The 3 trade deadline strategies for the NY Islanders to consider

The reason to stand pat: Do not mortgage the future and reconstruct in the offseason.

This scenario draws the least number of headlines but does not negatively impact the current roster either. The Islanders can keep both their players and assets which will allow for Roy to continue developing a system that works with their current roster. Since most of the team is under contract next season, a new system is best instituted starting with the remainder of 2023-2024. This scenario also leaves the door open to the Islanders making the playoffs since the team would not lose any talent.

Furthermore, the Islanders only have a few players set to reach free agency including Sebastian Aho, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin. Their trade value would only net the team a lower-tier draft pick, making a potential trade rather irrelevant to restocking for the future. If the Islanders traded from their controllable core such as Brock Nelson or Pageau, they will need to pay some of their salary for next season plus replace them in the offseason if Lamoriello still believes in this roster. Though this route would net the team great future assets, it also signals that the organization is rebuilding.

The most likely scenarios that Lamoriello will consider are trading for a rental player to replace Oliver Wahlstrom on the Isles' third line or standing pat and reconstructing in the offseason. With the team not garnering any momentum since the coaching change, the front office would be naive to mortgage more future assets to try and win now. Additionally, many of the players who have underperformed this season hold untradable contracts that could be revisited in the offseason. Given Lamoriello's confidence in this team and his short-term mindset, the Islanders are most likely to make minor additions or stand pat at the trade deadline.