New York Islanders got exactly what they needed for Stanley Cup run

The New York Islanders had three needs at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.

They needed a goalscorer, a depth player, and a depth defenseman, and before April 12, all of those needs had been acquired by the New York Islanders, who were quiet at the NHL Trade Deadline having got all of their work done before.

The price was not hefty by any means.

To call the Islanders the winners of the Trade Deadline is a bit premature as that conversation should be had following the Stanley Cup Finals. But they have made themselves a much deeper team, and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has put his team in a prime spot to make a deep Playoff run yet again – hopefully longer than last years.

For those hoping that the Islanders would land Taylor Hall, it came real close last Wednesday. But Lamoriello made the correct move in not acquiring the star forward, as his role was not a role that this Islander club was in dire need of.

New York Islanders achieved exactly what they set out to do at the Trade Deadline

The Islanders did not give up much in the grand scheme of things for the two New Jersey Devils forwards. The Islanders sent a First-Round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, a conditional Fourth-Round pick in 2022, and depth players A.J. Greer and Mason Jobst to the Devils for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac last Wednesday. The Devils retained 50 percent of both players’ salaries. My colleague Andrew-Steele Davis broke the trade down when it happened.

Kyle Palmieri, has been one of the more consistent scorers in the NHL over the last five years. He has hit the 20-goal plateau in each of the last five seasons, not including this year. This season has been a struggle, with just nine goals and nine assists, however, he was playing on a rather mediocre Devils club.

The Islanders needed a net-front presence with the absence of Anders Lee and Palmieri was the perfect fit in this lineup. Not including this year, Palmieri had more goals than Hall in four of the last five seasons. Hall’s Hart year in 2017-18 with the Devils was the one. Now if you want to say Hall gets more assists, great. But the Islanders did not need a playmaker on the top line, as Barzal has that role. Hall is more of a perimeter kind of player. Palmieri goes to the dirty areas.

Last night Palmieri scored his first goal as an Islander in their 3-2 Overtime victory over the New York Rangers. He played alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Oliver Wahlstrom on the third-line. His goal came on the power play, in the net-front presence role that he is here to fill.

This goal here is precisely why he was acquired. He knows what needs to be done and is a guy who brings leadership, commitment and was ecstatic to be an Islander.

Included in the Palmieri trade was Travis Zajac. The 15-year NHL veteran is a Lou Lamoriello kind of guy. He is a competitor and the depth center the Islanders needed. Last season in the Playoffs, the Isles saw Casey Cizikas go down with no real replacement. While Zajac has played the wing in his first three games on the Island, he is a center by trade.

Last night in the win over the Rangers, Zajac played a pivotal role on the perfect penalty kill, as he got in front of a few shots and was responsible positionally. With the Devils this season, Zajac won less than 50 percent of his draws (49.9%). In the small sample on the Island, he has won 53.3 percent of his draws (8 of 15). He slotted in alongside Mat Barzal and Jordan Eberle last night, and while he did not seem like a stellar fit, his defensive awareness allows Barzal to do his thing.

Zajac is a player that can play on any line, in any three offensive positions, that Head Coach Barry Trotz asks of him. He is the definition of versatile.

Braydon Coburn Finishing Touch for Defensive Depth

The Islanders late last night went out and acquired Braydon Coburn from the Ottawa Senators for a Seventh-Round conditional pick in 2022. Why would they go and get a 36-year old defenseman?

In 16 games played this season, Coburn only has two assists. However, he was acquired for much more than his offensive output. Last season, Coburn was part of the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning. He only played in three games during the run, doing his job when called upon. He will fill the same role with the Islanders.

Coburn has played in 137 Playoff games over his 16-year NHL career, as he is a veteran presence that if need be can be trusted. Looking at the Islanders’ defensive depth in Thomas Hickey and Sebastian Aho, one thing stands out – size. Hickey stands at 6-foot while Aho is only 5-foot-10.

Coburn is 6-foot-5 and can be a better option depending on the opponent. He more than likely will not play unless there is an injury, but we saw last season the importance of having options if there are injuries on the backend. The Islanders got Coburn for nothing and this was a real smart trade to cap off a fantastic Trade Deadline season.

Final Note

Lou Lamoriello said in his press conference that even though all the players he acquired were pending Unrestricted Free Agents, that did not mean re-signing them was out of the question. It will be considered in the offseason.

“A lot will depend upon how things transpire between now and til the end of the year.”