New York Islanders Dennis Seidenberg Trade Deadline Fodder

The New York Islanders just can’t seem to commit to making the playoffs or not, falling short on two separate occasions this season. Staying where they are come the trade deadline could see the team do but a minor move: ship out Dennis Seidenberg.

Acquiring Dennis Seidenberg over the summer was a strange move by New York Islanders GM Garth Snow. Here was a 35-year-old defenceman who was just bought out by his previous club.

He was expendable to the Bruins, so what could he do for the Islanders? He was cheap. At $1 million he wasn’t a big hit on the cap. But what could he offer except maybe keep Ryan Pulock or Adam Pelech from the lineup?

And then Dennis Seidenberg scored eight points in eight games between October 21st and November 5th. Making all of that doubted the move -including myself- at least think twice.

New York Islanders

Going into the trade deadline there’s one asset that teams thinking they could make a run are looking for, defensive depth. That or clutch forward and elite centermen. But the Isles don’t have of those last two they’d be willing to give up.

Why Move Him?

Seidenberg, as previously mentioned, is on a one-year $1 million deal. He’s also, getting pretty darn long in the tooth. He’s a spring chicken compared to Jaromir Jagr, but then again who isn’t?

The Islanders aren’t likely to bring him back next season. Both Pulock and Pelech are going to be justified in their expectations to make the active roster next season. Pelech has already slotted in nicely in the Islanders defense, and Ryan Pulock is dominating the AHL in Bridgeport.

The Islanders have sacrificed $1 million of their cap this season to acquire Seidenberg, why not let him make another cup run and bring in another asset?

To Whom and For What?

Looking at the wild-card standings right now I see Columbus as a potential candidate for a number of reasons.

The first being that their defensive core has no one with a Stanley Cup ring on their fingers. To NHL teams that means a lot. Teams like having a guy who knows what it’s like to go through the motions of a Cup run to shepherd along the rest of the defence. Jack Johnson has the most playoff experience on this team with 18 post-season games across three different season with LA and Columbus.

Then, for a team like Columbus, who’s looking to legitimize that ridiculous regular season run, a deep playoff push is a must.

So what do the Isles want in return? Just a draft pick. At best a second, but a third will do just fine.

Next: Big Decision Looms With a Big Road Trip for Isles

We’ve seen Garth Snow work some magic in packaging draft picks and turning them into two first-round picks in the 2014 draft. Adding a second and a third to his draft asset list could help him. Maybe he packages it together for a bigger trade. Either way, Garth got Seidenberg for nothing, trading him for a draft asset is a net win for the Islanders.