Islanders laying the groundwork for strong playoff push

The last 48 hours or so have been interesting for the New York Islanders. The Carson Soucy and Ondrej Palat trades have been shrewd moves by Mathieu Darche insofar as taking advantage of other teams’ tough spots, while spurring the current core to keep pushing.

Getting two depth pieces for practically nothing, in fact, actually gaining a sixth-round draft pick, is a pretty good example of how effective general managing.

That said, the moves signal one key issue: The Islanders are laying the groundwork for a strong playoff push. The moves are an evident signal that the Islanders are not looking to make a massive move like other teams. For instance, the Isles are not in a position to go all-in on a player like Quinn Hughes.

It’s not that the Islanders couldn’t pull off such a move. It’s that they don’t need to. If you run down the typical playoff contender’s checklist, the Islanders tick off all the boxes.

A first-line center? Check. Bo Horvat. Top-six scoring threats? Check. Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Anders Lee. Second-line center? Check. Barzal or JG Pageau. Top-pairing blueliner? Check. Alexander Romanov (though he’s still mending). Shutdown defensemen? Double check. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. Starting goalie? Check that, too. Ilya Sorokin.

The names on that list may not compare to other marquee names like Connor McDavid in Edmonton or Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. But the Islanders are the sort of team that can do massive damage in the postseason.

That’s why the focus on this trade deadline season is to bolster the club's current depth. Unless an unbelievable trade landed on the Islanders’ laps, there’s really no sense in pushing it.

Are Islanders done making trades this season?

The short answer is no. The Islanders are not likely done adding. Darche surely has a wishlist that most likely includes another top-six winger and potentially another solid defensive option. Perhaps a middle-six center might tickle the team’s fancy.

But that’s why the long answer is that it depends. It depends on the targets out there, and, most importantly, the price tag attached to them. Middle-six centers like the St. Louis Blues' Pius Suter have been rattling around the rumor mill. But Suter won’t likely come cheap. And that’s what might have the Islanders sit back and weigh their options.

The Isles may be done dealing before the Olympic break. But you have to think they’ll keep a pulse on the situation after the Olympics. By that point, perhaps other teams may raise the white flag on their seasons and begin selling off.

At that point, other interesting names may become available, suggesting new trade opportunities. We shall see…