New York Islanders: Sell and Sell High at Trade Deadline

The NHL trade deadline is just around the corner, which means teams have already started making trades. And from what we’ve seen it’s a sellers market. So, the New York Islanders should do the sensible thing and SELL!

Yesterday I wrote that the New York Islanders had three options at the trade deadline, buy, sell, or sit back and wait for the trade deadline. But after some initial trades have come out, I’m ready to put all of my eggs in the “sell” basket.

Let’s look back at the few big time deals that have been made so far. The first was Arizona’s Martin Hanzal, Ryan White, and a fourth round pick in 2017, going to Minnesota for a first round pick in 2017, a second round pick in 2018, and a conditional pick in 2019.

A second round pick for Ryan White is generous, but a first round pick for Martin Hanzal is almost absurd. Hanzal has never scored more than 41 points in a season. And averages just under a penalty minute per game over his entire career. But, has pretty good faceoff numbers at 56.02% this season.

New York Islanders

I’d love to see what perennial Selky candidate, all-star, and ~60% faceoff man Patrice Bergeron would fetch in this market.

Trade for a No.1 When you Have a No.1

Then there’s the trade for Ben Bishop to Los Angeles. A team that is no need for a number one starter, because they already have one in Johnathan Quick.

The Kings sent Peter Budaj, Erik Cernak, a seventh round in 2017 and a conditional pick in 2017, for Ben Bishop and a fifth-round draft pick. Oh, and the lightning retained $1.19 million of Bishop’s cap.

Everyone knew that Tampa Bay was shopping Bishop before the Vegas expansion, but that generally means that the price goes down rather than increases. Think about it. The Kings picked up Bishop, who’s on an expiring $4.76 million contract (after what Tampa is paying) and has averaged a pedantic 2.55 GAA and .911 SV% this season.

In return, the Kings sent a backup to Tampa who has better numbers this season with a 2.12 GAA and 9.17 SV%, and carries a significantly lighter cap hit at $600,000, a promising defensive prospect, and a draft pick.

Get in On It

That’s why the New York Islanders need to get in on this feeding frenzy with some of the players they have. When I say “sell” I don’t mean “everything but the kitchen sink”. I mean that Isles should maximize the assets they currently have.

That means players like Dennis Seidenberg. He’s on an expiring $1 million contract and provides a lot of the qualities teams looking to make a push for a cup want. Depth production and a ring on his finger.

The Isles sacrificed nothing to get him here but the $1 million in salary. So see what they can get on the open trade market. I wrote a while back that a second round pick would be nice. But now I’m thinking a second round pick would be exactly what he’s worth.

More from Eyes on Isles: Dennis Seidenberg Should Be Trade Deadline Fodder

How about Stephen Gionta? Yet another player the Islanders sacrificed nothing to get. Try and parlay that into a third round pick. A fourth would be just fine. But again, the Isles get two things in return from either trades.

First is a draft pick they didn’t have before, and secondly, it opens a spot on the roster for a youngster.

Calling Pulock and Barzal

With either player gone from the roster, after being cordially thanked for their service and time, of course, the likes of Ryan Pulock and Matthew Barzal could make their triumphant returns to the lineup.

Pulock is absolutely dominant in the AHL and doesn’t seem to be gaining anything from his time in Bridgeport. And the same goes for Matthew Barzal in the WHL. Unlike Pulock, Barzal can’t go to the AHL.

Next: Doug Weight: Accountability Is Thy Name

So how does a free draft pick and making space for two promising youngsters sound? To me that sounds like the best win-win possible. It’s not like the Isles were going to sign Seidenberg and Gionta to extensions anyways.