Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy is a candidate to be exposed to the Seattle Kraken's expansion draft so that the Islanders can shed a big contract. Credit: Getty Images/Mike Carlson
Lou Lamoriello often laments — or, at least, notes — the difficulty of executing pure hockey trades or personnel moves under the salary cap. Having run NHL teams since 1987, the Islanders president and general manager can certainly remember making decisions without being beholden to a financial bottom line.
But Lamoriello’s strategy this offseason will be shaped by a flat $81.5 million cap ceiling. The Islanders have approximately $5.