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New York Islanders Roundtable: Good Return for Halak

Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) stops a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) stops a shot in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey (14) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Anthony Beauvillier puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number twenty-eight overall pick to the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Anthony Beauvillier puts on a team jersey after being selected as the number twenty-eight overall pick to the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt O’Leary

If the Islanders decide to move Jaroslav Halak the return they get wouldn’t be good for the now. What I mean is, although ultimately you would want a winger to plug right in and go, in return for Halak, that is extremely unlikely.

If you look at some teams that could use a goalie like Dallas or Carolina there isn’t someone on their roster who is expendable that jumps off the page as someone that would be a difference maker to this Islanders team.

If the Islanders trade Halak it should be for a prospect. If there’s one thing the Islanders have its prospects. Forward prospects? Got em. Defensive prospects? Got those too. Goalie prospects? Ever hear of Illya Sorokin?

So although the Islanders could use an “impact” forward they aren’t likely to get one from this deal. But, if they can get a prospect that they can then flip in the offseason for a scorer now we have a different story.

There are only so many forward slots available, do you really think we will see Mathew Barzal, Michael Dal Colle, Joshua Ho-Sang, Anthony Beauvillier, Kieffer Bellows, Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson, and John Tavares on the ice at the same time? No way!

That’s the thing with prospects, a. not all of them pan out and b. it’s okay to trade some for a big time player if you have the kind of prospect depth that the Islanders do. So although trading Halak for a prospect isn’t impactful for the team at the moment, it can help them stockpile some prospects to help them in a deal down the line.

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