The New York Islanders face pivotal NHL trade deadline decisions as GM Mathieu Darche weighs short-term gains against long-term roster strategy. Will Anders Lee and JG Pageau be moved despite strong performances, or are moderate acquisitions like Carson Soucy and Ondrej Palat the smart play for playoff success? Gil Martin highlights the team’s surprising surge, cap space challenges, and rumors surrounding Anthony Duclair and Jonathan Drouin, sparking questions about bigger targets like Jordan Kyrou and Steven Stamkos.
Prospect values are dissected, with Ekland, Acheson, and Ritchie emerging as potential “untouchables.” Defensive core concerns, including the aging duo of Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech, take center stage as the Islanders look to offset slow starts and prepare for West Coast matchups. Is physicality the missing ingredient for a deep playoff run? Tune in for winning streak insights, trade speculation, and an Islanders birthday spotlight on Bryan Berard.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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9 Comments
Kyrou, Tippett or a dream of all dreams Knies
swing for a g scorer. swing for austen with laffs heading to a firesale and austen disrespected in t o for being an american gold medal winner.
austen-in his prime. no albatross contract. kyrou = soft + thomas =albatross contracts.
Sorry but the islanders big trade buy in is fools gold.
A shrewd GM says to JGP & Lee “here is your extension off; sign before the trade deadline or you’re gone”. You don’t build to be a cup contender by letting players go for nothing during a season where you’re over performing and not going to win a cup. The isles PP & offense doesn’t that the ability to win a cup. If Darsch has 1/2 a brain and ownership isn’t controlling him this is what will happen. If not, the isles might win a round and lose JGP and Lee for nothing or be forced to overpay to sign then to save face.
Simple trade, duclair for laine straight up, think duclair benefits being a French Canadian on a team close to home who’s in contention, laine gives us that sniper who can boost our powerplay and can play with 14 and 13 on line 1 while palat takes 32’s place on line 4. This trade is a low risk high reward because we don’t get rid of draft picks or prospects and we clear dukes salary, if laine pans out he gets an extension, if not he’s just a placeholder till eiserman comes up because It looks like BU isn’t making the playoffs which means eiserman can be eligible, would rather him start in Bridgeport anyway give them a boost.
I am with You Gil! Not trading away last years 1 st or 2 nd round picks! Eiserman, George, Avs 1 st, next years 1 st, Shabby, Duclair, Drouin( Roy’s pet)) would be as much I want to sacrifice. Yes ! Darche must make JGP an extension offer and I think 🤔 you have opened up to the idea of JGP 3 years at 5 mill which is like 3 million with the rising salary cap. If JGP does not sign he has to be traded. I would hate to see him go. Lee is an own rental and not offering an extension. If he is extended it is a 1 year deal tops! Arthur Staples thinks that the Islanders should swing for the fences to get that Jordan Kyrou guy while we still have Schaefer on his 3 year entry.. we are definitely missing like three pieces one the goal scorer, 2 a physical winger, and three the physical defenseman, but we have that in Romy if he comes back in the second round.. if Darsh could unload Drouin, Duclair, and Shabby that would be awesome! Somehow I don’t see Drouin waiving. Could the Islanders land Kyrou and Sherwood? We shall see if Darche has any magic
Jake Debrusk is one i would target. Vancouver is in a firesale. He is 29 can play top 6 and mive barzal back to C. Salary isnt crazy $6 mil. Kind of that middle ground guy u talked about.
Different topic. I like shabonov. He is not a ttop 6 guy but can bring skill to a 3rd line. Wouldn’t give up on him.
Its time for this team to get a proven goal scorer under contract by any means necessary. (Not a rental). Top picks don’t always pan out. If it means giving up a #1 then so be it.
If Darche was to trade away Lee or Pague at this point? I think it would completely Demoralize the team! These guys are a tight knit group who are playing great right now. I say let them go as is and let them just grind it out in playoffs. If they win they win, if they lose they lose. But let em go and worry about adding guys in the off season. And definitely dont give away any top prospects unless its a deal you cant refuse!! You said best Gil.. we're playing with house money right now. Nobody expected them to be in this position this late in the season. So whatever happens at this point is all gravy! LGI