Gotham-and-area goings on are adding intrigue to the NHL’s March 6 trade deadline, not to mention the roster freeze that is one week away.
The New York Islanders pulled off deals on successive days with their New York City and area rivals in an attempt to solidify their playoff hopes.
After acquiring defenseman Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers on Monday for a third-round pick, the Islanders turned to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and acquired forward Ondrej Palat along with a third-round pick and sixth-round selection in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov.
For the Islanders, Soucy added much-needed depth on defense, especially with a pair of rearguards on the shelf in Ryan Pulock (day-to-day) and Alexander Romanov expected to be out until around May.
The Islanders, currently third in the Metropolitan Division, are also hoping the struggling Palat — whose contract with a $6 million cap hit runs through next season — can regain the touch that made him a key part of two Stanley Cup titles with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It is a bold strategy to believe Palat, who turns 35 in March, can turn around his game, but give the Islanders credit for trying something to re-ignite their woeful-of-late scoring depth.
What the trades mean to the other parties are wise moves as well.
The Rangers, who have fallen off the cliff for good this season, are in sell-off mode. Moving Soucy is the first of what should be a handful of moves, with forward Artemi Panarin pegged to be the biggest name headed out of Madison Square Garden.
What direction the Devils take from this point is less obvious.
On one hand, acquiring Tsyplakov — who, despite his skillset, has managed only one goal and one assist in 27 games during his second NHL season — not only makes the Devils slightly younger, but also provides more salary cap room. Tsyplakov, 27, carries a $2.25 million cap hit through next season.
In turn, the Devils have a couple of options while sitting five points back of a playoff position.
New Jersey, which is looking to find a taker for defenseman Dougie Hamilton and his contract worth $9 million per season through the 2027–28 campaign, is not ready to throw in the towel on the season — yet.
Nobody would be shocked if the Devils became aggressive before the Olympic roster freeze in the hopes of turning things around immediately. One name that springs to mind is Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman, who would provide a significant upgrade to their third line — or even the second line — as well as their middling penalty kill.
It remains to be seen whether the Devils would be willing to part with the pieces needed to bring Coleman, signed through next season, back to New Jersey. He was drafted by the Devils and spent a handful of seasons with the club before being traded to Tampa Bay, where he won two Stanley Cups alongside Palat. However, the Devils and Flames have completed several trades over the past three seasons, so the clubs have a working relationship to build upon.
Then again, the Devils are also well-positioned to pivot if nothing comes together quickly enough and they continue to flounder.
New Jersey could just as easily become a seller. For example, if forward Dawson Mercer and a high draft pick fail to land an offensive forward capable of providing much-needed punch, Mercer could instead be flipped for prospects and/or picks for the future.
Bet on the Devils pursuing Plan A in hopes of salvaging a playoff spot — but definitely brace yourself for more action.
