2 Off-Season Trade Targets for the NY Islanders

It's been three seasons since the NY Islanders have advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a roster that has remained relatively the same.

Lou Lamoriello has expressed his belief in this team over and over, but this team's core isn't getting younger. The window to win isn't closed but it's no longer wide open. There needs to be some change within the roster but making any trades won't be easy due to the Islanders depleted prospect pool and lack of cap space.

The organization doesn't have a prospect selected in the first round anywhere within the pipeline with Calle Odelius, Danny Nelson, and Ruslan Iskhakov being the highest-selected players, all picked in the second round.

The one thing the Islanders have in their holster is this year's first-round pick. In 2022, Lamoriello moved the team's first-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a then 22-year-old Alexander Romanov. Romanov has already proven to be an integral part of this team and will continue to be over the years.

The Islanders haven't made a first-round pick since 2019, and the consensus is that the team will look to move this year's pick rather than make a selection, preferably for a top-6 forward.

While bringing in a player of Mitch Marner's caliber would make an immediate impact, his $10.9M cap isn't feasible for the Islanders without a complete roster retooling.

Here are two sensible forward options for the Islanders to explore in the trade market:

Marco Rossi

Bringing in a player like Marco Rossi would check off multiple boxes for the Islanders with a single trade. Turning 23 years old a month before the 2024-25 season, Rossi is a former first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild, who GM Bill Guerin may be willing to listen to offers on according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

A highly touted prospect after being selected 19th overall in 2020, Rossi struggled in his recovery from COVID-19, impacting his timeline for an NHL debut. With all complications cleared up, Rossi just finished his first full NHL season, appearing in 82 games, scoring 21 goals, and adding 19 assists.

Rossi centered the Wild's second line for most of the season, and while the Islanders have many centers at their disposal, it's hard to argue against the addition of one turning 23 years old. If the Islanders were to acquire Rossi, Patrick Roy has options where to deploy him. He's still young enough to be transitioned to the wing, or he can be kept at center and slide Brock Nelson to the first-line wing, where there was some success earlier this season alongside Barzal and Horvat.

Rossi's age is what would make him so desirable for the Islanders. As the roster currently stands, the only players under 30 years old within the top 6 are Barzal and Horvat, with Horvat turning 30 at the end of next season. The Islanders need an influx of young, skilled forwards, with Rossi fitting the bill. Like the Romanov trade, it would be like using that first-round pick on a 22-year-old ready to slot immediately into the lineup.

The Wild could see a lot of roster turnover this season, with more than $14.7M tied up in dead cap due to the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.

Rossi has one more year remaining on his entry-level contract before becoming an RFA. His low cost this season would allow the Islanders to re-sign Kyle MacLean along with Mike Reilly, or another defenseman.

Guerin may ultimately decide not to part with Rossi - but if he's willing to listen to offers, Lamoriello and 30 other GMs will likely be giving the former Islanders captain a phone call.