Newsday's Arthur Staple reports that the Islanders and free agent defenseman Marek Zidlicky are in talks regarding a possible contract. Staple added that nothing has been determined, but both sides remain interested.
The 38-year-old defenseman played the last four seasons with the New Jersey Devils before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline. Zidlicky scored 7 goals and recorded 27 assists in 84 games last season.
If the deal is completed down the road it would be a solid signing by the Islanders. It gives them the veteran defenseman that they need on the third pairing. It is also a step up from the often injured Lubomir Visnovsky. Zidlicky has missed just one game since the 2012-13 season. He made up for that by playing two extra games this past season. He averaged just over 18 minutes of ice time last season. Zidlicky's signing would help the power play as he has a strong shot from the point and 6 of his 7 goals came on the power play last season.
What the signing would do is it would slide down Thomas Hickey and Brian Strait into more of their suited roles, 7th and 8th defensemen and push 3rd-year defenseman Calvin de Haan who had an uneven 2014-15 season. The Islanders would love to have 2013 first-round pick Ryan Pulock win the job out of training camp. He will have to earn it though as he will not be handed the job. The signing would make it difficult for Scott Mayfield to make the team. Mayfield played well in Games 6 and 7 of the series vs the Capitals.
More to come as this story develops