NHL Rumors: Islanders & Coyotes Linked In Potential Big Trade

The New York Islanders are falling fast as they continue to lose. This is mainly due to the lack of offence on the team and a veteran group. They have scored 18 goals in their last 11 games, losing 10 of them. This has caused Lou Lamoriello to look around for offensive players to help produce. The team is generally a strong defensive team and have Ilya Sorokin, one of the best goalies in the NHL, at the helm.

Scoring at a little higher rate could vastly change this season and the future. At first thought, you would think the team needs more scoring from their forwards. You would be right. But scoring can come from the defence as well, and there is a cheap and impactful defenceman that should be on the move at the deadline in Jakob Chychrun that they are looking at, per Elliotte Freidman.

He has been very good since returning from his season-opening injury and has five goals and 25 points in 33 games for the Arizona Coyotes. It isn't going to be cheap to acquire Chychrun, but he will boost the defence's offensive capabilities significantly. He is one of the better offensive defencemen in the NHL and is just 24 years old signed for two more seasons at $4.6 million AAV.

The Islanders have Noah Dobson, but with him out of the lineup right now, it really emphasizes the need for a defenceman with similar offensive capabilities. Chychrun can play both sides of the ice but is a natural lefty. He is a two-time 12-plus goal scorer and would positively impact the 30th ranked power play which is another reason for the lack of offence. Though it may be tough to climb back into a playoff spot this season, the Islanders wouldn't have to change a ton for next season with Chychrun in play until at least the end of 2024-25.