The New York Islanders are nearing the end of a seven-game road trip that’s been a bit of a rollercoaster-some high points, some low, and a whole lot of questions about what comes next. With one game left in Seattle, the team has managed to hold onto second place in the Metropolitan Division, even as the play on the ice hasn’t always been convincing.
That’s the paradox right now: the results look solid, but the path to them hasn’t always been smooth. The Flyers and Capitals, who were nipping at the Islanders’ heels before the trip, have stumbled badly-Philadelphia going 1-5-1 and Washington 2-4-0. The Penguins, meanwhile, have taken advantage of the chaos, going 3-2-2 and jumping into third place, just two points behind New York.
So here’s the reality: the Islanders are in a good spot, but not a safe one. And that puts General Manager Mathieu Darche in a tricky position as the trade deadline looms.
The Trade Market Is Heating Up-and So Are the Prices
During this road swing, the Islanders were linked to defenseman Rasmus Andersson and forward Kiefer Sherwood, but both were snapped up by other teams for steep prices. Andersson cost a 1st, 2nd, and a roster player.
Sherwood? Two second-rounders.
That’s not just expensive-it’s a seller’s market with prices that could make any GM hesitate.
And with only a handful of teams clearly out of the playoff race, the pool of sellers is shallow. One of them-the Rangers-isn’t exactly picking up the phone when the Islanders call.
Darche knows the team needs help. Defensively, there’s some internal optimism about giving young blueliner Isaiah George a look once the team returns home.
But offensively? That help would almost certainly need to come from outside the organization.
Who’s Actually Available-and Realistic?
Names like Steven Stamkos have been floated, but Nashville’s recent surge makes that unlikely. Looking at a list of top forwards potentially on the move-Artemi Panarin, Nazem Kadri, Vincent Trocheck, Elias Pettersson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Blake Coleman, Stamkos, Andrew Mangiapane-it’s a mixed bag.
Three of those names are in the Metro Division, which basically takes them off the board. The Rangers aren’t sending Panarin or Trocheck across town unless the Islanders offer the moon-and then some.
Kadri is an interesting case. He’s having a down year in terms of shooting percentage, but he’s just a season removed from a 35-goal campaign.
Still, at 35 years old with three more years at $7 million, he doesn’t fit the Islanders’ competitive window. Same goes for Stamkos-though his shot is still elite, the cost and age don’t line up with where this team is headed.
Kotkaniemi and Mangiapane would be more about unloading contracts than upgrading a roster. That leaves two names that could make sense: Elias Pettersson and Blake Coleman.
Pettersson is a top-tier talent, no doubt. But he’s had a dip in form and carries a massive contract, making an in-season deal tough to pull off.
Coleman, on the other hand, could be a more realistic target. He’d bolster the bottom six and wouldn’t break the bank in terms of trade assets.
Plus, he’s got a connection to Darche from their days in Tampa Bay, where they won two Cups together.
Should the Islanders Even Make a Splash?
Here’s the big-picture question: is it the worst thing if the Islanders have a quiet deadline?
The only moves that make real sense are low-cost rentals like Coleman or a rare opportunity to land a player like Pettersson or Jordan Kyrou-guys who can help now and still fit into the long-term plan.
The Islanders hold two first-round picks in a 2026 draft class that’s widely viewed as strong. They don’t have a second-rounder-thanks to the Josh Bailey salary dump-but their prospect pool is finally starting to show some depth, and Bridgeport is in the playoff mix. That’s progress you don’t want to undo for a short-term fix.
Darche also has decisions to make on veterans Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, both set to hit free agency this summer. Trading your captain mid-season while sitting in a playoff spot?
That’s not happening. Pageau, on the other hand, could bring back a serious return-maybe even another first-rounder and a second-but he’s also a key part of this team’s DNA.
Moving him now would send a mixed message to the locker room.
It’s worth noting that Pageau hasn’t even appeared on trade boards this season. Lee was briefly listed early on, but quickly disappeared. That tells you something about how the league views their availability-and how the Islanders likely view their importance.
What Comes Next
As the Olympic Roster Freeze approaches, the trade market will shift. More teams will fall out of contention, and more players will become available. There’s still time for a big move to materialize, but the odds are slim.
For now, patience might be the smartest play. A quiet deadline doesn’t mean inaction-it means discipline. And in a market where prices are sky-high and the team is holding its own, that discipline could pay off in the long run.
If Darche can pull off a move that fits the window and doesn’t mortgage the future, he’ll make it. But forcing something just to make a splash? That’s not the move right now.
The Islanders are in the thick of the playoff race, and while they’re not perfect, they’re positioned well. Staying the course might not be flashy-but it just might be the right call.