Islanders Win Pushes Off Lou Lamoriello's Deadline Decisions

"If you have time, use it."

Stefen Rosner

David Kolb

, and

The Elmonters

Feb 28, 2025

BOSTON, MA — With a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, the New York Islanders still have their head above water—but barely.

With three games left before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the team still trails the second wild-card spot by seven points, a daunting task.

While the win didn’t increase their odds, it was monumental for the group to snap their four-game skid. And although fans may not want to hear this next part, a win likely pushed off Lou Lamoriello’s deadline decision, at least for another day.

I know, I know, to the fans who are ready to send pending unrestricted free agents Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, along with any other players who aren’t part of the core packing come March 7.

That’s not to say Lamoriello won’t trade one or two of his long-time players away.

But as Lamoriello says, “If you have time, use it.” He still has three more games to decide.

And, in theory, the Islanders could win the next three games and potentially be one point back of a wild-card spot come deadline day.

The keyword there is “could” because Lamoriello will definitely look to go for it rather than call it quits.

That’s how he rolls.

The Islanders will next play Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators, a team in major sell mode sitting second-to-last in the Central Division.

That’s a Saturday matinee game that the Islanders must win to keep their hopes alive and their team likely together.

Then, after that, it’s a rematch with the New York Rangers, who just destroyed them 6-1 on home ice. But the Rangers aren’t a good team at all, and the Islanders have a chance to get revenge at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

While every game presents its own challenges, the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, the second of a back-to-back, will be a tough nut to crack.

But, if the Islanders want to make the playoffs, they have to beat teams ahead of them, not just teams behind them. It will be the final chance to prove to Lou that this team has it in them.

There’s a lot of fans that absolutely hate every word they’ve read and that’s okay.

It’s just the reality of the situation.

It’s the reality of Lou Lamoriello.

It’s the reality of the trade market.

Lamoriello is making the other NHL teams sweat as they try to figure out their deadline plans.

There’s no benefit to Lamoriello coming out and saying he’s selling. If he says, he’s not selling or that he is undecided, teams may offer more to “pry” players away from Long Island.

Everything Lamoriello says is calculated. The question will become, is his math going to pay dividends for the Islanders?