The New York Rangers and New York Islanders are reportedly working on a rare cross-town trade that would send defenseman Carson Soucy to Long Island - a move that could mark the first domino to fall in the Rangers’ recently announced retool.
Soucy, 31, is in the final year of his contract and is slated to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. With the Rangers shifting gears toward reshaping their roster, his name has surfaced as a likely candidate to be moved - and it looks like that moment may be arriving.
While nothing has been finalized yet, momentum is clearly building. Soucy is expected to be scratched from the lineup tonight for roster management reasons, a classic sign that trade discussions are entering the final stages. The deal would send him to the Islanders, a team looking to add depth and experience on the back end as they aim to solidify their playoff positioning.
Soucy’s season so far has been steady, if not flashy. In 46 games with the Rangers, he’s recorded three goals and five assists, along with 18 penalty minutes.
He’s not the type of player who’s going to light up the scoreboard, but that’s not why teams want him. At 6-foot-5, he brings a physical presence and reliable defensive play - the kind of veteran blue-liner who can eat minutes, kill penalties, and bring some edge to a third pairing.
What makes this potential trade even more intriguing is the inter-city dynamic. The Rangers and Islanders don’t often do business together - and when they do, it tends to raise eyebrows. But with the Rangers clearly entering a transitional phase and the Islanders looking to shore up their depth, the fit makes sense.
It also signals that the Rangers aren’t done. Reports indicate that the front office has been in conversations with other teams about a number of players, including high-profile names like Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. While there’s no indication that either of those two is on the verge of being moved, the Soucy deal could be the first step in a broader roster shake-up.
For now, all eyes are on the transaction wire as the Rangers and Islanders work out the final details. If the deal goes through, it would mark a notable shift in the Rangers’ approach - and give the Islanders a dependable piece for the stretch run.