Islanders: Top 3 trade targets for 2020-21 offseason

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Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello of the New Your Islanders (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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.

Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets takes the first period shot against the New York Islanders (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Patrik Laine | Winnipeg Jets

2019-20 Stats: 28G, 35A, 63pts

Why go after Laine?

In his first two years in the league, Laine put up 80 goals. Laine was drafted because of his incredible shot and his ability to uncork that great shot from just about anywhere on the ice. And in those first two years, he showed that.

Laine had a down year in his third season, but he’s picked it up again this year putting up 28 goals and 35 helpers for a pace of 73 points. That would have been a career year for the second overall pick in 2016 if not for the season being cut short.

Laine is exactly what the Islanders need.

The big 6’5″ 206lbs winger will return 30+ goals in a season. He’s also great on the power play hitting 52 power play goals since he entered the league. Only Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak have more goals on the man-advantage.

Again, he’s exactly what the New York Islanders need.

Oh and Laine shoots right. Yet another reason he fits exactly with what that Isles are looking for.

Why it won’t work?

It’s going to take a lot to get him.

The Islanders would have to give up a top-four defenseman, a good prospect like Kieffer Bellows, and more. How much more is going to depend on who that top four defender is.

Laine also has one year left on a $6.75 million deal. To bring him in the Isles are going to need to clear enough space for that deal. But then what happens next year? If Laine hits the heights we know he can he’s easily a $9 million player after Jeff Skinner’s deal with Buffalo last season.

With Sorokin, Anthony Beauvillier, and Adam Pelech to re-sign next year adding another $9 million to the cap complicates things once again.

Although, if the Isles are two games away from the Stanley Cup finals without a Laine-esque player maybe Lou ignores that issue until he has to deal with it next offseason.

Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Nikolaj Ehlers | Winnipeg Jets

2019-20 Stats: 25G, 33A, 58pts

Why go after Ehlers?

Ehlers has been in the league five years and has put up three (ish) 60 point seasons. This season should have been his third 60 point year. His 58 points in 71 games put him on pace for a 67 point season. Like, Laine, that would have been a career year.

The shifty winger would do well lining up next to Mathew Barzal on the Islanders top line that his current linemate. Anders Lee is a good player, but he’s not exactly a good complimentary player for the Isles speedy center.

Ehlers would also give the Isles another option to lug the puck up the ice aside from Barzal.

Add those nearly guaranteed 60 points Ehlers scores and he’d be a great addition to the Islanders lineup. With a $6 million cap hit through the next five years, Ehlers has some great cost certainty.

Why it won’t work?

Cost certainty has value in any year, let alone in the flat cap era we find ourselves in now. Just like Laine, the package the Islanders would have to send over to the Winnipeg Jets for Ehlers services would have to be considerable.

I flip-flop between Laine and Ehlers. Both are players the Islanders should be looking to acquire but both bring very different styles to the table. Laine as a pure sniper seems perfect, but Ehlers as a goal-scorer and playmaker as well as a good complimentary player for Barzal seems just as perfect.

Andreas Athanasiou #28 of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Andreas Athanasiou | Edmonton Oilers

2019-20 Stats: 11G, 15A, 26Pts

Why go after Athanasiou?

He’s fast and he can score goals and Edmonton, who just acquired him at the trade deadline, is ready to move him. It seems that after 13 games with two points, the Oilers just realized they don’t have the money to keep him around.

Just to keep his RFA rights, the Oilers would have to offer Athanasiou a $3 million qualifying offer. And the Oilers just don’t have the room to make that work if Athanasiou signs. So now they’re looking to move him.

The cost is easily going to be much lower than the two second-round picks Edmonton paid at the deadline to get him. Teams know they could just wait Edmonton out and try to get Athanasiou as a free agent after October 7.

Athanasiou is a former 30 goal scorer. He put 54 points just last season. Athanasiou could be a great budget option for Lou Lamoriello to land.

Why it won’t work?

The issue with him is that he’s only ever scored 30 goals once and never came close to a 30 goal season before or after. His next best haul was in 2016-17 when he scored 18 goals. Acquiring Athanasiou would be risky even if the cost is low.

If the Islanders are going to take a risk on a player wouldn’t it be wiser to just use one of the players in our system who will cost less than a third of Athanasiou’s cap hit?

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