There will always be Islanders fans who look at the Brayden Schenn deal and shake their heads. Even if he scores again tomorrow, even if he stacks another three-point night next week, even if he helps push this team toward the playoffs next spring, somebody is still going to point back to the first-round pick.
That reaction is understandable. The price Mathieu Darche paid was steep: Jonathan Drouin, goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof, a first-round pick and a third-round pick to land Schenn.
For an aging player, that’s a major investment, especially when the hoped-for return was immediate playoff hockey. The Islanders missed anyway, and a solid November doesn’t wipe away that frustration.
Still, Schenn’s play deserves its own conversation.
He’s been a good NHL player for a long time. The real question was how much of that player was left at 35, especially after an underwhelming start on Long Island. It was fair to wonder whether the Islanders had paid for a version of Schenn they weren’t going to get.
Lately, he’s making that doubt look a little premature.
Thursday against the Kings, Schenn scored once and added two assists. That pushed him to 16 points in 18 games.
Over his last four outings, he’s put up seven points. That’s real production, not just the kind of value people attach to a veteran because he’s steady in the room.
He’s also become a major part of Victor Eklund’s early success. Schenn has assisted on six of the rookie’s seven goals, and recent reporting has noted how much time he spends after practice answering questions and working with Eklund.
That matters, too. It’s not just a veteran helping himself; it’s a veteran helping a young teammate grow into the league.
None of that erases the cost of the trade. The assets surrendered still matter, and so does whatever those pieces become down the road. But Schenn is giving the Islanders something tangible right now, and he’s making it harder to dismiss the deal as nothing more than a mistake.
Fans may never come around on the trade itself. Schenn, though, is giving them plenty to like about the player.
In Other News...
Islanders Could Hand Mat Barzal The Finisher Hes Been Missing
Matvei Michkovs situation in Philadelphia has become one of the more intriguing side stories in the early part of the season, and it has naturally drawn the attention of teams looking for a high-end offensive jolt. The Flyers rocky start and the uncertainty around the 2023 seventh overall pick have only added to the noise, with Michkov now being viewed as a possible trade candidate if the relationship continues to fray.
For the Islanders, the appeal is obvious. A player with Michkovs skill set would give Mat Barzal a dynamic finisher and add a layer of creativity this roster has often lacked, especially in the kind of game where one clean chance can swing everything. Nothing is official yet, and there is still a long way between speculation and an actual move, but it is the sort of idea that fits the Islanders need for more punch up front. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Get Needed Help Back As Bigger Problems Still Loom
The Islanders were set to get a little healthier against the Kings, with Matias Maccelli and defenseman Ryan Pulock both scheduled to return to the lineup and Mathew Barzal expected back soon after. For a team that has been grinding through a rough stretch, the timing matters. Those reinforcements should at least give the Islanders more options, more speed and a steadier look on the blue line as they try to stop the slide.
Health alone, though, will not solve everything. The Islanders still have bigger issues hanging over them, from defensive breakdowns to a power play that has not consistently done enough to swing games in their favor. The returns of Maccelli and Pulock offer a chance to reset some of that, but the real question is whether the group can turn those additions into the kind of cleaner, more complete hockey it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Finally Have A Chance To Steady Their Playoff Push
The Islanders finally got a needed break in the skid by beating the Kings, a result that offered a little relief after a stretch defined by injuries and uneven play. With Ilya Sorokin and Ryan Pulock back in the lineup, there is at least a clearer sense of what this group can look like when it is closer to whole, and that matters for a team trying to turn a frustrating start into something more sustainable.
Mathieu Darche now has a roster that is healthier than it has been in recent weeks, which opens the door to a more honest evaluation of where the Islanders stand in the playoff race. The bigger question is whether this win becomes the start of a steadier run or just another brief pause in a season that has too often swung from promise to concern, with the front office still weighing what comes next. [Read more 🡒]