Rangers make their move. Does Lou Lamoriello have any pre-holiday plans for the Islanders?
The New York Rangers traded for defenseman Will Borgen, a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for Kaapo Kakko.
They beat the holiday roster freeze deadline, which comes midnight Thursday.
December 20-27 is the Holiday roster freeze: For all players on an NHL active roster, injuredreserve, or with non-roster and injured non-roster status as of 11:59 p.m. (localtime) Dec. 19, a roster freeze shall apply through 12:01 a.m. (local time) Dec. 28,with respect to waivers, trades and loans, subject to the exceptions provided forin CBA Article 16.5 (d).December 24-26 Holiday break)
The Rangers recently traded their captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim, and have now traded the 2019 No. 2 pick in the NHL entry draft – – which should come as a major wake up call to an underachieving Rangers.
At the same time, the New York Islanders is might be well served with a similar type jolt, as it seems some on the roster have become complacent. While injuries remain the number one problem, new blood might be the wake up call the Isles need after a slumbering 4-0 loss in Carolina.
Realistically however, until the "Buyer" or "Seller" tag is attached to the Islanders, Lamoriello will most likely remain patient until the injuries have healed, the roster is whole -- and then make a true evaluation.
The Islanders play next in Toronto against the Maple Leafs at 7 PM.