Islanders trade deadline may disappoint fans

The New York Islanders trade deadline plans may disappoint fans. It would be nice to hear the Isles in on players like Rasmus Andersson or even Kiefer Sherwood. But the fact is that making a major splash for such players may not be the wisest move at this point.

The rationale is simple: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Islanders have been good all season despite missing their best defenseman. They’ve also hung tough without Bo Horvat. Plus, the devastating loss of Kyle Palmieri has not derailed the Islanders’ season

Of course, the Isles would be much better with Palmieri and Romanov, but they’ve managed to get by without them.

That situation means that trading valuable pieces at this point for the sake of making waves is not in the team’s best interest. If there is a major trade in the works, it should be one that augments the club’s chances of solidifying its playoff position.

Trading for the sake of trading doesn’t make long-term sense. The club has made enough strides this season to preclude major changes.

Islanders could add around the fringes at the deadline

So, what could the Islanders do at the deadline?

Well, there’s plenty. For starters, depth on the blue line could be a big step forward. The loss of Romanov has forced a revolving door on the back end. So, adding a solid sixth defenseman would be a good place to start.

Also, some more depth in the bottom six would be great. While a top-six forward would be great, not many will likely be available at the deadline. If one such player landed on Mathieu Darche’s lap, great. Otherwise, looking for depth on the third and fourth lines would be a decent boost.

The point is to avoid jettisoning draft picks and prospects now for veteran rentals. If those rentals don’t come at a high price, that’s fine. But paying multiple draft picks for players who may not re-sign in the offseason doesn’t make sense.

The Isles are not in a position now where a veteran rental works for them. The Isles are poised for a good playoff run. But they’re not quite in a position where going all-in on someone like Artemi Panarin is a sensible choice.

There’s room more a major splash. But that should be an offseason conversation, at a point where cooler heads prevail, free from trade deadline pressures.