Defenseman Contract Disputes May Trigger NHL Trade Activity

Noah Dobson’s future with the New York Islanders is getting complicated, and it could lead to one of this summer’s biggest NHL moves.

The 24-year-old defenseman is in line for a massive payday. Industry experts project he could command more than $10 million per year on an eight-year deal.

While the Islanders have about $20 million in cap space to work with, Dobson’s inconsistent play this season has raised some eyebrows.

His offensive numbers took a big hit – just 39 points, his lowest total since the shortened 2021 season. That’s not great for a guy known for his scoring touch.

The team’s special teams struggles didn’t help either. The Islanders ranked 31st in both power play and penalty kill, areas where Dobson’s usually a key contributor.

Still, he’d be a hot commodity on the trade market if the Islanders decide to go that route.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are facing their own defensive dilemma with Aaron Ekblad. The former first overall pick could land around $7.8 million annually on a seven-year contract.

To keep Ekblad, the Panthers might need to get creative. They’re looking at possibly trading Evan Rodrigues ($3M cap hit) or playoff standout Eetu Luostarinen, who put up an impressive 19 points in 23 playoff games.

In Dallas, Thomas Harley’s stock is soaring. He stepped up huge when star defenseman Miro Heiskanen was injured early in the playoffs.

Harley’s got one more year at $4 million, but his next contract could be a whopper – possibly around $10.75M per season starting July 1.

The New York Rangers’ K’Andre Miller situation is heating up too. About 15 teams have shown interest in the young defenseman, according to insider Frank Seravalli.

The Rangers might use any savings from moving Miller to pursue free agent Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings.