3 UFAs Islanders Must Let Walk In Free Agency

Lou Lamiorello has a thing for veterans, but the young players must be given a chance to play for the New York Islanders next season, even more so than this season when it started. Although many of the veterans are still under contract, there are three in particular that are UFAs and the team must let walk so that they can get new blood in the lineup.

Zach Parise

Greg Wyshynski reported that Zach Parise was still in his stall with his head in his hands after all of his teammates and the media had vacated the dressing room. Parise is 38 years old and hasn't won a Stanley Cup. There is no guarantee that he will get a contract next season despite the strong play he provides for league minimum money. That might be it for him and the Islanders should elect to give one of their young wingers a spot on the roster over what will be a 39-year-old next season.

Semyon Varlamov

There's no doubt that Semyon Varlamov will hit free agency since he is still capable of playing at a high level, but is stuck behind Ilya Sorokin on the Islanders. For a long while there the Islanders liked to run with two solid goaltenders to ensure they were confident with who was in the net every night. That time is now over as Sorokin is one of, if not the best goalie in the league and must play the majority of the games. The Islanders can find someone much cheaper than what Varlamov will be seeking in free agency.

Scott Mayfield

The Islanders' defense is getting pretty full as Samuel Bolduc found himself in the mix in the playoffs. The team already has four solidified NHLers on their blue line and with Sebastian Aho finding himself as a regular this season, have one spot to go to either Bolduc, Robin Salo, or someone else. I've brought up the theme of getting younger for the Islanders, so they must let the 30-year-old Scott Mayfield walk despite giving them good years.