Here are three potential Islanders targets as NHL free agency begins on Wednesday:
Johnny Gaudreau, LW
It would take some maneuvering from Lou Lamoriello to clear the necessary space for the superstar winger, but Gaudreau would immeasurably help the Islanders. Nothing would get them closer to a Stanley Cup than adding last year’s second-leading point-scorer in the league.
Ilya Mikheyev, LW/RW
Jim Paliafito, who the Islanders hired as their top European scout last week, unearthed Mikheyev as an undrafted free agent in Russia a few years ago. Lamoriello also downplayed concerns about Russian players at the draft, trading for Alexander Romanov, and Mikheyev scored 20 goals last season at a position of need.
Mason Marchment, LW/RW
A two-way winger whom Lamoriello signed as an undrafted free agent with the Maple Leafs in 2018, Marchment is another player with a front-office connection who makes sense.
