Now, the jigsaw puzzle begins.

After the Islanders were eliminated from the playoffs Friday night at the hands of the Hurricanes, their decision-makers need to turn toward the future.

The team has six players hitting unrestricted free agency and, if the salary cap goes up by just $1 million as anticipated, will have just over $6.9 million in space.

In other words, bringing everyone back is probably a pipe dream.

The Post breaks down the situation for each of the Islanders’ unrestricted free agents.

Scott Mayfield

Whether or not to re-sign the 30-year-old represents probably the biggest free-agency decision for the club.

Mayfield, who has said he wants to return, has proven valuable for the Islanders over nine seasons.

He can play anywhere from the first to third pair and hold his own.

His 24 points this season were a career high, as was his 21:02 time on ice per game.

Two things, though, could prevent him from re-signing.

The first is money.

Mayfield’s salary should jump from his current $1.45 million annual average value to at least $2 million, if not more.

The second is whether the Islanders decide to prioritize mobility on the blue line, something they were missing this season and which is a weak spot in Mayfield’s game.

Zach Parise

The glaring image of the Islanders’ locker room after their series loss to the Hurricanes was Parise, head in his hands, sitting alone and not moving.

It’s no secret the 18-year veteran might have played his last NHL game Friday, and his ultimate decision on retiring, far more than his pending free agency, will dictate whether he returns next season.

Since Parise is still getting paid by the Wild thanks to a 2021 buyout, he’d likely return for the league minimum if he elected to play in 2023-24. (It would be a major surprise to see him go anywhere other than the Islanders, but you never know).

There’s not much doubt that he’s still capable of performing at a high level — he was one of just three players on the team to score more than 20 goals this season — and he sounded all season like someone who wasn’t quite ready to call it quits yet.

Still, another season likely is something he’ll need to discuss with his family before committing.

Pierre Engvall

Engvall turned himself into an important top-six player for the Islanders after he was acquired ahead of the trade deadline, but they would likely need to make him a priority for the math to work, if he wants to come back.

Engvall should be in line for a raise from his $2.25 million average annual value.

If the Islanders gave him $3 million (to throw out a random number), they might be able to make it work, but that could require sacrifices elsewhere.

Hudson Fasching

The slam-dunk best story of the season for the Islanders, who signed him off the scrap heap on a two-way deal last summer and were rewarded as he became a bottom-six mainstay.

Fasching is now in line for his first one-way deal in the NHL.

Like Mayfield, he has said publicly he wants to stay on the Island.

But, can the Islanders keep him?

Again, it’s a question of dollars and sense.

If Parise, Oliver Wahlstrom, Simon Holmstrom, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin are all on the roster next season, it suddenly would be hard to carve out an everyday spot for Fasching — let alone if Josh Bailey returns as well.

The Islanders are set to have a logjam in their bottom six, so how much are they willing to prioritize Fasching within that group of wings?

He played well enough to earn a spot, but others have more standing within the organization.

Semyon Varlamov

Varlamov said the right things during the season about wanting to stay, but the fact is, that won’t happen unless he takes a major pay cut.

After Ilya Sorokin started 60 games in goal this season, continuing to pay Varlamov $5 million to back him up just isn’t feasible.

Even 50 percent of that feels steep, though Varlamov might be the best backup goalie in the league.

If Varlamov is willing to accept a role and salary below his ability, the Islanders would presumably be delighted, but it’s hard to see how they’d be able to give more.

Parker Wotherspoon

A Group 6 free agent, Wotherspoon played 12 games this season and was a healthy scratch for every game after Jan. 21.

If the Islanders re-sign him, it would likely be on a two-way deal, though a one-way contract for the league minimum isn’t out of the question.