The NHL Trade Deadline is March 21, just under a month away. The New York Islanders will likely be active around the Trade Deadline — but not in the way Islanders’ fans hoped a few months ago. After two consecutive seasons ending just short of the Stanley Cup Final, the Islanders had high hopes for the 2021-22 season. But it all fell apart and the team has struggled this year, with no sign of turning things around. The long road trip to start the season and problems with COVID-19 have hindered them, but the major problem is that many of the Islanders’ veterans simply don’t have it anymore.

With that being said, the Islanders are expected to be sellers rather than buyers. Some of the younger players are safe, but many veterans are available. General Manager Lou Lamoriello did not seem to care about age going into this season, doing whatever it took to win a Cup before the 79-year-old has to walk away from the position. Furthermore, Lamoriello has traded a ton of draft picks in recent years to improve his roster. But now, maybe it’s time for some changes.

Here are some potential trades the Islanders could make at the deadline:

Edmonton Oilers Receive: G Semyon Varlamov

New York Islanders Receive: G Mikko Koskinen, 2022 Fifth-Round Pick, 2023 Second-Round Pick

The first Islander on the trade block is Semyon Varlamov. The 33-year-old goaltender makes $5 million for the remainder of this season and next season. Varlamov is not having a bad season by any means; however, Ilya Sorokin has taken over as the team’s starter.

The Edmonton Oilers are in the playoff race and are looking for a goaltender. Marc-Andre Fleury and possibly Ilya Samsonov (if made available by Washington Capitals) are other options for Edmonton. But Varlamov is a veteran goaltender who has playoff experience and can be kept for at least one more year.

Since the Oilers cannot afford Varlamov’s contract, they must send back a player such as Mikko Koskinen. Koskinen, also 33, makes $4.5 million on a contract expiring after this season. The Oilers could let him go if they acquire Varlamov, and keep Stuart Skinner and Mike Smith as backups. The Islanders would also receive two much-needed draft picks to help recuperate the selections Lamoriello has traded away over the last two seasons.

Nashville Predators Receive: C Jean-Gabriel Pageau* 

New York Islanders Receive: 2022 Third-Round Pick (via LAK)

*Pageau would have to waive his full no-trade clause to be traded

It seems as if Islanders’ veterans such as Josh Bailey and Kyle Palmieri have virtually no trade value due to their age, contracts and performance. Struggling this season, Jean-Gabriel Pageau is on the verge of entering this category. He already has far less value than he did when the Islanders acquired him from the Ottawa Senators two years ago, but the Islanders should heavily consider dealing him while they still can. Pageau is in his second season of a six-year contract extension worth $5 million per season until 2026.

Perhaps a contending team with cap space would be willing to take Pageau. That’s why the Nashville Predators make sense. The Predators have the fifth-most cap space in the NHL, yet are in the middle of a playoff race. 

A potential return for Pageau could be a third-round draft pick. Perhaps the pick could be the Los Angeles Kings’ selection, which the Predators acquired, along with a second-round pick, in the Victor Arvidsson deal last summer. This would allow the Predators to look at this move in the context of the Arvidsson deal — they could view it as essentially trading Arvidsson for Pageau and a second-round pick. 

Buffalo Sabres Receive: 2023 Sixth-Round Pick

New York Islanders Receive: D Mark Pysyk

This is the kind of trade where the Islanders can acquire some much-needed depth. Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene have struggled this season and acquiring an extra defenseman never hurts.

The Buffalo Sabres will likely be willing to trade just about anybody. Mark Pysyk (30) — who has an expiring contract — is no exception.

Getting older, Pysyk can be reasonably acquired for a mid-round draft pick. The Sabres have used Pysyk as a second-or-third pair defenseman, and he has been reliable all season. This is a small but reasonable trade that could help both sides.

Vancouver Canucks Receive: LW Anthony Beauvillier

New York Islanders Receive: RW Conor Garland

This trade is definitely the most absurd on this list — but it is not completely illogical. Both Anthony Beauvillier (24) and Conor Conor Garland (25) are having down years, so a change could be beneficial to both players. 

The Vancouver Canucks have seen a ton of players struggle this season, Garland included. Expectations were high for Garland after Vancouver acquired him in a major trade with Arizona last summer. Now with the team struggling, the Canucks may be looking to flip Garland.

Many Islanders fans will resent the idea of trading Beauvillier. However, it must be considered that Beauvillier is on pace to finish with statistics far worse than his last two seasons, and Garland’s best season trumps Beauvillier’s best season. Plus, if Garland catches heat again, he can be a true, goal-scoring, two-way first-line winger. Mathew Barzal desperately needs a player like Garland — making this trade worthwhile for the Islanders.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others