The NY Islanders have acquired Matt Luff from the Blues

With the Olympics over and the roster freeze ending, Mathieu Darche and the New York Islanders wasted no time improving the team. They announced Tuesday morning that they have acquired Matt Luff from the Blues in exchange for Julien Gauthier. Luff is expected to be sent to Bridgeport over the next few days.

This is solely a move for depth, and the kind of moves we see many times over an NHL season. It's someone you can have in your minors that can play well in the AHL, while also being able to play NHL minutes if needed. But just because this is a move for depth, it does not mean Luff helps improve the organization.

Michael Luff is more than capable of stepping in and being productive

Luff is in the middle of a strong season in the AHL. In 42 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, he has registered 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. It's very similar to the numbers he put up last season. He has also played in the NHL this season, appearing in 5 games and recording a goal. This was not his first time in the NHL, as he's played 111 career games, tallying 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 points.

Throughout his career, Luff has been an offensive first forward. He's able to use his skating ability to get into positions to finish plays. As well as make an impact on the defensive side. He's someone that the Islanders can put in their bottom six if an injury concerns and feel confident he can be a decent replacement. He's not going to replace the production of someone in the Islanders' top six. But he will help tread water and not cause the Isles to lose games.

He can also be a very positive influnce in Bridgeport's locker room. One of the goals of Darche's tenure is to make the AHL team better. Have them be competitive and a place that can effectively develop NHL-caliber players. Something that was largely ignored during Lou Lamoriello's tenure. With how effective he has been on offense, Luff can be someone who can help Bridgeport win games. He can also be a leader and an example for young players on what it takes to make the NHL.

While this appears to be a forgettable move, it was an important one for the Islanders to make. It gave them good offensive depth and someone they know they can call upon if needed.