The New York Islanders should offer sheet Dallas Stars' 23-year-old centerman Mavrik Bourque. 

After re-signing Matthew Duchene to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually, the Dallas Stars only have a projected $4.955 million in available cap space. They have five unrestricted free agents – Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, Evgenii Dadonov, Brendan Smith, and Cody Ceci – and two restricted free agents – Bourque and Nils Lundqvist. 

Assuming one of the depth forwards signs for the league minimum of $775,000, Benn returns on a modest $3 million deal, and Granlund re-signs at $5 million annually, the Stars would be $3.82 million over the cap before signing Bourque.

They won’t be able to sign them all, and Bourque could be the odd-man out given their needs. 

Bourque, drafted 30th overall in 2020, recorded 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 73 games this past season, his rookie campaign. He played 12:41 minutes per game, primarily on the club’s third line. 

In 2023-24, his final season in the AHL, he recorded 77 points in 71 games (26 goals, 51 assists). 

To determine the value of an offer sheet, you divide the salary by either five years or the term of the contract, using whichever is lower.

Here’s a story going more in-depth on the process:

Islanders & Offer Sheet Compensation LevelsThe NHL has released the new compensation thresholds for offer sheets ahead of the 2025 offseason:

A reminder: A player must sign an offer sheet. 

Compensation Thresholds for 2025 Offer Sheets

Assuming the Islanders do not risk a future first-round pick in an offer sheet, the only relevant compensation levels in the 2025 offseason are:

• Below $1,544,424 AAV (no draft pick compensation)
• $1,544,425 – $2,340,037 (2026 third-round pick)
• $2,340,038 – $4,680,076 (2026 second-round pick)

As a reminder, a team must forfeit its own draft picks in an offer sheet.

Of course, the Islanders sent their 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 29, 2023, alongside Josh Bailey.

However, similar to how the Blues reacquired their own 2025 second by sending a 2026 second and a 2025 third to the Penguins in exchange for their original 2025 second and a 2026 fifth, the Islanders could offer Chicago the 42nd pick in 2025 along with a future late-round pick to get their 2026 second rounder back.

The Bourque Comparison

A Bourque offer sheet would be similar to what Philip Broberg signed with the St. Louis Blues in 2024, which was a two-year deal at the then-maximum AAV within the second-round pick compensation tier – $4,580,917.

For Bourque, this would be a contract worth $4,680,076 annually for any term of five years or less.

The Broberg-Holloway-Bourque Parallel

While offer sheets are rare, the parallels between Dylan Holloway, who was also signed to an offer sheet in 2024 by the Blues, Broberg, and Bourque are uncanny.

Broberg and Holloway were on the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, stuck behind deep rosters that limited their upside.

They then joined a Blues lineup that offered significantly higher ice time than Edmonton’s while paying them double or triple what they were previously getting offered.

For Bourque, it could be the same story with the Islanders, as New York just traded away center Brock Nelson, and may also move center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. They could use an NHL-ready, young forward.

Potential Fit With the Islanders

While Bourque developed as a center, he would likely start his time with the Islanders on the wing, a position he saw time at with the Stars in 2024–25.

The Islanders lack right-wing talent, especially if Mathew Barzal returns to center, so putting a right-handed Bourque on the second-line wing would make sense.

His back-to-back 20+ goal AHL seasons show he knows how to find the back of the net, but he is better known as a crafty playmaker with speed and aggression, something that would fit well alongside Barzal.

With general manager Mathieu Darche wanting to bring speed and energy to the Islanders' lineup, putting together a second line of Anthony Duclair, Barzal, and Bourque would do just that at an affordable cost while getting younger.

In the long run, Bourque could move back to center or stay on the wing, as the Islanders lack right-wing depth both in the NHL and the prospect pool.

The Granlund Dilemma

While it might seem easy to let Granlund walk, that decision is not so simple.

He posted 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 31 regular-season games and added 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 18 playoff games for Dallas in 2024–25.

From the time he was acquired on Feb. 1 through the end of the regular season, Granlund ranked in the top six among Stars skaters in goals, primary assists, and total points. In the playoffs, he ranked in the top three in goals and in the top four in points.

Granlund also has strong personal ties to the team, as he is Finnish and close with fellow countrymen Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, and Esa Lindell.

While keeping him may put the team in a bind, the Stars are in win-now mode, and letting him leave, especially if he’s willing to sign below market value, is hard to imagine.

Could Dallas Create Cap Space?

Now, let’s say Dallas somehow fully offloads both Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin’s contracts that combine for $7 million against the cap and replace them with league-minimum salaries; they would have just $1.63 million to sign Bourque, still under a 20-player roster.

