The New York Islanders clearly had a plan entering the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
The goal of general manager Lou Lamoriello, whose team sits four points out of a wild-card spot, was to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent forwards Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
Lamoriello was unable to retain Nelson, who reportedly turned down a three-year deal at around $7.5 million annually.
So, with no deal in place, the Islanders sent Nelson and prospect William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for their top prospect, Calum Ritchie, and picks:
Full trade (easier on the eyes):
To #Isles: F Calum Ritchie, 2026 or 2027 1st, 2028 conditional 3rd, D Oliver Kylington
To #GoAvsGo: F Brock Nelson, F William Dufour
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) March 7, 2025
That was the first and only move the Islanders made on the day, but it was an important one.
Lamoriello was advantageous in this scenario. He couldn’t lose Nelson for nothing. He couldn’t repeat the John Tavares saga, and got a future haul for his aging goal scorer.
The lack of moves raised some eyebrows, as many believed they could cash in on Palmieri, along with other names like Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee for draft capital and prospects.
Palmieri is expected to sign a two-to-three-year extension worth $4-$5 million annually. We do not expect an announcement today.
The Islanders also have a logjam on the backend, with eight defensemen rostered and Mike Reilly getting close to a potential return.
It’s unlikely that all three newcomers — Tony DeAngelo (UFA), Adam Boqvist (RFA) and Scott Perunovich (RFA) — will be back with the team next season, which means one or two will likely walk out of Long Island for free, unless their rights are moved at the 2025 NHL Draft.
While the Islanders looked to the future with the addition of Ritchie, their lack of other moves means they very much remain in the present.
But, let’s be clear. Whether Lamoriello wanted to sell or not, the organization took a step in the right direction regarding a retool.
We’ll see if the Islanders do anything in the offseason to alter their future when the cap rises exponentially.
Let’s also be clear. Lamoriello wasn’t planning and didn’t wave the white flag on the season. They will do what they can to make the playoffs without their most consistent goal scorer over the last five years.
Was this the right approach? Should the Islanders have done more to retool?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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