NHL Trade Rumors: 5 Best Fits For Ryan McDonagh

5. New York Islanders

Why they’re a good fit: No team would benefit more from acquiring Ryan McDonagh right now than the New York Islanders. They desperately need a top-four defenseman and their blue line is in shambles. The loss of Calvin de Haan has left their defense in a terrible state. Considering the Islanders are trying to get John Tavares to stay long-term, missing the playoffs isn’t an option for them.

McDonagh would immediately be at worst their second-best defenseman. Even after factoring in the inevitable eight-digit annual cap hit Tavares will get if he re-signs, the Islanders would still be in very good shape financially. As far as for the Rangers, the Isles have a top-tier prospect (Kieffer Bellows) and young defensemen (Sebastian Aho, Mitchell Vande Sompel, and Devon Toews). They also have the picks they got for Travis Hamonic. So the Islanders have what the Rangers want.

Why they’re not a good fit: It’s hard to see the Rangers being willing to trade McDonagh within the division. That’s a heck of a way to ensure a trade haunts you. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rangers forced the Islanders to be a premium (on top of McDonagh’s already high price) to get him.

Likelihood: McDonagh has a better chance of getting abducted by aliens the same minute he wins the lottery than he does of being traded to the Islanders. But the fit is definitely there.