Islanders make depth trade swapping defense for offense

The New York Islanders made some noise amongst all the craziness by trading a depth defender for a depth forward with the Colorado Avalanche.

The New York Islanders haven’t been very active since the free agency period opened. Sorry, by not very active I mean not active at all.

The Islanders have made no signings and no trades so far. Actaulyl, they signed Sebastian Aho to a two year deal.

To be fair, the Isles made the Eastern Conference Finals this season after making the Eastern Conference semifinals the year before. But with very little cap space and some big RFAs to sign, Lou has to do something.

Today the Islanders broke their silence by making a move. It was a depth move but a move none-the-less. Defenseman Kyle Burroughs was sent to the Colorado Avalanche and in return the Isles got forward A.J. Greer. Both players are RFAs.

Needed Offense

Sure, it’s a depth move, but it’s one the organization needed at the lower level.

A.J. Greer comes to the Islanders having scored 32 points in 47 games with the Colorado Eagles in 2019-20. That would lead the 2019-20 Bridgeport Sound Tigers who’s top scorer was sophomore professional Kieffer Bellows with his 22 goals and 31 points.

Going to Colorado is right-handed defenseman Kyle Burroughs who’s been with the Islanders organization since 2013-14. In those five years Burroughs played primarily in the AHL, with only a short stint in the ECHL back in 15-16 for 18 games.

The Isles made a move from a position of depth. With Burroughs, the Isles had seven blueliners in the AHL. Moving one to bring in a guy like Greer make sense.

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were the  worst team in the NHL last season by record and the worst offensive team with only 152 goals scored. Greer has scored 127 points in 199 AHL games since 2016-17. He’ll give the Sound Tigers an offensive kick they desperately need for the 2020-21 season. Whenever that happens to be.