Insider: 3 New York Islanders Prime Trade Targets
The New York Islanders are expected to be very active ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. Hockey insider Frank Seravalli released his latest trade targets list on Daily Faceoff, with three Islanders cracking the top-25.
Included in Seravalli's list are Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, and Brock Nelson. Both Palmieri and Nelson are pending unrestricted free agents, meanwhile Pageau has one more season on his contract. The Islanders enter Friday's action with a record of 19-20-7, and sit second last in the Eastern Conference. Their team is desperate for a re-tool and GM Lou Lamoriello has the perfect chance to kick-star the process this season.
Here's more from Seravalli on each of the trade targets:
2. Brock Nelson
Stats: 46 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 Pts
It feels like time, doesn’t it? Nelson is a lifelong Islander, part of the fold since he was picked in the first round the year following John Tavares. But he’s a pending UFA and the Islanders don’t appear to be going anywhere fast. There is solid interest, most notably from his home state of Minnesota, whose GM Bill Guerin selected Nelson for Team USA’s 4 Nations Face-Off entry.10. Kyle Palmieri
Stats: 46 GP, 12 G, 17 A, 29 Pts
Yes, the Islanders operate under the category of “Only God and Lou Know” – so you never truly have line of sight on the GM’s decision-making process. But Palmieri is in a very similar position to teammate Nelson, and equally productive, but plays a position teeming with other candidates. Both players have limited no-trade clauses that could help/hinder discussions.18. Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Stats: 43 GP, 9 G, 13 A, 22 Pts
Over the past six months, Pageau has gone from salary cap casualty candidate to legitimately in-demand as the center market is so thin. Unlike a rental, he has one year left at a manageable $5 million. And with the salary cap increasing (potentially by a sizable amount), if you could trade the same assets and also get to use him for one extra year, wouldn’t he be a smart add?
The Islanders have just $506,000 in cap space ahead of the deadline, which should be drastically increasing heading into next summer.
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
