New York Islanders: 3 Avoidable Trade Deadline Mistakes

The trade deadline is one week away. Here are three things the New York Islanders have to avoid doing to have an unsuccessful trade deadline.

The trade deadline is one of the most exciting times for hockey fans. So much is going on leading up to the day, and mayhem ensues as teams try to improve for a playoff push. The New York Islanders have to avoid the trade deadline letdown though.

For a long time, the Islanders have been inept at trying to make their team better via the trade at the deadline. Here are the last five guys acquired at or near the deadline via trade; Brandon Davidson, Chris Wagner, Shane Prince, Tyler Kennedy, Michal Neuvirth.

Zero of those guys are impact players, and in each of those years, the Islanders were either trying to get into the playoffs or improve their already playoff caliber team. A lot of that falls on Garth Snow, naturally, but Lou Lamoriello has to avoid the same issues his predecessor had.

Lou Lamoriello has a real chance to improve this team and make them legit contenders in the Eastern Conference. He cannot afford to mess it up like Garth did for all those years. Here are the three things he has to avoid come February 25.