The New York Islanders will terminate forward Leo Komarov‘s contract, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple. He needs to go through unconditional waivers before the termination is completed.
Hearing this is official now. Believe Komarov will be on unconditional waivers tomorrow to terminate his #Isles contract. https://t.co/1t8nTJyXWw
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) November 10, 2021
Islanders To Terminate Leo Komarov’s Contract
Komarov was signed by the Islanders in 2018 after spending five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Throughout his nine-year NHL career, the 34-year-old appeared in 491 games scoring 63 goals and 170 points. He only appeared in one game this season, against the Florida Panthers on October 16, before being sent down to the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL. He did not play for the AHL Islanders. Now, Komarov is reportedly heading to the SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL.
The player was an important piece for them last season, being the main replacement for Anders Lee in the top line after he got hurt. In the beginning, it was hard to watch but then Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle started to get better at covering up the mistakes and finding their way to score. Komarov may not be the best player nor the same goal scorer Lee is but he filled the gap. Most importantly, he has been a big locker room player for the veteran team and that’s also a key to have when your team is going through a low. However, it is best for both him and the Islanders to move on with their own paths now.
What This Means For The Future
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has done it again. After the 2020-21 season ended, there were multiple questions surrounding the Islanders and their salary cap. They had too many players to sign and almost no space in the cap to do so. That’s where Lamoriello enters with all his secrets and cards up his sleeve.
He managed to sign everyone he needed to – and Zdeno Chara and Zach Parise – without having to do much. Then, he traded Johnny Boychuk‘s rights – and contract – to the Buffalo Sabres, to help them reach the cap floor and make both teams 100% compliant. And to finish (for now, of course), he is terminating Komarov’s contract. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Even if Lamoriello doesn’t make a big move now, the cap space this one relieves is important. It’s a good indicator that there’s something being planned and gives them the flexibility to bring or trade players in the trade deadline if necessary. After learning the lesson with Anders Lee this year, the Islanders would not make the same mistake twice!
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