On Buyouts …
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Looking at players that could be bought out if they can’t be traded or moved to Vegas: Dan Girardi (NYR), Marc Staal (NYR), Antti Niemi (DAL), Kevin Bieksa (ANA), Benoit Pouliot (EDM), Francois Beauchemin (COL), Scott Hartnell (CBJ), Brooks Orpik (WSH), Dustin Brown (LA), Marian Gaborik (LA), Jason Garrison (TB) and Matt Moulson (BUF).
Other players that could be bought out: Eddie Lack (CAR), Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Jaroslav Halak (NYI), Josh Gorges (BUF), Jimmy Hayes (BOS), Matt Beleskey (BOS), Jonathan Ericsson (DET).
Our look at potential buyouts: Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | Pacific
On the New York Islanders ….
Arthur Staple of Newsday: (mailbag) Defenseman Ryan Pulock must be protected for the expansion draft and he most certainly will be protected. A trade is a possibility and the Islanders could use Pulock to get some depth at forward.
Two players that have modified NTCs that are ‘outside the box’ players that could end up on the Islanders are James van Riemsdyk and Eric Staal. The Maple Leafs need to upgrade their blueline. Staal had a good year with the Wild last year, but they need a shakeup. Both are likely to remain with their teams.
Players who are untouchable/won’t be traded are John Tavares (unless he won’t sign an extension), Nick Leddy and Thomas Greiss. Can’t see the Islanders wanting to trade Mathew Barzal or Josh Ho-Sang.
Ilya Kovalchuk would be an option for the Islanders, but it would depend on what the New Jersey Devils want for him and what he is looking for. The Isles might have to send Mikhail Grabovski‘s salary cap hit the other way.
It’s hard to say if the Islanders would ask Andrew Ladd or Johnny Boychuk to waive their no-movement clauses for the expansion draft. Both should know that there is basically no chance they get selected by Vegas.
The Islanders will likely protect four forwards and four defense: Tavares, Ladd, Lee, Nelson, Leddy, Boychuk, Hamonic, Pulock, Greiss. Could even make a case for protecting Calvin de Haan over Nelson.
Think the Islanders keep their first round pick as opposed to trading it.