The Islanders went from having zero defensive depth to an influx of depth in a matter of a few days.

In a matter of a two-week span, the New York Islanders have gone from needing to look at all options to get the best package for Brock Nelson to potential buyers at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.

While many fans may believe this team is still a first-round exit if they get to the playoffs, general manager Lou Lamoriello has made it abundantly clear that he isn't waving the white flag on the season.

When defensemen Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock sustained long-term injuries, Lamoriello quickly brought in reinforcements, signing Tony DeAngelo and acquiring Scott Perunovich from the St. Louis Blues.

And then, on Friday, the Islanders claimed Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers. 

While these three moves may be viewed as short-term, can they be longer-term and impact the team's trade deadline plans?

Here's what I mean.

While Boqvist has yet to play in a game, the other two new defensemen seem to fit in like a glove in a very small sample size. Their ability to see the ice and help the transition games by skating with the puck or moving the puck up the ice with stretch passes fits head coach Patrick Roy's M.O. to a tee. 

Both can play quarterback on the power play, a skill the Islanders desperately need. 

If you looked at the Islanders defense to start the season, you'd think it was going to be a solid blue-line group:

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock

Alexander Romanov-Noah Dobson

Mike Reilly-Scott Mayfield

A balanced blue line, yes?

However, Pelech and Pulock have struggled to stay healthy consistently. Dobson, when healthy, wasn't living up to expectations. Unfortunately, Reilly had to have a heart procedure, and there's no timetable for his return this season. 

I ask again. While the blue-line acquisitions were to fill injury holes, could the team shift their defensive mindset for the future? 

While DeAngelo is a pending unrestricted free agent, he told The Hockey News that being close to home (South Jersey) is incredibly important to him. 

If things go well, the Islanders will likely give him the Mike Reilly contract, a one-year deal worth $1.25 million.

Perunovich, 26, and Boqvist, 24, are pending restricted free agents. 

It's important to note that Dennis Cholowski's deal expires, so Perunovich and or Boqvist can, at the very least, compete for a starting gig or the seventh defenseman job. 

But if the Islanders bring back DeAngelo, too, that means one of the usual starting defensemen must go.

With Ryan Pulock owning a no-trade clause, is there a situation where the Islanders look to move pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson or long-term signee Scott Mayfield?

After a 70-point season in 2023-24, Dobson has struggled to improve defensively, and his offensive game has returned to the mean. 

Entering the season as a likely 8x8 guy, his play has him more like a $6.5-$7 million guy if his agent will go for it [arbitration]. 

Mayfield, who has played well in a bounce-back campaign, is in his second season of a seven-year deal worth $3.5 million, which has value on the trade market. 

Yes, the 30-year-old has a full no-trade (16-team modified trade clause after season's end), but any playoff team could use a big-body, defensive-minded blueliner who can kill penalties. 

For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs:

To be honest, given the new-look defense, is Romanov just the new, younger, more mobile Mayfield?

Romanov, 25, is playing at the top of his game. He is laying the body, blocking shots, playing strong on the penalty kill, and, lately, providing offense. 

All these roster decisions come down to fit and finances. 

In addition to paying Dobson this summer, the Islanders also have to pay Romanov, their rising young gun forward, Simon Holmstrom, and first-year NHLer Maxim Tsyplakov. 

That list also doesn't include pending UFAs Nelson and Kyle Palmieri if the Islanders don't move them by the deadline. 

This is not to say that the Islanders have any interest in moving Dobson.

But, to get value, you have to give value like we saw in the blockbuster Colorado Avalanche-Carolina Hurricanes trade. 

The Islanders have the potential to be buyers and sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7th, and if they want to go big-game hunting, Dobson is likely a name that would have to be part of the trade conversation. 

Here's a potential lineup without Dobson in it:

Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock

Alexander Romanov-Tony DeAngelo

Scott Perunovich-Scott Mayfield

Adam Boqvist. 

Up until three days ago, the Islanders had zero defensive depth, with Grant Hutton the only real option from Bridgeport. 

Now, at the very least, the Islanders have some defensive depth that could allow them to make some pretty big moves and know they'll still be solid on the backend. 

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