Should the Islanders Buy or Sell at the Trade Deadline?
Now that Islanders have won five of their last seven games, general manager Lou Lamoriello might have to change his perspective on the trade deadline.
Before this hot stretch, and arguably still now, this seemed like a tough call to make. The NHL trade deadline is not until March 21, 2022, so Lamoriello has some time to make a decision on whether to buy or sell.
It might be worth giving up assets if the Islanders are in contention. As of now, the Islanders are sitting at 14-14-6, 16 points out of a wild card spot with a few games in hand on multiple teams ahead of them. It will be difficult due to their rocky start to the season, but making the playoffs is very much still possible. Acquiring a top forward or defenseman can help them get back to the dance.
Lamoriello, who won the Jim Gregory Award as the NHL’s general manager of the year in 2021, has been active at the trade deadline in previous years.
In 2020, Lamoriello acquired defenseman Andy Greene from the New Jersey Devils and a few days later he went after forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Last season, Lamoriello made another trade with the New Jersey Devils but this time for two more forwards: Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac.
All of those trade acquisitions came at a cost, some heavier than others. Some of those trades required prospects or other players, but all included draft picks. In the last two seasons, the Islanders have traded two first-round selections (2020, 2021), two second-round selections (2020, 2021), one third-round pick (2022), and one fourth-round pick (2022). That is a lot of draft capital to give up. Is it worth doing that again considering the uncertainty surrounding this season?
We know the current roster is highly capable of winning games, especially in the playoffs. Adding another forward or defenseman can only help us. However, there are holes in both positions that need to be filled, whether this season or beyond.
But even if playoffs aren’t in the Islanders’ future this season, they shouldn’t clean house. The team that Lamoriello and Barry Trotz have put together over the past few seasons has shown a ton of success. That’s true even though they’ve made some minor roster changes along the way. Keeping this core together will be extremely important for the future because it’s a core that Islanders can only build off of.
The Islanders are getting healthier too, with Ryan Pulock and Kyle Palmieri set to return soon. Both players have the potential to make impacts once they’re back on the ice.
That’s why the Islanders should still sit tight. Although the last few games have been encouraging, there’s still a lot that can change between now and March 21.
Writer for Drive4Five covering the New York Islanders.
