Lamoriello Still Has Work To Do This Offseason – The Hockey Writers – New York Islanders

The New York Islanders have already surprised everyone by being active in the offseason. They re-signed Mike Reilly to a one-year deal, a move that solidifies the later lines of the defense. Then they went out and signed Anthony Duclair to a four-year deal, adding a veteran forward to the top six.

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For general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello, this is unfamiliar territory and enough action to allow him to take a victory lap. He rarely makes a move and this summer he finally went out and did that. The thing is that the Islanders still have a lot of work to do. Sure, Duclair is an upgrade but he’s not a needle-mover. He makes the Islanders a better team but not enough to compete with the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Considering all the moves that happened in the past few days, it seems like there isn’t much left and Lamoriello can’t make a move that can change the dynamics of the team. However, there are a few things that could be in the works, and with the Islanders looking to get over the hump, they could make another signing or a big trade in the coming weeks.

Islanders Must Add Forward Depth

The big need for the Islanders remains forward depth, specifically, forwards on the later lines who can generate offense. They have a top-heavy roster where Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and Brock Nelson all but carry the offense while the third and fourth lines struggle. Even with the Duclair deal and the trickle-down effect it has (Anders Lee can play on the third line for example), the Islanders still possess a top-heavy roster.

So, the Islanders can and should still add a forward to the lineup and specifically, make a move for a depth scorer. There aren’t many players left to sign but they can still make a significant move. The name everyone has underlined is Vladimir Tarasenko who in recent years has become a journeyman but also a two-time Cup winner, making him an intriguing player on the market. The Islanders can also target Jack Roslovic, Tyler Johnson, and James van Riemsdyk, three skaters who won’t blow anyone away but certainly would add a spark to the middle of the forward unit.

The Islanders don’t need to make a big move with their top-six set. At this point, a minor addition would go a long way considering the state of the roster. At the same time, a splash addition is something Lamoriello should monitor.