Islanders Free Agency Wrap-Up 2024
2024-12-22
With the 2024-25 EHE season just over the horizon and rosters around the league almost finalized, the New York Islanders have to be pleased with what they accomplishd in the shark-infested waters of the free agent pool last week.
First, the Isles reeled in their top two UFA targets in defensemen Adam Larsson and Connor Murphy on surprisingly reasonable deals. Then they landed a cohort of quality AHL veterans, with an eye towards getting the Toledo Walleye back into playoff contention.
All in all, it looks like a tidy few days of work for organization—although as always, the proof will be in the pudding when the puck actually drops.
Here is a look at the players the team lured to the Island during the league's annual player auction.
The Big-Dollar Deals
D Adam Larsson
2023-24 Team: Arizona Coyotes
Signed For: 3 years/$7.7 million/$6.93 million signing bonus
It's been no secret in the EHE rumour mill that the Islanders have long coveted Larsson, with trade talks between GM Kyle Phillips and the Coyotes/UHC organization stretching back to 2021. Thus, it was no surprise that the Isles came calling early and aggressively on Larsson when free agency opened, even though the industry consensus was that the veteran rearguard would be well out of their price range. The Islanders' pitch must have been good, however, as Larsson quickly signed a deal that would later prove to be below market value. (UFA contracts this year for defensemen rated between 72-74 averaged a cap hit of almost $8.6 million and a signing bonus just over $4 million).
Off-ice matters aside, Larsson should be a perfect fit for an Isles blueline that lacked a truly menacing presence in recent years. Mix in his playoff pedigree (63 career playoff games, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2022), along with the fact that Larsson completes a Fyra Kronor top 4 with fellow Swedes Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Gustav Forsling, and chemistry should be no problem for Long Island's latest splashy arrival.
D Connor Murphy
2023-24 Team: St. Louis Blues
Signed For: 3 years/$4.75 million/$3.5 million signing bonus
Another player the Islanders pursued in earnest right out of the gate, Murphy surprisingly decided to forgo any protracted bidding war for his services, instead inking a 3-year deal to head to New York on just the second day of free agency.
While the Islanders' management and coaches would surely love to see the versatile blueliner replicate the 10-goal, 31-point campaign he conjured for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22, the expectation will simply be for Murphy to slot into an effective bottom pair role, most likely with one of Vlad Gavrikov or Simon Benoit. If he can chip in a little offense and absorb occasional top-4 minutes over the life of his new contract, it would just be the icing on the cake.
The Walleye Brigade
C Alex Belzile: 3 years, $1.5 million
The versatile veteran solidifies the Walleyes' forward depth, and is an early candidate to wear a letter in Toledo.
W Martin Frk: 3 years, $1.15 million (One-Way Contract)
Returning to the EHE after a year overseas, the journeyman sniper is comfortable on both sides of center and should add secondary offensive pop to the Walleyes' lineup.
D Joel Hanley: 3 years, $1.15 million (One-Way Contract)
One of the best defensive defensemen available to round out an AHL top 6, Hanley will do just that for a Walleye team that will otherwise lean towards offense.
G Magnus Hellberg: 3 years, $1.5 million
Hellberg steps in as the presumptive #1 for the Walleye, who were seeking a veteran presence to round things out in their crease.
koppanen was not neccessary:)
Islanders Free Agency Wrap-Up 2024