Matt Larkin of The Hockey News: It might take at least $8 million per season on long-term deal to lock up Mathew Barzal. Pre-Covid it might have been closer to $10 million.
Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello moved out defenseman Devon Toews and re-signed Ryan Pulock yesterday to a $5 million per season deal for two years. $5 million for Pulock is a good deal for the Islanders, but he’s going to cost them more when that deal is up.
The Islanders are left with about $3.9 million in salary cap space, so they’ll need to find a way to move some salary out to fit in Barzal.