New York Islanders Set to Make a Big Splash In Trade Market

Year after year the rumors surrounding the New York Islanders have been endless. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, James Van Riemsdyk and Matt Duchene are just a few of the names that come to mind when you think of “former future Islanders.”

From each trade deadline to the dog days of summer fans have been aching for a big move to get the New York Islanders to that exclusive next level to compete with the likes of Pittsburgh and Washington. Over the next few weeks, the Islanders are GUARANTEED to finally make that big acquisition and here’s why!

John Tavares

Every New York Islanders fan on the planet knows that the captain and face of the franchise will be a free agent after the 2017-2018 season. Having John Tavares sign an extension is without a doubt the number one priority going into the offseason.

The Islanders must find Tavares a winger to entice him to put the pen to the paper and remain an Islander for the next eight years.

When Tavares and his agent meet with Islanders brass most of the discussion will revolve around length and money. Tavares deserves to be paid like an elite player in his league.

If the Islanders won’t give him that money, someone else will. Snow will have to show Tavares that winning is a priority. Tavares will force Snow’s hand into finally getting the forward we have all been waiting for.

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Expansion Draft

Over the next few weeks, Islanders management will be putting together the list of players protected in the upcoming expansion draft. NHL teams have the option to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender or eight total skaters (forwards/defenseman) and one goaltender.

As of now, the Islanders will protect Travis Hamonic in the expansion draft or he will be chosen by Vegas for obvious reasons. If the Islanders are going to trade for an elite forward, Hamonic will almost certainly be involved in the deal. Why would the Islanders want to waste a protected spot on someone they are going to move?

This will promote Snow to trade Hamonic for that forward before the expansion draft. Management can then protect that new forward as well as another defenseman and prevent someone like Calvin De Haan from being left out to dry.

Snow and Owners

After last season, Snow is lucky to still have his job and he knows it. He might not last much longer if the Islanders have another disappointing season in 2017-2018. With his job on the line, Snow will finally be desperate to improve the team, for selfish reasons.

In the first season of the Ledecky/ Malkin era, the Islanders were simply not good. The new owners vowed to leave the GM job to Snow but that could be in question. They will without a doubt look to improve the team.

Next: Trading for Jordan Eberle make more sense

Islanders fans have consistently been a disappointment on the trade market, but this will finally be the summer the team gets the forward they have been waiting for.