Sunday Evening was an all too familiar feeling for Islander fans when it was announced Alex DeBrincat was being traded to the Detroit Red Wings, his hometown team. That feeling was once again being the bridesmaid, just like in the summer of 2019 when Artemi Panarin chose the cross town rivals New York Rangers over the Islanders. In both of those situations, Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is not to be blamed. Just like in the case of Artemi Panarin, the hometown native of Farmington Hills, Michigan had his mind made up of wanting to play for one team and one team only; nothing Lamoriello could have done.
With the trade of DeBrincat in the books, the question now is where does the 36 year veteran GM Lamoriello choose to pivot? The UFA market for scoring wingers is almost dried up. One strong option in former, although briefly member of the New York Rangers in Russian sniper Vladimir Tarasenko remains. After surprisingly parting ways with long time agent Paul Theofanous last week, Tarasenko signed on with JP Barry and Pat Brisson with CAA, who also represent Islanders Mat Barzal, Simon Holmstrom and RFA Oliver Wahlstrom. Tarasenko could fit in nicely with Barzal and Bo Horvat, to round the top line. Signing Tarasenko would result in Lou Lamoriello likely having to trade Jean Gabriel Pageau; who was the rumored center piece of the package offered to Ottawa in exchange for Alex DeBrincat.
If Tarasenko signs elsewhere or Lou doesn’t see him as a fit the answer of where he looks to next becomes a bit murkier. There are higher scoring wingers William Nylander and Travis Konecny that have been previously mentioned to maybe be moving zip codes but it’s looking like they will both be staying put. Elias Lindholm and Mark Scheifele have been rumored to be on the market as well but on top playing in the middle, an area of which the Islanders don’t need, they too seem to be staying put.
In which direction Lamoriello decides to go no one really knows; but with the Islander team right now being the same group that left the ice shell shocked after a fluke series clinching OT goal by Paul Stastny in Game 6 at UBS arena it’s imperative the Lamoriello gives this group a shot in the arm at the forward position for next season.
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