The New York Islanders are riding a three-game winning streak with one game to go before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. General manager Lou Lamoriello will not be selling.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- With the New York Islanders placing defenseman Scott Mayfield on long-term injury reserve and acting Hudson Fasching, general manager Lou Lamoriello now has $2.85 million to play with come the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on Friday.
That number will change depending on when defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, who is getting close, can return. He has a cap hit of $950,000.
We always expected Lamoriello to buy, and he made it clear that selling, especially with the team winners of three straight games with a playoff spot in sight, was not happening.
“[The team] said that they’re playing the way they’re capable of playing right now. We’ll have to continue to do that," Lamoriello said. "As far as adding, if you can, you do. Are we thinking about subtracting? Absolutely not.”
Lamoriello will always do what he can to make his team better.
“When it comes to the trade deadline, and this time here, if you can do something to make you better, [you do it]," Lamoriello said. "It's funny the way it comes down to the last minute when you've had two months to make the same transactions if you can, but the parity in the league is dictated a lot of the decisions and last-minute thought processes to see where everybody's at.
"So if we can get better, we will. But right now, we feel good about where we are at. We’ve said that consistently, and it’s up to us to show that.”
Right now, the Islanders believe they are playing the brand of hockey that they are capable of, and it's showing on the scoreboard.
“They’ve said that they’re playing the way they’re capable of playing right now. We’ll have to continue to do that," Lamoriello said. "As far as adding, if you can, you do. Are we thinking about subtracting? Absolutely not.”
All-Star Mathew Barzal, who is in the first year of an eight-year extension, was pleased to hear that from his general manager.
"I like hearing that. I mean, Lou obviously wants to win, and I think the last three games, especially, have proven to him and shown him and even proven in our locker room that we're a good squad in here," Barzal said. "And there's been some ups and downs this year, but it's all about finding your groove at the right time and it seems like we're playing our best hockey right now. So, yeah, I'm excited that he said that."