Report: Islanders Have "Tremendous Interest" In Penguins' Trade Candidate

The New York Islanders are showing "tremendous interest" in Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, according to The Hockey News' Stefan Rosner.

With two years remaining on his contract at a $4.025 million cap hit, he has been a consistent presence for Pittsburgh, contributing physicality and solid shot-blocking.

As one league source noted, "Pettersson brings a lot to the table—he’s the type of player who can solidify any blue line."

Marcus Pettersson: "It's on us, us as a team. It's a business and it's a performance-based business. We feel like our pride in here as a team, we haven't done a good enough job in front of any of the goalies, really, this year. So, it's heartbreaking."
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 15, 2025

The Penguins are believed to be open to moving Pettersson if the return addresses other roster needs. With a tight salary cap and looking to improve their offensive depth, Pittsburgh could benefit from assets the Islanders might include, such as draft picks or a younger player.

Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has previously spoken about the value of defensemen who "defend well while making smart decisions with the puck," making Pettersson an appealing option as the Islanders work to shore up defensive consistency amid injuries and uneven performances in their bottom pairings.

Funniest member of the @Penguins?! 🤔

Get to know defenseman Marcus Pettersson a little bit better in the newest edition of "Snapshots" with @TheHaileyHunter! pic.twitter.com/sE8boeJSMV
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) January 21, 2025