As a potential unrestricted free agent, Cizikas and Palmieri are not eligible to be selected by the Seattle Kraken at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21. The Islanders can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie.
Palmieri was acquired from the New Jersey Devils, with forward Travis Zajac, on April 7 and scored nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 19 playoff games. He was born in Smithtown, New York, and has family on Long Island.
"If the question is would we like to have Kyle Palmieri back, the answer is yes," Lamoriello said. "I have had a conversation with Kyle, and I have asked him if he would want to come back if there was something that potentially could be worked out, and his answer was yes. He also knows our set of circumstances with reference to our (NHL salary) cap and our roster, but he is also, like Casey, in a unique situation. He is a total free agent, so he is outside the expansion thought process.
"We potentially cannot keep every player that we have here because we can only protect so many, so you never know what transpires. But we have an open mind. Our coaching staff felt the same way, how well he fit in, how his style fit in with the style that we play, and certainly the success he had during the playoffs. He would be someone that we certainly would have a strong sort of intention to bring back if possible."