February 10, 2024 | 3:47pm ET
By Anthony LaRocco, TheFourthPeriod.com
POTENTIAL ISLANDERS TRADE OPTIONS
Frank Vatrano, forward
NEW YORK, NY — The All-Star break and the bye week might have come at the best time for the New York Islanders. The time off likely allowed new head coach Patrick Roy time to study more film and implement the changes that he wanted to make with his team, and it certainly shows.
After returning from the break, the Islanders have impressed in two wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. In both wins, the rested Islanders looked like a much faster team than they ever did under Lane Lambert, playing a higher tempo brand of hockey. After defeating the Maple Leafs 3-2 on Monday night in Toronto, the Islanders came home to UBS Arena to defeat the Lightning 6-2, dominating the game from start to finish. The Islanders held the high-powered Bolts to just 20 shots on goal.
The two wins have left the Islanders just two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference and trail the Tampa Bay Lightning by three points for the first wildcard position. The Islanders also have the Philadelphia Flyers in their sight for third place in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Flyers by four points.
With the Islanders getting more comfortable in Roy’s system and the trade deadline four weeks away, Isles GM Lou Lamoriello may look to bolster his team prior to the March 8.
While no one truly knows what Lamoriello may be up to – you may have a better shot at the nuclear codes – it is believed that the veteran GM is looking for help in the goal scoring department. It was reported the Islanders also might look for help on the backend, but with defenceman Ryan Pulock returning to the lineup after the break and Robert Bortuzzo getting closer, the team seems set on defense.
With that said, let us look at some potential options Lamoriello could target for his team between now and the deadline.
Frank Vatrano, Anaheim Ducks
Like teammate Adam Henrique, whom the Ducks are expected to move, Vatrano could have a different address after 3PM on March 8th. Unlike Henrique, Vatrano has one more year left of his contract with a manageable cap hit of $3.65M.
Vatrano’s 22 goals lead the Ducks and he is well on his way to career year, pacing for 36 goals far surpassing his previous career high of 24 goals with the Florida Panthers back in the 2018-19 season. The Ducks do not have to move Vatrano but there will be many contending teams calling Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, including the Isles crosstown rival New York Rangers.
For a team that is still very much in the collect as many future assets as they can mode, Verbeek may be compelled to move the East Longmeadow, MA native. Vatrano would be able to play on any of the Isles top-three lines and provide a more balanced scoring attack.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Ottawa Senators
After taking some steps forward last season, the Senators were hoping to compete for a playoff spot this season, which was a big reason why they went out this past off-season and signed Tarasenko to a one-year deal. But after a bad start the Sens are once again destined to miss the playoffs yet again.
Tarasenko, who just switched agents again for the second time in seven months, will almost certainly be on the move again. There is a good chance that Tarasenko will waive his NTC to get a chance to play in the post-season with a different club. The Islanders who have been linked to Tarasenko in the past, could be a team to kick the tires on the 32-year-old Russian forward.
Jordan Eberle, Seattle Kraken
Who doesn’t like a good reunion story? Eberle played four seasons from 2017-2021 with the Islanders and was a key part in their back-to-back Conference Final appearances in 2020 and 2021.
After being claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft, Eberle has been a key contributor for the Kraken offensively, posting 63 points in 82 games last season, helping the Kraken reach the playoffs for the first time. With Eberle being a pending UFA this summer and being 33 years old, it is unlikely the Kraken will re-sign him. The Kraken have recently been passed by the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames chasing down the St. Louis Blues for the final wildcard spot in the West and sit 11th overall in the West. However, they are still only two points out of the final playoff spot so it remains to be seen if they will part with Eberle right now.
If the Kraken decide to in fact move him, the Islanders are not the only former team of his who wear Blue & Orange with interest in a reunion, as the Edmonton Oilers are a possible destination to re-acquire Eberle, as well.
Adam Henrique, Anaheim Ducks
Some say Lamoriello has an affinity to acquire former Devils players he is familiar with. In the past, he has acquired the likes of Andy Greene, Travis Zajac, Kyle Palmieri and Zach Parise. Henrique could be another added to that list.
While Henrique just turned 34 years-old this week, he is still a productive middle-six player, scoring 22 goals last season and his 15 goals this season see him tied for second on the Ducks. The Islanders have Jean-Gabriel Pageau as their current third line center, but Henrique is versatile and can also play the wing. Julien Gauthier, who was just waived last week, Oliver Wahlstrom and Hudson Fasching all have not solidified a spot on that third line and a veteran like Henrique with skill and experience to fit that role may appeal to Lamoriello.
However, teams with more of a pressing need at center ice like the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers may show more interest in Henrique. Henrique carries a cap hit of $5.852M, while the Ducks would likely retain up to 50% off that it may raise the cost to acquire Henrique to cough up a first-round pick, something that Lamoriello may not want to do.
Jason Zucker, Arizona Coyotes
After occupying a wildcard spot in the Western Conference for a decent stretch earlier in the season, the Coyotes have started to fall off in the West, currently 12th in the standings tied with the Minnesota Wild, five points back of the St. Louis Blues for the last Western wildcard spot.
If the Coyotes continue to slide, they may move the 32-year-old Zucker, who surprisingly signed a one-year deal with the Coyotes in the off-season. While Zucker is having a down year offensively this season with only eight goals, he is a hard-nosed forward with the knack for scoring goals, reaching the 20+ goal mark five times in his career, scoring 27 goals just last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If acquired, the Islanders could place Zucker on the left side of Brock Nelson on the Isles second line and move Pierre Engvall down to the third line to create more offensive depth. With a cap hit of $5.3M the Coyotes would have to retain a good portion of Zucker’s salary to make it work for the Islanders.