From there, the only possible salaries the Stars could shed to fit Bourque at $4.68 million would be Wyatt Johnston’s recently signed $8.4 million AAV deal, or Jason Robertson’s $7.75 million AAV, assuming nobody with full trade protection waives.

Robertson’s name has flown around in trade rumors, so it is possible he is moved, but even then, Dallas would be unlikely to find a way to fit Bourque at $4.68 million without sacrificing other areas of the lineup.

While the Stars could move mountains and oceans to ensure they don’t lose Bourque to an offer sheet, it is hard to imagine they prioritize a 23-year-old with 74 career NHL games over another defenseman or two – the team’s biggest weakness.

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This story was written by Stefen Rosner and Michael Ostrower.

Photo: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

With Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the incoming Calum Ritchie, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle MacLean, the New York Islanders are deep down the middle of the ice. 

And that center ice depth is becoming more valuable by the day. 

On Thursday, the Dallas Stars announced that they had signed center Matthew Duchene to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually. Then, while partying with the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett said he wasn't leaving. 

Those are two big names that come off the free agent board, and they aren't the first two to do so. 

Former Islanders center Brock Nelson signed a three-year extension in Colorado, as he won't hit the open market.  Ryan Donato signed a four-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Center Yanni Gourde, who went back to Tampa at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, signed a six-year extension. 

That leaves John Tavares, Mikael Granlund, Claude Giroux, Robbi Fabbri, Brandon Tanev, and Radek Faksa as the top centermen that could be available. 

With Mitch Marner leaving the Maple Leafs, it wouldn't be a shock to see him back. It's clear the Stars are trying to shed cap space so that they can retain Granlund. It sounds like Giroux will get something done in Ottawa. 

So, for teams looking to improve down the middle this summer, the options are limited. 

While Barzal and Horvat won't be on the move, Pageau has generated interest leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft. He has one year left on his deal at $5 million annually with a 16-team no-trade clause. 

Cizikas has two years left on his deal at $2.5 million with no trade clauses. MacLean has one year left at $775,000. 

Darche's phone will likely be ringing quite a bit with the center market drying up. 

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 Photo: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

To this point, the Philadelphia Flyers have shown an odd hesitancy to make any bold moves for NHL roster players during their rebuild. Could it be as simple as holding out for Connor McDavid in 2026?

McDavid, 28, has one year remaining on the eight-year, $100 million ($12.5 million AAV) contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 5, 2017, which means the five-time Art Ross Trophy winner can hit unrestricted free agency in 2026 if he chooses.

On the other hand, McDavid can extend with the Oilers, losers of two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals at the hands of Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, as early as July 1.

In Thursday's end-of-season press conference, McDavid was non-committal on his future in Edmonton, opting for a generic, middle-of-the-road answer rather than something more optimistic or certain.

“This core has been together for a long time and we’ve been building to this moment," McDavid said. "With that being said, ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. But of course there’s unfinished business here.”

Winning appears to be the biggest priority for the NHL's best player, and McDavid won't be giving himself the best chance of doing that by thundering onward with an Oilers team filled out with scraps year after year.

"If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem," added McDavid.

And "if" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, given how the last two years have played out.

By the time 2026 rolls around, and depending on which players the Flyers decide to keep and trade, Philadelphia could have nearly $50 million in cap space to make a pitch to McDavid and, potentially, other NHL stars to join Matvei Michkov and Co.

"If I feel that there's a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem."

Connor McDavid on his future with the Oilers as he approaches the final year of his contract. pic.twitter.com/00QHhWmQbe

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 19, 2025

Additionally, the contract of Ryan Ellis could always be placed on long-term injured reserve to create an extra $6.25 million in a pinch during the season.

The current CBA permits a player to earn a maximum of 20% of the salary cap, so if the NHL salary cap is $104 million for 2026-27, McDavid could sign a deal worth $20.8 million annually. That's no problem for the Flyers, who will still have Michkov, Jett Luchanko, and whoever the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is on rookie contracts at that point.

Goaltending, like in Edmonton, would pose a major problem, but it's ultimately up to the Flyers to use draft picks and other assets to solve it.

Realistically, the Flyers could boast a center depth of McDavid, Sean Couturier, James Hagens, and Luchanko just two years from now.

A lot would have to go right for that to happen, to be clear, but the possibility is there.

Furthering the appeal of the Flyers is the presence of wingers such as McDavid's Canada teammate, Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster, Michkov, Owen Tippett, and even Bobby Brink.

That's much more appealing than Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and a bunch of dart throws.

Defense is less certain on the Flyers' end, but they could still be better than what the Oilers have with a few breaks. The book is not closed on Jamie Drysdale, and who knows what happens with Cam York?

