Which Teams Might Bite on Islanders’ Trade Bait?
Considering how bad the Islanders are playing this season, finding teams to make a trade with will be difficult.
However, there are a few teams that might be interested in each of the Islanders’ top trade candidates.
Semyon Varlamov
There are plenty of teams looking for an experienced backup goalie as the push to the playoffs gets underway. Edmonton and Nashville are at the top of the list.
Edmonton has struggled to find consistency in goal. Mikko Koskinen has started the bulk of his team’s games (30) and has won 19. However, he had a lowly .904 save percentage and a 3.05 goals against average before Wednesday’s game against Washington. Stuart Skinner has been good in limited action, but Mike Smith has dropped the ball. Getting support for Koskinen could propel the Oilers back into the playoffs.
Nashville is in the opposite situation. Juuse Saros has been incredible for the Predators this season, starting 47 of his team’s 56 games. His .924 save percentage is the sixth-best in the league among goalies who started at least 20 games.
The reason Saros has started so many games is that his backup, David Rittich, hasn’t been playing well. He has a 4-2-1 record with a .890 SV% and a 3.17 GAA. If head coach Peter Laviolette could get another goalie he could trust, that could give Saros some much-needed rest before the playoffs.
Pittsburgh and Arizona are also potential suitors. However, the Islanders might be reluctant to trade Varlamov to a division rival, and Arizona is rebuilding. The latter could use help reaching the salary cap floor, though.
Josh Bailey
Any playoff contender in need of some scoring depth would love to have Josh Bailey on their team. Two targets are Minnesota and Nashville.
The Wild have an exceptional player in Kirill Kaprizov. They just need to surround him with talent.
Their lineup is full of holes. The team’s first line center is currently Ryan Hartman. While he’s having a productive season (23 – 18 — 41), an upgrade would certainly help. It’s not crazy to expect Bailey to return to the 71-point scoring pace he had when he played on a line with John Tavares in 2017-2018.
He could also replace Freddy Gaudreau on the second line. Gaudreau has 24 points in 49 games this season. That’s not bad, but Bailey has the potential to do better. He’d even do well in a third line role alongside Joel Eriksson Ek. Considering Bailey’s trade value has plummeted this season, he could be a cheap addition for the Wild and would give the Isles some cap space.
The Predators, meanwhile, have a hole to fill on their second line right wing. Bailey’s played that spot for large portions of this season and would slide perfectly into that role. Ryan Johansen and Luke Kunin would make great linemates, too.
The Detroit Red Wings could also strike a deal in an effort to solidify their forward core for next season. There are multiple openings on the young roster, and general manager Steve Yzerman might be interested in acquiring a veteran with a contract like Bailey’s to signal an organizational shift away from an extended rebuild.
Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck
With the recent rise of Ross Johnston, the Islanders should consider trading Matt Martin or Cal Clutterbuck. The long-time fourth-liners have looked slow at times this season, especially Martin. Johnston has been impressive when given the chance.
Buffalo, Arizona and Detroit would be great landing spots for Martin. The Sabres and Coyotes are young teams looking to fill out their rosters. Since Martin has two more seasons on his contract, either team could acquire him for toughness, and perhaps to build a fourth line that resembles the Islanders’.
Detroit is in a similar situation but is much closer than the Sabres or Coyotes to playoff contention, so they may be likelier to pursue him. Perhaps a package with Bailey could materialize.
A team in playoff position looking to get grittier could go after Clutterbuck. The Colorado Avalanche are a great option, considering their fast style of play. Critics have pointed out the team’s physical shortcomings come playoff time. Clutterbuck has been a playoff warrior for the Islanders, and the Avalanche would certainly benefit from acquiring him.
Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene
Both Greene and Chara are on expiring contracts and can provide valuable depth to a Stanley Cup contender. Greene is still looking to win his first NHL championship.
St. Louis, Los Angeles, the Rangers, Calgary and Washington are all bubble contenders who can take a huge leap forward by acquiring either one of these veteran defenders. The Islanders also have more flexibility with choosing a trade partner due to the players’ cheap, expiring contracts. They can also make a deal with more than one team since they have two pieces that fill similar roles.
Although Greene is a much better defender than Chara, the latter has proven to be an effective leader in the locker room and can be valuable on a young team making its first run.
Zach Parise
The team that acquires Parise would be looking for the same intangibles that Chara and Greene bring, but on the offensive end.
The Rangers, Kings and Oilers stand out as landing spots. Each is closing in on the cap ceiling but could benefit from a veteran forward. It helps that Parise happens to be really productive lately.
The Rangers are in desperate need of a third-line left wing. Gregg McKegg is currently filling the role and Kaapo Kakko is on injured reserve. The Kings are also weak at left wing and could use a veteran to lead a young locker room on a playoff run.
The Oilers already brought in Warren Foegle and Evander Kane to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, respectively, but Ryan Nugent Hopkins could still use a winger once he returns from injury.
Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
