Report: Islanders to offer 1st-rounder to Vegas in expansion side deal

The New York Islanders are willing to pay the piper.

The Brooklyn club is willing to send a first-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights to keep the incoming squad from selecting one of its forwards in the expansion draft, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The Islanders opted to protect eight skaters from the expansion draft, including five defensemen, namely Johnny Boychuk, Travis Hamonic, Nick Leddy, Adam Pelech, and Ryan Pulock.

New York also shielded forwards John Tavares, Anders Lee, and Andrew Ladd, plus goaltender Thomas Greiss.

That means the likes of forwards Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson, and Ryan Strome are up for grabs to the Golden Knights. But as Dreger reports, the Islanders are willing to pay a price for Vegas to direct its attention elsewhere.

Fans of the Islanders will know the outcome soon enough, with the Golden Knights set to announce their selections June 21.