The NY Islanders Hold Steady With No Deadline Moves

The 2024 NHL trade deadline has come and gone and the NY Islanders roster doesn't look any different than it has for the majority of the season.

We've heard the sentiment of "we like our group," time and time again since Lou Lamoriello took over as the GM of the Islanders, and he'll now take this group into the final 20 games of the season as the Isles make a push for the playoffs.

There were names out there that the Islanders were linked to, but it appears as if Lamoriello felt the price to get a deal done was too much for his liking.

"We did not feel we could have upgraded," said Lamoriello. "I like certainly what has transpired with our team under Patrick [Roy]. I like the way our lines are right now - we go right down [the lineup]. You know, our defense will get Bortuzzo back in the next several days, so I feel very comfortable."

The Islanders and the LA Kings were the only two teams not to make a trade this deadline season - as all other contenders found it necessary to alter their rosters to make a run.

According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Islanders were willing to move on from Oliver Wahlstrom. Now, Lamoriello has said that the Isles' first-round pick was on the table if a deal could have been made to improve the team, but nothing materialized. The 81-year-old GM felt it did not make sense to make a "lateral move."

The Isles are chasing the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning for either third in the Metro Division or one of the two Wild Card positions. The Flyers were both buyers and sellers, moving on from Sean Walker but acquiring defenseman Erik Johnson and speedster Denis Gurianov. Last night, the Lightning brought in a name the Isles were linked to in Anthony Duclair while also shoring up their blue line, bringing in Matt Dumba about an hour before the deadline. The Red Wings didn't bring in any new bodies, but shed some cap space moving on from Klim Kostin.

The Isles may not have budged at the deadline, but they made their big acquisition a few weeks ago when Lamoriello brought in Patrick Roy as the new bench boss. The Isles are playing their best hockey of the season right now, winning their last five, as they won't mess with the chemistry by bringing someone in from the outside.

There's always hope that a deal can be made at the deadline to improve the team, but sometimes no deal is the best deal. The Isles don't have much in the form of assets outside their first-round pick, and if there was nothing worthy of moving that pick, then it's best to hold on to it. There's still the possibility Lamoriello will move the pick before the draft if the opportunity presents itself - but for now, this core group will make another late-season run at the playoffs.