Islanders looking at trade market for third line winger (Rumor)

If the New York Islanders have a weakness on the roster right now, it’s on the third line. It’s not center Jean-Gabriel Pageau who already has nine goals and 15 points on the year. And it’s not right-winger Oliver Wahlstrom either. It’s that left-wing spot.

The Islanders have been alternating a few options on the third line namely Michael Dal Colle and Leo Komarov. But neither player seems to be truly working in that position. So it seems that Lou is looking to the trade market to address that issue.

New York Islanders in the market for third liner

According to the Fourth Period, Lou is actively looking for a third-line winger. One of the players he’s apparently looking at is Brett Connolly from the Florida Panthers. Connolly had two solid years playing under Barry Trotz with the Washington Capitals.

In those two years (2016-17 and 2017-18), Connolly scored 30 goals and 50 points across 116 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Connolly played a strong bottom-six role in the Capitals march to the Stanley Cup.

It seems, at least according to the Fourth Period, that Leo Komarov could go the other way but that the Panthers would have to sweeten the deal due to the cap.

Connolly is on the books for $3.5 million over the next two years while Leo is on the books for $3 million for this season and next. Connolly is six years Komarov’s junior and has 79 points over his two previous seasons. So there could be an upside to Connolly over Komarov. At least on the ice.

The fact that Connolly carries an extra $0.5 million on the cap for another two years after this season is a big problem. And it’s not as if that “on ice upside” I mentioned is a guarantee. Connolly is on Florida’s taxi squad with three points from 16 games.

Who says the Islanders don’t get that Connolly?

If the Islanders are going to add to their cap hit it should be for more than a maybe like Connolly. To me, this trade only works if the Islanders can also find a home for Thomas Hickey. Even then I’d question this type of pick-up.