The New York Islanders made it to the NHL’s Final 4 in consecutive season back in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Since then, they haven’t won a playoff round and currently sit 4 points out of a playoff spot battling 8 teams for 3 slots. Much like his cross-town colleague Chris Drury, Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello attempted to walk the fine line between trying to sneak into the playoffs and obtaining value for his veterans.
Unlike Drury, Lamoriello continues to show incredible loyalty to his vets, holding on to Casey Cizikas, JG Pageau and Kyle Palmieri despite it being a seller’s market. Lamoriello’s three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, and his work building the Toronto Maple Leafs into a regular season powerhouse, make you want to give him the benefit of the doubt.
However, from the outside looking in, this appears to have been a missed opportunity to take advantage of the outlandish prices that teams were paying for proven playoff performers. Nonetheless, the signing of Tony DeAngelo in January was a master stroke, and the return for Brock Nelson was quite good, giving the Islanders a passing grade.
Lamoriello’s Final Grade: C
NEW YORK ISLANDERS TRADE DEADLINE RECAP
Forwards the Islanders traded:
William Dufour (AHL)
Brock Nelson
Forwards the Islanders acquired:
Adam Beckman (AHL)
Calum Ritchie (OHL)
Defensemen the Islanders traded:
Dennis Cholowski
Defensemen the Islanders acquired:
Tony DeAngelo (free agent signee)
Draft Picks the Islanders traded:
2026 5th Round Pick
Draft Picks the Islanders acquired:
2026 1st Round Pick (if Colorado’s 2025 1st round pick transfers to the Philadelphia Flyers in a separate deal, or Colorado’s 2026 1st round pick is in the Top 10, then the Islanders receive Colorado’s 2027 1st round pick instead).
2028 3rd Round Pick (conditional if Colorado wins the 2025 Stanley Cup and Brock Nelson plays in 50% of Colorado’s playoff games).
