Report: Talks Involving NY Islanders UFAs Have Started Ahead of NHL Trade Deadline

Even before the New York Islanders were shut out last night at Madison Square Garden, they reportedly let teams know they are open for business as the NHL trade deadline approaches. The team is sitting outside a playoff spot in a crowded race for the final wild card, with six teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. 

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Islanders started engaging teams around the league about some of their players, including UFAs Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, on Monday before the team's 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers.

"The loss, effectively, puts them into the sellers market," said Pagnotta in a late-night edition of “The Latest” with host Kate Petterson. They will continue those discussions involving those players [Nelson and Palmieri]. There has been interest in others, including Jean-Gabrielle Pageau, as well, so perhaps that will be an avenue, but I can tell you both Nelson and Palmieri are expected to be in play."

Pagnotta mentions Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, Vegas, and possibly Toronto as potential suitors for Nelson, who skated in his 900th game for the Islanders on Monday night, tying Bob Nystrom for fourth on the all-time list. Nelson and Palmieri each have 19 goals in 60 games this season. Nelson has led the Islanders in goals each season since 2019-20 and was an All-Star in 2023. Meanwhile, Palmieri scored 30 goals last year for the first time since his 2015-16 season with the NJ Devils. Unlike Nelson and Palmieri, Pageau has one-year left on his contract at a $6M AAV and has a modified 16-team no trade clause - the same as the two Isles' UFAs.

The Islanders host the Winnipeg Jets at UBS Arena later tonight, it what could be the final time fans see these players in Isles' sweaters with three days off ahead of Friday's trade deadline.