New York Islanders Reportedly Interested in Arizona RFA Conor Garland

The Islanders have options now that they’ve already cleared nearly $13 million in cap space, with the possibility of more opening up after the NHL Expansion Draft. With that, the Islanders can now re-sign their RFAs and UFAs they want to bring back as well as add outside help.

They have already been linked to Zach Parise and Vladimir Terasenko, but now there could be another player the Islanders are eying. The New York Islanders have an interest in Arizona Coyotes RFA Conor Garland, according to the Fourth Period.

Arizona and Garland haven’t discussed a new contract since May and Arizona is looking to move the 25-year-old winger, according to the report. The Islanders are one of eight teams that have shown interest in Garland.

The others include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Florida Panthers.

Garland would certainly be an enticing player for the Islanders. He finished the COVID-19 shortened season with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 49 games and recorded 27 of those points during five-on-five play, according to Natural Stat Trick. Garland also matched his points total from the prior season, but in 19 fewer games.

Garland would bring some skill and grittiness to the Islanders should they pursue him, which is a quality that would match with the team’s already established identity.

The winger would be up for a raise from his bargain of a deal he had with Arizona. Garland had been signed to a two-year deal with Arizona with an AAV of $775,000.

The New York Islanders haven’t released their preseason schedule yet, but the Philadelphia Flyers unveiled theirs on Tuesday and revealed that they would be playing New York twice.

The first game will take place on Tuesday, September 28 at the Wells Fargo Center. The second exhibition meeting will be a home game for the Islanders.

Interesting little tidbit to note… Flyers original announcement of their preseason schedule had their second game against the #Isles listed as taking place in Bridgeport. Website now has the location listed as “TBD” pic.twitter.com/gSuJTvkQzX

— Christian Arnold (@C_Arnold01) July 20, 2021

Philadelphia originally had the game listed as taking place in Bridgeport, but their website now lists the game location as “TBD.” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said during his end-of-the-season media availability that the team would likely be holding their home preseason games in Bridgeport while they awaited the completion of UBS Arena.