It’s been over a week since the NHL Trade Deadline, and the New York Islanders missed out on many opportunities to improve the team.

The only news from deadline day was that the Islanders re-signed Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise to two and one-year deals, respectively. The Islanders could’ve traded them for draft picks to improve the franchise’s future. Clutterbuck, a gritty bottom-six player, is exactly what playoff teams crave. Clutterbuck’s value was not extremely high, but any draft pick could’ve been useful. If the Islanders wanted him back next season, they could’ve re-signed him in the offseason. The Islanders probably aren’t making the playoffs, so standing pat and holding onto a mediocre roster doesn’t really help. It also lowers the team’s chances of a top pick in the upcoming draft.

#Isles Transactions: Cal Clutterbuck (2 years) and Zach Parise (1 year) have agreed to terms on new contracts that will go into effect for the 2022-23 season. pic.twitter.com/HZutOdj8dF

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 21, 2022

The New York Islanders have just over $2.6 million of projected cap space this offseason, meaning they could not take on salary for draft picks. The Anaheim Ducks almost acquired a conditional second-round draft pick for Evgenii Dadonov from the Vegas Golden Knights to take on his cap hit, showing the lucrative opportunities having salary cap space has.

Last season, multiple teams utilized a third team in trade deals involving rentals to take on cap space in exchange for draft picks. The Islanders could’ve done that considering how many teams retained salary when trading away rental players.

Lou: To fans, this is an indication that we still believe in this group.

— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) March 21, 2022

Veteran defensemen Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene wanted to stay on Long Island. This prevented the Islanders from trading for mid-late round draft capital. General manager Lou Lamoriello knows that keeping commitments to players builds solid relationships. It also signals to future free agents that Lamoriello will treat them well. Still, the betterment of the hockey team arguably supersedes a depth player’s wishes.

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Standing pat is risky. Entering the offseason with a roster that lacks high-end talent with no promising prospects can hinder the Islanders’ potential ceiling. Next year, if a similar season of mediocrity plagues the Islanders, it will force Lamoriello’s hand and force him to trade pieces of a core he said he believes in.

In my opinion, that’s the best-case scenario. Appeasing players’ wishes for too long could turn this re-tool into a long-winded rebuild.

John Smark