25 Islanders Thoughts Ahead Of 2025 NHL Trade Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline is Friday at 3 PM ET.

Stefen Rosner

David Kolb

, and

The Elmonters

Mar 05, 2025

Ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, here’s 25 Islanders thoughts:

Brock Nelson may be more valuable to the Islanders than any other team in the NHL.
Given the trades we’ve seen already and other trade rumors, it’s not crazy to think that Nelson could bring back a few first-round picks.
Roy’s future with the team heavily dictates how Islanders should approach trade deadline, especially with their jam-packed blue line. He clearly likes mobile D.
If Mathew Barzal is done for the season, that should make selling easier.
I’m curious to see if injuries to key players on the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins impact Lamoriello’s belief in finding a way to sneak in.
If Kyle Palmieri took a team-friendly deal worth $4.5 million annually, would it make more sense to retain him and trade Nelson rather than both?
There’s no question that this is a business, but Nelson's departure would impact the room in ways that words cannot describe.
That’s not to say it’s unnecessary, but it would be the first long-time player since Josh Bailey to be shipped out. Unlike Bailey, Nelson’s has not been moved due to a lack of effectiveness.
In theory, the Islanders could sign Nelson back in free agency, but there’s a reason that never happens.
Simon Holmstrom is becoming the perfect Palmieri replacement.
Even if the Islanders sell, don’t think they won’t be trying to make the playoffs.
That being said, they’ll need a trustworthy backup with Marcus Hogberg still out.
Sorokin has played 31 of the last 35 games, and they’ll need him at his best and rest a bit since he’d have to be their best player to go on a run.
There likely is a market for Casey Cizikas, who has no trade protection and is under contract for two more years at $2.5 million annually.
Does Lamoriello offer Pierre Engvall and a pick to get out of the final five years of his deal at $3 million annually?
Lamoriello’s patience may benefit the team immensely, but once teams collectively start to make other plans, they may be in trouble.
Tony DeAngelo’s been such a perfect fit alongside Alexander Romanov, but flipping him for draft capital may be in their best interest, especially if he isn’t part of next year’s plans.
If Mike Reilly plans to return at some point down the stretch, does that mean Adam Boqvist or Scott Perunovich are on the move?
Don’t forget that Isaiah George could earn a starting spot on the blue line next season, meaning even more of a log-jam.
Anthony Duclair is clearly still hurt, and if the Islanders want to maximize their cap space by the trade deadline, they could LTIR him and create an additional $3.5 million.
The Islanders currently have $7.875 million in available cap space, which is enough to sign an elite player.
If the Islanders retain 50% on Nelson and Palmieri, that number could look like $13.37 million. Add in Duclair on LTIR, and that number is $16.67 million.
While we won’t hear about any extensions until the season ends, outside of Nelson and Palmieri, do any other players sign deals by the deadline?
If the Islanders do trade Nelson, Barzal would likely get an “A” for the 2025-26 season, but who would wear it in the interim?
Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Adam Pelech are two strong candidates to wear the “A” for the rest of the season, you know, if they are still here.