NY Islanders acquire Tyce Thompson from NJ Devils for Arnaud Durandeau

During New York Islanders training camp forward Arnaud Durandeau was talking about stealing a job and skating on the top line with Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. Throughout camp, Head Coach Lane Lambert praised his speed and ability to finish changes when presented with the opportunity. Now, the 2017 sixth-round pick is no longer part of the organization.

On Sunday, the Islanders traded Durandeau to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for 24-year-old Tyce Thompson. Thompson is the son of the longtime Bridgeport head coach Brent Thompson and the brother of emerging star Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres.

"I think (Tage is) a great example of (how) everyone has a different time period and a different path,” Thompson said to NJHockeyNow back in October. “I just try to work on myself and do what I could do to get better every day. Hopefully, it’s now, but you know, just keep getting better every day.”

Thompson has dressed for 11 NHL games with New Jersey over the last three seasons, picking up one assist. In 15 games for the Utica Comets this season, he has no goals and five assists after scoring seven goals in 56 games last season. The Milford, CT native was born in Oyster Bay and drafted by the Devils in the fourth round (96th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. He played college hockey at Providence, tallying 94 points (38G, 56A) in 101 collegiate games.

Durandeau played in four games for the Isles last season and impressed the staff and his teammates during his brief stint. He's struggled this season in Bridgeport offensively, registering just one goal and three assists in 12 games. Last year, he scored a career-best 24 goals in 68 games.