Reunited Again: Former Leafs Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin will team up again on the Islanders after agreeing to four-year deals on July 2.
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For the Islanders, it’s hard to compete with other teams on July 1. Even with them making offers to some of the big names, they signed elsewhere leaving GM Garth Snow searching for other options. The fiery executive who pulled no punches on TSN after using the second round pick he got from Montreal for Vanek to trade up and select controversial forward Josh Ho-Sang, did a solid job on the second day of free agency adding forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin.

The former Leafs duo didn’t come cheap. Snow doled out four years, $20 million for Grabovski and four years, $16.75 million for Kulemin. As usual, the Islanders had to overpay. Especially for Kulemin who’s coming off a 20-point (9-11-20) season with Toronto. However, the moves along with the addition of Chad Johnson, who’ll back up new number one goalie Jaroslav Halak, help get the Islanders to the salary floor. They’re currently over $54 million with just RFA’s Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas, Calvin de Haan, Matt Donovan and Anders Nilsson to re-sign.

It was essential for Snow to add depth up front to support John Tavares. Grabovski can slot in on the second line allowing them to balance out their roster. That’s if he’s more productive than Frans Nielsen, who’s coming off a career year in which he established career bests in goals (25), assists (33), points (58), power play points (20) and shorthanded goals (2). Grabovski totaled 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 58 contests for Washington. A good puck possession player, he should give the Isles’ forecheck a boost. He also wins over 50.0 percent of his faceoffs going 53.0 for the Caps (346 and 295).

The good news for the Islanders is they also boast promising youngsters Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome. Each got necessary experience as rookies. In 72 games, Nelson registered 14 goals and 12 assists while Strome notched seven goals and 11 assists over 37 contests. Both should be heard from. With Snow bringing in Grabovski and Kulemin, it at least relieves some of the pressure.

In a recent interview with WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts, he also put more emphasis on players such as Josh Bailey and Michael Grabner to step up. Each were inconsistent in 2013-14. Bailey only scored eight goals but set new career highs in assists (30) and points (38). Signed for another four years at an average of $3.3 million per season, the 24-year old former ’08 first round pick must continue to grow. Otherwise, he could be moved for defensive help. Grabner disappointed with just 12 goals and 14 helpers. As usual, he was a penalty killing threat notching three shorthanded goals tying him with Cal Clutterbuck for the team lead. The 26-year old Austrian always gets chances due to his game breaking speed. If only he finished consistently. Grabner will make $3 million per season over the next two. The Isles need better production.

It’s interesting to see players who aren’t as productive as Kyle Okposo earning more money. He has two years remaining on a five-year deal that pays him $2.8 million per season. The Isles’ leading scorer turned in a career season erupting for 27 goals, 42 assists, 69 points with five power play goals and four game-winners. Of course, he benefited from playing on the top line with Tavares. However, the 26-year old former ’06 first round pick blossomed into nearly a point-per-game player posting 69 points in 71 games. He missed the final 10 with a lower body injury. Tavares is coming back from a left knee MCL tear sustained at the Sochi Games. He sat out the final 22 after tallying 24 goals and 42 helpers for 66 points in 59 games.

Jaroslav Halak should help the Islanders in net.
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With Snow able to shore up the goaltending by inking Halak for $18 million over four years and Johnson for $2.6 million over two, the only area he must pay attention to is the blueline. Shutdown defenseman Travis Hamonic and former number one pick de Haan are the cornerstones. Aging vet Lubomir Visnovsky enters the final year of a contract earning $4.75 million. The 37-year old Slovak only played in 24 games posting three goals and eight assists with a concussion sidelining him most of the year including the final 12 games. Only Hamonic is signed long-term. Brian Strait is the only other player who’s locked in for two years. Thomas Hickey is signed for a year and the only blueliner who played all 82. Vet Matt Carkner also is in his final year. T.J. Brennan was added as just a depth move probably for Bridgeport.

Considering how many forwards they have, figure the Islanders are setting up for a trade. They also signed Cory Conacher, who’s best known for being the other player back to Ottawa for Ben Bishop, who finished in the top three for Vezina as Tampa’s number one. How’d that work out? If they want to be taken seriously, they must upgrade the back end. Having Halak in net will help but how much if the D struggles. They should be able to score. It’ll be interesting to see if Snow makes any other changes. Only time will tell.