon EDT, so today we play Choose Your Own Adventure.
There is a version of the Islanders’ future that is virtually unchanged: They’ve lost Nick Leddy and Jordan Eberle, but UFAs’ Casey Cizikas and Kyle Palmieri are re-signed and Oliver Wahlstrom steps into the void on wing while...someone is promoted to fill the hole left by Leddy at left defense.
Knowing the Islanders’ regime and how Thomas Hickey and Sebastian Aho got nary a look last season — and they don’t just plug rookies Samuel Bolduc or Robin Salo into regular blueline roles — that version of the future is exceedingly unlikely.