The Islanders did what they had to do on Thursday.

Josh Bailey, the longest-tenured Islander and one of just three players in franchise history to play over 1,000 games in blue and orange, was dealt to the Blackhawks, with the Islanders adding a 2026 second-round pick and getting future considerations in return.

The move allows for the Islanders to move all of Bailey’s $5 million salary for the upcoming season ahead of free agency opening on Saturday, while making all of their draft picks on Thursday as scheduled.

General manager Lou Lamoriello has said he wants to bring back all four of the team’s unrestricted free agents, and now has the cap space to try and do so, although it still could be a squeeze.