The New York Islanders just made a savvy move to bolster their blue line, acquiring veteran defenseman Carson Soucy from the cross-town rival Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
For Soucy, it’s another quick change of scenery. After being dealt to the Rangers by Vancouver ahead of last season’s trade deadline-also for a third-rounder-he now heads to Long Island after less than a full year in Manhattan. During his brief stint with the Blueshirts, the 31-year-old posted modest numbers, with one goal and two assists before the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
This season, Soucy has quietly been a steady presence on a Rangers squad that’s struggled to find its footing. In 46 games, he’s chipped in three goals and five assists, logging over 17 minutes a night and holding a respectable +4 rating.
His last point came back on January 14-a helper during a rough 8-4 loss to Ottawa. He also missed three games earlier this month due to personal reasons, but otherwise has been a regular contributor on the back end.
Soucy is in the final year of the three-year deal he signed with Vancouver back in July 2023, carrying a $3.25 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause that allowed him to submit a 12-team list. That clause didn’t stop the Rangers from moving him, as the team begins a much-needed retool under GM Chris Drury-who recently made it clear that changes were coming.
For the Islanders, this is a depth move with some upside. With Ryan Pulock sidelined due to an upper-body injury, adding another experienced defenseman gives head coach Lane Lambert more flexibility.
Soucy joins a group that already includes Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and Tony DeAngelo, plus rookie standout Matthew Schaefer, who’s been a bright spot in an otherwise up-and-down season. Schaefer’s emergence has helped keep the Isles in the playoff mix, and Soucy’s arrival should only help solidify things on the back end.
Across 411 NHL regular-season games, Soucy has tallied 30 goals and 65 assists for 95 points, and he brings postseason experience too, with nine points in 38 playoff appearances. He’s not a flashy pickup, but he’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward addition that can pay dividends-especially for a team sitting third in the Metropolitan Division and looking to gain ground on the frontrunning Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, the Rangers’ decision to move him signals a commitment to reshaping the roster. With the team sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and well outside the playoff picture, flipping an expiring contract for a future asset makes sense. It’s a small step in what could be a larger overhaul, but it’s a start.