Islanders plans for trade deadline revealed by insider

The New York Islanders are among the teams with the fewest representatives at this year’s Milano-Cortina Olympics. At the moment, Bo Horvat figures to be the only Isles player heading to the highly anticipated tourney.

That’s a good thing as it will allow the remainder of the team to rest and recover. But it will also offer the team an opportunity to take care of some crucial business. That’s what insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period revealed during the January 21 edition of Morning Cuppa Hockey.

During the appearance, Pagnotta discussed how the Islanders' management group would use the Olympic break to see the possibility of extensions for two key veterans, JG Pageau and captain Anders Lee.

He also discussed how adding to the club would be more of a strategic, long-term idea. He stated:

“They're going to spend part of the Olympic break trying to see whether a guy like JG Pageau or Anders Lee has some runway towards an extension; but regarding adding to this club, I think it's more long-term thinking.”

The comments are highly interesting as there has been plenty of speculation surrounding what fate could befall Pageau and Lee. Both were on early iterations of trade boards this season. But seeing how the Islanders are firmly in the playoff picture, it would make little sense to trade either veteran forward.

That said, Pageau and Lee are very much part of the Isles’ plans moving forward. Unless GM Mathieu Darche could get a significant haul for either one, it’s safe to say that neither Pageau nor Lee is going anywhere.

As for the precise terms of their extensions, that’s another story. The likelihood is that they’ll get shorter rather than longer-term extensions. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them get three or four-year deals.

That’s speculation, of course. So, it will be a matter of waiting for more information to trickle out once the league hits the Olympic break on February 4.