New York Islanders
3rd in Metropolitan · 8th in Eastern Conference
Thu, Feb 26 · 7:00 PM ET · TSN 2, RDS, MSG SportsNet
3rd in Metropolitan · 8th in Eastern Conference
Thu, Feb 26 · 7:00 PM ET · TSN 2, RDS, MSG SportsNet
The Islanders and Blues swap minor pieces to signal the trade deadline's arrival, a classic low-key opener that front offices use to test the waters. New York bolsters its depth quietly while St. Louis tweaks the margins in a tight playoff push. GMs around the league watch these early moves closely, knowing they often foreshadow the bigger splashes coming next week.
Doug Armstrong wastes no time shaking up the Blues' depth chart, pulling the trigger on the league's first trade since the Olympic roster freeze lifted by swapping AHL wingers Matt Luff and Julien Gauthier with the Islanders. Luff brings his Springfield scoring touch - 39 points in 42 games - to Bridgeport, where he slots in as a top-line rental and NHL call-up option with his 111 games of big-league experience.
The Islanders pull off the first NHL trade since the Olympic freeze, snagging Matt Luff from the Blues in exchange for Julien Gauthier, both AHL vets looking for a spark. Luff brings his Springfield scoring tear - 39 points in 42 games - and 111 games of NHL experience to Bridgeport as top call-up insurance, while Gauthier heads to the Thunderbirds chasing his fifth NHL stop after a rocky injury stint.
The Islanders kick off the post-Olympic trade market by prying scoring machine Matt Luff away from St. Louis in exchange for Julien Gauthier, both AHL vets looking for a spark. Luff brings his Springfield-leading 39 points and 111 NHL games straight to Bridgeport, where he slots in as top dog and emergency call-up guy for Lou Lamoriello's playoff-chasing crew.
The New York Islanders are 3rd in the Metropolitan Division with a 32-21-5 record (69 points).