Ryan Healey & The Islanders: The Trade, The Outlook & What His AHL Deal Means
The Islanders acquired Ryan Healey's NHL rights but signed him to an AHL contract with Hamilton. Here's why, what it means, and what's next for the Harvard defenseman.
The New York Islanders made just one trade this offseason, acquiring the rights to 22-year-old Ryan Healey from the Minnesota Wild on June 27 for future considerations.
It was a low-risk depth move, adding another right-shot defenseman to the organization’s pipeline.
Healey, whom the Wild selected in the fourth round (No. 122 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, wrapped up his four-year collegiate career at Harvard University this spring.
In four seasons at the Ivy League school, Healey recorded 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 130 games.
“I had a great experience at Harvard,” Healey told The Elmonters. “Everything outside of hockey is great there, but yeah, I had some great teammates, and yeah, I had a great time.”
I did ask him what his major was.
“I was an econ major,” Healey said with a laugh.
Healey graduated from Harvard this spring.
Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin had until Aug. 15 to sign Healey or lose his NHL rights. Instead, he traded the defenseman to a team that could give him a shot at earning an NHL contract.
For the Islanders, who needed right-shot defensive depth, it was a low-risk move for general manager Mathieu Darche to bring in Healey.
“It was great,” Healey told The Elmonters about his initial conversation with Darche. “Yeah, so obviously I got traded on Saturday night. I was out today with my family, and they called us. It was a good conversation, though. Yeah, very welcoming, personal guy.”
While Healey was excited about the opportunity, the move also came with realistic expectations regarding where he is in his development.
“He stopped being the main option for offense from the blue line his junior and senior years,” an amateur scout told The Elmonters. “This guy, Matthew Morden, surpassed him. He has a decent all-around game. Healey could be a depth seventh defenseman, I think, but he doesn’t have any exceptional traits.”
The timing of the trade couldn’t have worked out much better for both sides.