Islanders Face Reality Check When Schaefer's Contract Demands Hit the Table

When Matthew Schaefer's contract number finally arrives, the New York Islanders will have to make a hard choice about what they're willing to spend in this new NHL financial landscape. The defenseman's asking price could force the Islanders' hand in ways that reshape their roster construction and cap strategy for years to come. This negotiation will tell us everything we need to know about how aggressive the Islanders plan to be moving forward.