Islanders 2020 trade deadline buyer profile: Isles still need scoring

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 22: Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The 2020 trade deadline is just around the corner. The New York Islanders are shaping up to be buyers at the deadline. What are they after and what are they willing to trade?

Maybe this time the New York Islanders will use the trade deadline to bring in some much-needed talent? The Islanders famously used the 2019 trade deadline to do absolutely nothing. Not a thing.

While players like Mark Stone, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Dzingel, and Matt Duchene were all traded (all could have been helpful for the Isles) the Islanders didn’t bring anyone in.

Technically, they signed Dennis Seidenberg to a contract until the end of the season. Seidenberg had been skating with the team on a PTO all season.

Lou didn’t want to break the chemistry that had been forming in the locker room so he didn’t budge at the deadline even though the Islanders desperately needed help scoring goals. A need that was abundantly clear in the second round of the 2019 playoffs where the Isles got swept after scoring five goals across four games.

This year we’re all hoping it’s going to be different. We hope that Lou Lamoriello will use the trade deadline to strengthen the roster as the team gears up for another playoff run.

So with that in mind, here’s what the New York Isladners are looking for at the 2020 trade deadline and what they’d be willing to part with in order to get what they need.

SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 28: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Florida Panthers prepares for a face-off against the Montreal Canadiens at the BB&T Center on December 28, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. Montreal defeated Florida 5-3. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

What are they after?

Top-Six Winger

The Isles need scoring, badly. For the last year and a half they’ve ranked in the bottom half of the NHL in terms of goals-for. This year, they rank 21st in the league with 163 goals for.

It’s just not enough for a team with championship aspirations. The Islanders need to bring in a player that can put up 20-30 goals to add to the top-six to give them that cutting edge.

Possible targets: Mike Hoffman, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Toffoli

Depth Defenseman

Adam Pelech isn’t coming back anytime soon. That’s a big miss for the Islanders. Noah Dobson has stepped into the lineup and is playing every night. But with ice time wavering between eight and 15 minutes, it’s clear that Barry doesn’t have complete faith in the rookie yet.

Getting a veteran blueliner who can play on the PK and share the load by playing closer to 20 minutes would do some good.

With Thomas Hickey likely getting back on the ice this weekend in the AHL, they may already have a depth defenseman they can bring in for free.

Possible targets: Ron Hainsey, Brenden Dillon, Andy Greene

Center?

With Casey Cizkias out now 3-4 weeks with a leg laceration, the Islanders center depth is significantly weakened. Derick Brassard has his good days down the middle for the Isles on the third line, but he also has days where he’s completely anonymous out there. Unfortunately, the latter is more common than the former.

Playing Brassard has brought out the best in him. If the Islanders can bring in a true third line center they could more Brassard up to the wing with Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson, where he’s more impactful.

Possible targets: Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Chris Tierney, Kyle Turris

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: Otto Koivula #21 of the New York Islanders skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

What are they willing to give up?

Picks

Any of the Islanders draft picks are fair game. There’s no reason for Lou Lamoriello to hold onto any draft picks if the right player comes along. There’s just no reason.

It made sense back in 2018 to hold onto draft picks. Lou didn’t know what he had on the roster at that point. But with almost two years at the helm, he should know what he has and what he’s missing.

The Islanders are in “win-now” mode and could be a real contender if they can bring in the right talent. Building for the future has to take a back seat for now.

Prospects

Who are the Islanders not willing to give up is the better way to look at this.

Oliver Wahlstrom and Ilya Sorokin are the only two untouchable prospects in the system right now. And that counts Kieffer Bellows.

With Bellows, Otto Koivula, Bode Wilde, and Ruslan Iskhakov the Islanders have a number of prospects that other teams could use to build towards the future.

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Roster Players

Josh Bailey doesn’t have any trade protection. If the Isles need to even out a transaction on the cap front, Josh Bailey could very well go.

He’s a versatile pro who’s been in the league since 2008. On a young team, Josh Bailey could be a big asset. It

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