Islanders: Top 3 trade targets for 2020-21 offseason

With the offseason now here the New York Islanders turn their attention to 2020-21 and the trade market.

The New York Islanders are now transitioning from a Stanley Cup hunt to offseason mode. This is an offseason that could decide if the Islanders continue their momentum towards a fifth cup or not.

Going into 2020-21 the Islanders need goalscoring badly. Specifically, they need someone who can step into the top-six and put up 25+ goals a season. t’s the one area the Islanders desperately need to improve. With 242 goals scored since Barry Trotz took over, the Isles rank 25th for offense generated in the league.

Only one team has worse offensive numbers but have faired better than the Isles and that’s the Dallas Stars.

With a flat cap, three important RFAs to re-sign, and with only $8.905 million in projected cap space, finding improvements will be difficult. Of course, the Islanders could look inwards for a goal scorer. Guys like Kieffer Bellows or Oliver Wahlstrom could be moved up from the Islanders system and into the NHL squad.

But as rookies, it may be too much to expect either Bellows or Wahlstrom to step into an established top-six and put up that type of performance. They may be looking elsewhere for that help. Like the trade market.

So I’ve got a top three trade targets for the Isles to pursue this offseason. I didn’t pull these names out of a hat. All three are noted in the Athletic’s 22 man trade bait board (subscription required) and/or TSN’s trade bait board.