Stefen Rosner talks on Hockey Night in New York about the Islanders' upcoming matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Everything New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] general manager Lou Lamoriello says or does is strategic. That's the art of being a general manager. If Lamoriello had come out and said, at any point, that he didn't believe in his team and that he was taking calls on Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, that would hinder his ability to gain a competitive advantage in trade discussions. Why? The longer the Islanders stay in the playoff conversation, the more teams would have to "pry" Nelson, Palmieri, or any other players with positive trade value away from the island. Just look at the New York Rangers and how Chris Drury's actions appeared to have destroyed a locker room. When the Rangers started to nose-dive, Drury sent a memo to the rest of the NHL, stating that he was open to business, including Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider in the league-wide memo. Soon after, Trouba was traded. Kreider made it abundantly clear to reporters that he wasn't healthy despite being called a "healthy scratch" by the team, so it would be a shock if he were moved. Whether Drury truly meant what he said or was trying to send a message to his team—we know that he had been trying to move Trouba since the summer—his decisions created a divide. Once Kaapo Kakko called out his coach, Peter Laviolette, for scratching him despite veterans playing worse, he was dealt to the Seattle Kraken. The Rangers continued to struggle, and potentially valuable assets, such as defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Mika Zibanejad—really everyone — have certainly lost value. Lamoriello's acting like he's been in this situation before...because he has. It's also true that the longer the Islanders stay in the playoff race, the less likely Lamoriello is to sell. No one knows Lamoriello's true intentions, which is why he's been able to hold his position for decades with multiple teams. Before the puck drop against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Islanders were five points out of the second wild-card spot but also last in the Metropolitan Division and just two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for dead-last in the Eastern Conference. While many Islanders fans are losing confidence and patience, there are still 40-plus games to be played and 57 days until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. As we've discussed often, the Islanders are a win streak away from completely regaining their place in the playoff conversation. As Lamoriello always says, "If you have time, use it," and right now, he has time to make a decision because he holds onto the top player that could be available, in Nelson, and a top-five player, in Palmieri. The Islanders have an important stretch coming up. After they battle the Golden Knights, they'll face the Utah Hockey Club before returning home for games against the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Flyers again, all at home. These next two weeks are crucial for the Islanders to show management that they have what it takes truly.