A trade for Alex Romanov would give the Flyers some serious depth on the left side, and management are believers in prospects like Helge Grans, Oliver Bonk, and Spencer Gill.

Flyers 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Better Than the Canadiens?The

Inexperienced, yes, but they may have more to offer at the NHL level at this point than the likes of John Klingberg, Brett Kulak, Troy Stecher, and even Darnell Nurse.

Evan Bouchard sways the conversation slightly, but for all his offensive exploits, he's average at best defensively and is set to command a massive new contract.

The Panthers have proven that NHL teams don't necessarily need one alpha above the rest to win so long as the group is the right mix of good players.

Even with an all-out pitch to McDavid, the Flyers are still perfectly capable of finding this harmony.

But the big question remains: can the Flyers strike the big trade? And is their big swing ultimately going to be McDavid? Never say never in this league.

With yet another disappointing end to their season in the books, the Edmonton Oilers will look to regroup next season after their second straight Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers.

And a big story was - once again - goaltending.

For both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, it was very much a Jekyll and Hyde act - a wild card in terms of which version was going to show up on a nightly basis. 

Skinner ended up with an .889 save percentage in the playoffs - including five performances surrendering five or more goals and nine of his 15 appearances coming in at a sub-.900 save percentage - and Pickard ended the playoffs at .886 with seven of his 10 appearances clocking in at sub-.900.

The Oilers are in need of change between the pipes. And so are the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins happen to have a goaltender in 30-year-old Tristan Jarry whose contract they would be wise to unload due to a plethora of goaltending prospect talent waiting in the wings in their system. Between waivers and inconsistency, 2024-25 certainly wasn't an ideal campaign for Jarry, as he ended the season 16-12-6 with an .893 save percentage.

But there are several reasons why he might still be a good fit for the Oilers should they pursue a change in goaltending personnel.

With Dallas Cap-Strapped, It's Time For Penguins To Get AggressiveOn Thursday, the Dallas Stars announced that they

1. He has an All-Star pedigree

Despite his inconsistency - and outright poor performance - over the past season-plus, the capacity for Jarry to perform at a very high level is there.

The veteran netminder has made two All-Star appearances - in 2020 and 2022 - and was decent down the final stretch of the 2024-25 season for the Penguins. It's very possible that the pressure of the Penguins' situation - and the team playing so poorly in front of him - have been large factors for his lapses in overall play. 

Jarry is capable of reaching a higher level, as he still has a career .909 save percentage despite horrid stretches last season. A change of scenery - and a better team in front of him - should, conceivably, help that.

2. His AAV isn't terrible

At the end of the day, the going prices for starting goaltenders in the NHL is rising more and more by year, much like the cap itself. What seemed like a bad contract as recently as last season may not look so bad as soon as next season.

Jarry is slated to make $5.375 million for the next three seasons. While that number is not ideal if a goaltender is struggling, it's certainly not the end of the world if he's performing at around a league-average clip. 

In addition, the Penguins have all three of their retention slots available, so it stands to reason that they could retain a pretty big chunk of Jarry's contract as a sweetener.

3. He has some history with Edmonton

Jarry spent some significant time in Edmonton during his junior days, as he suited up for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL for four consecutive seasons from 2011-15. During his tenure, he led his team to the Memorial Cup in 2014, posting a 44-14-3 record that season to pair with a .914 save percentage.

Perhaps the guy who has been there, done that with a team in Edmonton may be able to find a little mojo with a change of scenery to a familiar place.

4. The Oilers need to act while their window is open

Again, the elephant in the room for the Oilers is that their goaltending simply has not gotten the job done for them over the past several years. 

4 Potential Oilers Buy-Outs And What They'd Look LikeEDMONTON – With another heartbreak in the rearview mirror, we enter silly season.

There was a goaltending battle in the Stanley Cup Final between Skinner and Pickard, something one does not typically see at that late a stage in the playoffs. Simply put, that cannot happen.

Jarry is still unproven in the playoffs with just 8 total games and at an .891 save percentage, but - with a shortage of high-quality netminders available right now - he may just be one of their best options to bank on a bounceback.

5. They should get another piece back in a trade

Honestly, the Penguins would probably need to send an asset along with Jarry in order for a team to take him. If this happens - in addition to retention - what's the real harm in banking on a rebound performance?

As mentioned before, the cap is going up significantly for the next three years, year-by-year. And the contract itself soon won't look all that bad. So, if the Oilers are desperate to find a solution and goal - and they want to maximize what they'd get out of taking on Jarry's contract - now is the time to bite.

Former Penguin Set To Join Coaching Staff For 2025-26 SeasonA few weeks after it was announced that

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