Three New York Islanders Who May Be Gone by the Trade Deadline

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With training camp on the horizon for the New York Islanders, questions have already begun to emerge about this upcoming season’s trade deadline. While it’s way too early to speculate about the moves that could take place, there’s reason to believe some players may be gone by the time the dust settles.

In particular, some players stand out as potential trade deadline moves given their current situation on The Island, plus their potential trade value. It’s worth keeping in mind that these players could be traded whether the Isles are in the thick of the playoff conversation, or if the club is completely out of it by the end of March.

With that in mind, here’s a look at three New York Islanders who could be dealt at next season’s trade deadline.

Three New York Islanders Who Could Be Gone by Next Season’s Trade Deadline

Hudson Fasching

Fasching is in an interesting situation. He’s yet to position himself as a full-time player on the Isles. After coming over as a free agent in 2022, the 6’3”, 200-pound winger has failed to make a mark on the team.

In his first season, Fasching played 49 games, notching 19 points. Last season, Fasching played 45 games, seeing his point total drop to 14.

At best, Fasching looks like a bottom-six grinder. While his league-minimum deal is not a burden on the Isles’ cap, Fasching could be on his way out, especially if he fails to cement himself on the Isles’ bottom six.

Now, here’s where things could get interesting. If the Isles find themselves out of playoff contention, Fasching could be moved to another contending club looking for a cheap depth forward. In contrast, if the Isles find themselves in the thick of the playoff picture, the club might want to hold on to Fasching for the same reasons.

Nevertheless, Fasching could become a trade chip if he has a decent season and the Islanders are looking to add more depth to the team at the deadline. Perhaps a rebuilding team like San Jose may be looking to move a veteran at the deadline, making Fasching a potential chip.

It’s also worth noting that Fasching is entering the final year of his current two-year contract. So, if he’s not the Isles’ future, the club could merely let him walk away. Regardless, Fasching could become an interesting piece for the Isles to move one way or another.

Scott Mayfield

Mayfield was once a key part of the Isles’ defensive corps. However, decline and injuries have cast a shadow over Mayfield’s future on Long Island. While it’s fairly certain that Mayfield stays, there could be a situation in which Mayfield could find himself on the other end of a trade deadline deal.

For starters, let’s assume that Mayfield continues to struggle even after returning fully healthy to the lineup. At that point, his contract and cap hit could become a burden on the club. Now, the decision to trade Mayfield depends on where the Islanders stand in the playoff picture next season.

First, if the New York Islanders are on the bubble, and Mayfield is playing relatively well, the club could consider moving him for picks and cap relief.

Second, if the Isles are in the playoff conversation, but Mayfield struggles, the club could consider moving his contract in order to clear cap space to add help at the deadline. In that case, Mayfield could be a throw-in a part of a larger deal.

In the best of cases, Mayfield has a resurgent season and this entire point is moot. However, if Mayfield continues to struggle, Lou Lamoriello may find it difficult to find a taker for Mayfield. In that scenario, Mayfield could be a buyout candidate next summer.

This scenario could play out, particularly if the Isles find themselves struggling to re-sign Noah Dobson and desperately seeking cap relief.

Personally, I hope I’m dead wrong about this point. I expect Mayfield to bounce back and anchor the Isles’ bottom-four defense pairings. But there’s always the possibility that Mayfield doesn’t bounce back, making his contract dead weight.

Mike Reilly

Rielly joined the New York Islanders this offseason on a one-year deal worth $1.25 million. Reilly is coming off a great season in which he was part of the Florida Panthers Stanley Cup champion team.

Now in New York, Reilly will be looking to shore up the bottom pairing with the aforementioned Mayfield. While the Isles don’t expect overwhelming production from Reilly, the club will, nonetheless, expect consistent performance from the 31-year-old.

What makes Reilly a potential trade-deadline target is his role in the club. Reilly could be on the outside looking in if prospects like Travis Mitchell or Aiden Fulp have a great camp. If that’s the case, Reilly could be competing with younger blueliners for the final spot on the Isles’ back end.

As such, Reilly could be moved at the deadline to a team looking for depth defensive help, while the Isles get cap relief to add other pieces at the deadline. Plus, Reilly could become a complementary piece in a larger deal, allowing the Isles to secure the pieces it needs.

This final point could also become moot if Reilly has a great year and the Isles are in the thick of the playoff hunt. The Isles might choose to hold onto Reilly, keeping him as a depth defense option in case one of the younger players stands out.

Please bear in mind that if the Islanders fail to perform up to expectations this season, club management may look to shed payroll across the organization as it looks to secure the club’s best players. Of course, with Reilly set to hit free agency again this upcoming summer, the Isles could merely let him walk away next summer.

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3 NY Islanders Who May Be Gone by the Trade Deadline

Three New York Islanders Who Could Be Gone by Next Season’s Trade Deadline

Hudson Fasching

Scott Mayfield

Mike Reilly

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