Free agency opens in the NHL today, and the Islanders are in a long-forecasted tight spot. In addition to having three prime (and surely expensive) restricted free agents to re-sign in Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews, they have a trio of beloved but ultimately low-priority UFAs hitting the market in Matt Martin, Andy Greene and Derick Brassard.
The RFAs can wait, to an extent (though there is the outside risk of an offer sheet turning up the heat), but ultimately the Islanders will need to shed either talent or future assets — or both — to create the needed cap room.