The Islanders announced a contract extension Thursday, just not the one fans have been anxiously awaiting.
The club locked up Scott Mayfield for five years with an average annual value of $1.45 million. The 25-year-old defenseman was playing in the final season of a two-year deal worth an average of $625,000 per year and could have been a restricted free agent this offseason.
Through 29 games entering Thursday, the 6-foot-4, 227-pound blueliner had tallied two goals and eight assists with an average ice time of 17:34.
Mayfield became the fourth Islanders defenseman signed into the next decade, joining Nick Leddy (through 2021-22), Johnny Boychuk (2021-22) and Adam Pelech (2020-21).
All eyes have been on John Tavares’ contract situation as the captain, along with the Islanders’ points leader Josh Bailey, will be unrestricted free agents after the season.