The Offseason is On

The Stanley Cup Finals have come to a close crowning the New Jersey Devils as the 2022 RHL Champions.  With the RHL Award Ceremony ahead of us it appears the Islanders brass have decided not to attend the festivities.  We are sure this is due to the General Manager's dedication to construct a winning team for the upcoming season and not because they weren't nominated for anything.  After a quick interview with GM Pacman, it's clear his first priority will be preparing the protection list for the Seattle Expansion Draft.  "We have a few different things on our plate this year, but I think we have a good plan in place and look forward to gettin to work this summer".  Based on conversations with some people around the team, here is what we believe the protection list could look like: Jordan Eberle, Ryan Johansen, Jaden Schwartz, Max Domi, Cal Clutterbuck, Ryan Dzingel, Brett Ritchie, Ilya Lyubushkin, Cale Fleury, Gabriel Carsson and Jack Campbell.  That of course would mean they are still optimistic in the resigning of netminder Jack Campbell, as a contract extension has yet to be finalized.  That said the team has finished resigining restricted free agents Cale Fleury, Gabriel Carlsson, Julius Honka, Vitali Abramov, Gustav Olofsson, Sheldon Rempal and Spencer Martin.  Sounds like Bridgeport fans will have some familiar faces to cheer for next season. 

Of course another point of focus this offseason will be the 2022 RHL Entry Draft as the Islanders hold two selections late in the first round. The team seems to be on the verge of a full blown rebuild and with few high end prospects in the organization General Manager Pacman will be hoping to strike gold with both of those picks. That wont be easy picking in the 25-28 range on the draft board, and with covid restricting these prospects playing time and availability scouts had an even more difficult time projecting the next superstar than in years before. Will it be someone expected to go early lie Shane Wright, Logan Cooley or Juraj Slafkovsky? Or maybe a late pick that takes the world by surprise like Chase Coward or Marcel Marcel? Hopefully its none of the above and its whoever the Islanders pick.