NHL Free Agency: Will Gabriel Landeskog be on the Market Come Wednesday?

New York Islanders fans are watching the developing situation in Colorado between Gabriel Landeskog and the Colorado Avalanche as NHL free agency quickly approaches.

The Islanders are one of five teams that Landeskog has an interest in signing with if he becomes a free agent. NYI Hockey Now’s Andy Graziano reported last week that Landeskog was “intrigued” by the situation on Long Island.

Colorado is now down to the wire when it comes to re-signing its captain before NHL free agency opens at noon on Wednesday. There is reportedly a seven-year, $49 million deal on the table with the possibility of an eighth year, according to Elliotte Friedman.

Okay, working on some stuff. Biggest one is probably Landeskog…hearing 7×7 is on the table, and there are discussions about the possibility of eight years. We will see where this goes. There are others who want him.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 27, 2021

There are also a number of other teams interested in the forward, which presumably would include the Islanders. Lou Lamoriello cleared millions in cap space with the trades of Nick Leddy and Andrew Ladd. Seattle’s selection of Jordan Eberle also helped the Islanders clear more cap space.

Landeskog would help fill the void left by Eberle’s departure on the top line. The 28-year-old scored 20 goals last season and recorded 52 points in 54 regular-season games with Colorado.

He added another four goals and 13 points in 10 playoff games.

The Islanders could definitely use the scoring touch on the top line and Landeskog would fill the gap left by Eberle nicely, but the $9.5 million per year asking price he could command might be hard for the Islanders to pull off, even with the cap space they did clear.

Adam Pelech will receive a sizable raise from last season, Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin will also get bumps in pay. Casey Cizikas is set to become a free agent, but the Islanders would clearly like to hold on to him.

And there has been talk of bringing back Kyle Palmieri for next season. Cap space could evaporate quickly when you add Landeskog into the mix.

That’s if he is even a free agent when noon rolls around on Wednesday.