Close To Landing A Big Fish, Isles Stay Disciplined In Free Agency

Islanders GM Mathieu Darche added Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov, positioned the team for flexibility, and nearly landed Brock Boeser.

PHOTO: Vancouver Canucks

The New York Islanders had needs entering free agency, and first-time general manager Mathieu Darche did his best to fill the holes.

He brought in forward Jonathan Drouin on a two-year deal worth $4 million annually and won the Maxim Shabanov sweepstakes, signing the KHL star to his one-year entry-level deal worth $950,000.

Darche also made sure to bolster his depth, signing a few forwards to two-way deals while also bringing in Mathew Barzal’s good friend, right-side defenseman Ethan Bear.

With a healthy Barzal and Anthony Duclair, along with players like Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov taking strides, the Islanders should be better than they were this past season.

How much better?

Well, that depends on a myriad of things, but there’s no question that the Islanders should be able to qualify for the playoffs—whether as a wild-card team or in third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Because of the need to retain a list of RFAs, while also not handcuffing themselves financially or roster spot-wise with a few prospects potentially coming to the organization over the next two to three seasons, Darche did not see a need to go long-term—outside of Alexander Romanov, who signed an eight-year extension worth $6.25 million annually.

Here’s what Darche said following day one of NHL Free Agency:

“You have to stay disciplined in what you do. Just because you have the cap space, you don't have to spend it all if you don't feel it's an appropriate way to spend your money.

Whenever I sign guys, I look at the cap. I'm always looking two to three years ahead also, to make sure that we don't... Sometimes I might feel I have great cap space one year, and then you have three guys the next year coming out of entry-level deals, and their salaries go up. And then, maybe you don't care about this year, but next year, you handcuff yourself. So there's a little planning like that we have to do.

I didn't go into the big term... A lot of the term guys actually re-signed with their team. You've noticed the last few days. So, just like we did with Alexander Romanov, we're really excited to have a 25-year-old signing an eight-year deal with us. So we're getting his prime years of his career with us.

I think you saw a lot of teams do that with their players. Sometimes, at this time of year, when there's more cap space than teams have been accustomed to in the last few years, people might want to push for a higher cap number on some players. That's where you have to stay disciplined, and that's when you have to make sure that you do your research, you know what the value of the player is, and make sure you don't overpay—because one contract might not hurt you now, but might hurt you later.”

Because of the multiple timelines that Darche is on—the first being Barzal, Horvat, and Sorokin, and the second being Schaefer, Eiserman, and the other prospects—it was probably not in the Islanders’ best interest to go big-game hunting this summer.

However, Darche did say that if he could make his team better, he would—and he did.

Having the confidence to be able to land the big fish is incredibly important for a franchise that has struggled mightily to do so.

Yes, Shabanov could turn out to be a critical acquisition, but according to multiple sources, the Islanders were close to landing Brock Boeser—had the 28-year-old right winger truly wanted to leave Vancouver.

He ultimately signed a seven-year extension worth $7.75 million annually to remain with the Vancouver Canucks.

Boeser is very close with former Canucks captain and Islanders alternate captain Bo Horvat, and the feeling between Boeser’s camp and the Islanders was mutual.

Per sources, the Islanders’ offer to Boeser was extremely close to what he ultimately signed with Vancouver.

The Islanders weren’t the only team eying Boeser.

However, the reason the Islanders were a front-runner was because Darche was willing to offer the length and AAV that Boeser was looking for.

One Western Conference team was willing to go as high as $8 million annually—but only for four years.

Boeser cared more about the years.

I believe the San Jose Sharks were the only team besides the Islanders who were prepared to offer seven years.

It was reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs were prepared to offer a big deal to Boeser, but I can confirm that is beyond false.

Boeser, given his ability to stay healthy—which has been an issue for Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed a six-year deal worth $8.5 million annually with the Carolina Hurricanes—and his ability to score, would have been a strong addition to the Islanders.

He would have fit the Horvat, Barzal, and Ilya Sorokin timeline while also being around for the next generation of youngsters.

Had the Islanders been able to land Boeser, that would have led to other moves to clear salary cap space. I don’t think it would have impacted their ability to land Shabanov, but it certainly would have impacted their ability to sign Drouin.

Yes, teams can go 10% — $9.55 million over the allotted salary cap — as long as they are cap compliant by opening night. And with Darche, a cap mastermind, behind the big desk, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t figure out how to make Boeser work.

You can argue whether or not signing Boeser was in the Islanders’ best interest, but for a team in need of wingers who can score—and given his age—he would have been a welcome addition.

Here’s the good news.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s interest in free agents coming to Long Island, including big names. The why—whether it’s a love for Horvat, the financial terms of the deal, the beaches, the schools—doesn’t really matter.

Knowing that the first-time GM, who has done an exceptional job since taking over, can have the Islanders truly part of a big name—even if the national media isn’t aware enough to report it—is incredibly important for the Islanders’ future.

Next summer promises to be an interesting one, with many top players having one year left on their contracts.

Connor McDavid, Artemi Panarin, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, to name a few, are all entering the final season of their deals.

Given the upcoming 2026 NHL Trade Deadline—where the Islanders could potentially be parting ways with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas, and Anders Lee—the Islanders’ fan base should have faith that Darche can not only create enough cap space to go hunting, but that he can be a threat in the open market and strike when the time is right.

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