With just about two weeks remaining until the NHL’s trade deadline on March 8th, the Islanders currently sit at a 23-20-14 record sitting at 60 points. 7 Points out of a playoff spot. Though buying is in Lou Lamoriello’s DNA, he has to bite the bullet and sell off some guys and accrue assets in the hopes for a good draft position at the 2024 NHL Draft.
C Brock Nelson
Nelson is the Islanders leading goal scorer this season with 25, he is well on pace for his 3rd straight 35 goal season. And with 1 season remaining after this year before he hits unrestricted free agency, the time is now for the Islanders to trade him. Nelson would become instantly the most desired player this trade deadline, more so than the other two big trades that have went down, that sent Sean Monahan to Winnipeg from Montreal and Elias Lindholm to Vancouver from Calgary. Brock Nelson could be the next blockbuster.
Mock Trade:
Colorado Receives: C Brock Nelson (50% Retained)
Islanders Receives: C Ryan Johansen, F Calum Ritchie, 2024 First Round Pick, 2025 First Round Pick
The Islanders are getting a haul for Nelson if they decide to trade him. Johansen can slot right into the starting lineup. Calum Ritchie is one of Colorado’s best prospects who is at well over a point-per-game pace in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals, and is just 19 years old. And the two first round picks the Islanders could use to start to rebuild their farm system which has been among the bottom rankings considering they haven’t made a first round selection since 2019 (Simon Holmstrom).
C Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Pageau hasn’t lived up to the expectations that he had when the Islanders acquired him from Ottawa in 2020 for a first rounder, second rounder and more. Though he’s struggled, he is still a very valuable asset due to his ability to kill penalties and be a shutdown forward defensively, something teams will pay premium for at the deadline.
Mock Trade:
Los Angeles Receives: C Jean-Gabriel Pageau, F Oliver Wahlstrom
Islanders Receive: F Arthur Kaliyev, 2025 First Round Puck
The Kings who are still pushing for a spot, decide to take a shot and go get Pageau and swap forwards in bad situations hence the swap for Wahlstrom and Kaliyev. The return for Pageau alone reportedly could be a first plus some more, and the Islanders make out well in this deal.
As we get towards the end of the season, and if the Islanders do sell off some guys like I believe they well, they will be in a premium spot to make a huge splash at the draft. Now I don’t think they’ll get to draft star prospects Macklin Celebrini or Ivan Demidov, but I believe i’ll be talking a lot about Cole Eiserman, Cayden Lindstrom, and Berkly Catton among others come draft time, and the Islanders can supplement their pipeline in a big way this upcoming offseason.
Patrick Roy’s long term vision for this team likely doesn’t include at least half of the players currently on the Islanders roster. They have an established core of Mathew Barzal, Noah Dobson, Bo Horvat and Ilya Sorokin, now they have to build around it properly. And this deadline and upcoming offseason will be pivotal for the Islanders, as this deadline plan has them accruing 3 first round picks as well as a premium prospect in Ritchie. This offseason will be very interesting on Long Island, especially if Lamoriello is still the General Manager.
Lines After trades:
Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Kaliyev-Johansen-Palmieri
Engvall-Cizikas-Holmstrom
Martin-MaClean-Clutterbuck
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Pulock
Reilly-Mayfield
Sorokin
Varlamov
BS Reports 
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