Islanders Make Splash

Gotta love trade deadline season. With the deadline approaching on Monday, the New York Islanders were on the market. They have been looking to make a move ever since losing their captain, Anders Lee to injury. Well, general manager Lou Lamorillo went to work, making a deal with his former club, the New Jersey Devils. New York snagged Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac in exchange for prospects A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, a 2021 first-round pick, and a 2022 conditional fourth-round pick. New Jersey also agreed that they will retain 50 percent of both Zajac and Palmieri’s salaries. This kind of move looked good for both teams actually.

From a Devils point of view, GM Tom Fitzgerald was able to snag a couple of draft picks and prospects for two guys who are going to be free agents at the end of this season anyway. Adding the draft picks gives New Jersey nine picks in the 2021 Draft to help build around an already budding core.

On a bigger scale, this move is a great one for the Islanders. They now add two more proven forwards into the mix, one of whom is a hometown kid. Kyle Palmieri is from Smithtown originally. By adding these two into the lineup, it adds more depth to an already solid hockey team. One that, at times, looks like it needs an injection of scoring punch to it. Zajac had 18 points in 33 games, while Palmieri had 17 points in 33 games. Good numbers, but not quite as great as they need, or have the potential to be. Zajac has been a 20 goal scorer in this league before, so we know he can put the puck in the back of the net. Palmieri has at least 24 or more in each of the last five seasons and was a 30 goal scorer in his first year in New Jersey in 2016. There's no doubt that he can score.

So now the question becomes, where do you put these guys in the lineup. Its only speculation at this point, we will actually find out tonight when the Islanders square off with the Flyers at 7 at the Coliseum. The way thinks look, at least in my mind, they would be the perfect fit together on the 3rd line with Jean Gabriel Pageau in the middle. Keep Barzal and Eberle together, same thing with Bailey and Nelson. You can then put Wahlstrom and Beauvillier on either the top or second line other wing. Smart money would be put Beau with Barzal and Eberle and keep Wahlstrom with Bailey and Nelson.

We will see how things actually shape up, but so far its looking promising. And with the deadline not until Monday, who knows. There could still be more moves to be made.