New York Islanders Miss Out On Affordable Ryan Dzingel

"Ryan Dzingel finally signed today on a two-year $6.75 million deal. The New York Islanders should've been all over this. It's now been a week and a half since free agency has begun. On July 1, the New York Islanders missed out on Artemi Panarin and were forced to pivot to Anders Lee and Semyon Varlamov. The Islanders essentially moved laterally after July 1 and it's clear they still need a top-six piece."

"Free agents continued to get gobbled up, except for Ryan Dzingel. He was coming off a 56 point season (26 goals, 30 assists) but wasn't drawing much interest. The market was dry for him and it seemed like he would be a good, cheap option for the second line. Just four days ago, I wrote the Islanders should give Dzingel a two-year deal with an AAV of $4 million. That dream is now gone, as Dzingel signed a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.375 million with the Carolina Hurricanes."

"So Carolina gets someone who has scored 49 goals over the last two years for under $3.5 million against the cap for the next two years. Unbelievable. Dzingel should fit right on that second line with Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Staal. At this point, all you can say is what exactly is Lou Lamoriello waiting for? It's clear that the Islanders still need top-six help and he essentially showed no interest in a cheap, short-term option for the second line."

"It would've made perfect sense for the Islanders, who need to conserve cap space for next year to sign RFA's Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock, and Devon Toews. Ryan Dzingel would've served as a place holder. Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows, and Simon Holmstrom are all considered top-six potential prospects but none of them are ready. If you sign someone long-term to hold down the top-six it blocks one of these kids but with Dzingel he would just be a short-term option while Wahlstrom and Bellows grow in the AHL."

Ryan Dzingel signed a two-year contract worth $6.75 million with the Carolina Hurricanes after limited interest in free agency. The deal carries an average annual value of $3.375 million. Dzingel previously produced 56 points in a season and has scored 49 goals over the last two years. Carolina gains a low-cost scoring forward for the next two seasons and could place him on the second line alongside Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Staal. The New York Islanders missed other targets and still need top-six help, but they did not pursue Dzingel as a short-term solution. The Islanders now face a trade market with a free-agent pool dominated by older players.

Read at Eyes On Isles