Rosner On Nelson's Goal With Mathew Barzal down and out for the foreseeable future, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] could use a speedy right-shot forward to help counteract the loss. Anthony Duclair is the internal option and is being given a chance on the top line with Bo Horvat and Anders Lee. However, as long as he's still battling his lower-body injury, he's not able to be as effective. If Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is, at some point, going to use Barzal's $9.15 million cap hit by placing him on long-term injured reserve--he is on injured reserve at this moment--it will be to use the newfound cap space for a player that can impact the organization in the short term and long term. It would be an absolute shock to see Lamoriello make a trade for a rental, especially given his lack of draft capital. We can talk about big names like Vancouver Canucks Elias Pettersson, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, or Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. Pettersson is a left-handed shot, and the Canucks aren't likely to move him, at least not yet, after trading J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. Marner is on a second-place Atlantic Division Maple Leafs team, while Ehlers, a lefty, is on a Jets team that is first place in the Central Division. Pettersson makes the most sense out of those three because he's under contract and is good pals with Bo Horvat. But what about St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou? The 26-year-old, who is in the second season of an eight-year deal worth $8.125 million annually, has 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points in 54 games skating on the club's second line. Why would the Blues trade a forward to whom they committed long-term? The Blues are in the first season of Jim Montgomery's tenure, and this team, currently six points out of a wild-card spot, will likely undergo significant change going forward. On July 1, Kyrou's full no-trade clause kicks in, an NTC that he'll have from 2025 through 20230. In an interview last season, The Athletic's Jim Rutherford said that he thinks there's a 50-60% percent chance Kyrou is moved before his NTC kicks in: "I'd be shocked if Kyrou finishes his eight-year contract with the Blues in St. Louis." Here's the full clip: The question is, what would the Blues want? If the Islanders are going to pull off any big-time trade this trade deadline season, the conversations feel like they have to start with 24-year-old pending restricted free agent Noah Dobson. It's just the reality of the situation and while he's out hurt (LTIR) with a lower-body injury, he's a long-term commitment for any team acquiring him. Obviously, if the Islanders remain very high on Dobson, he's going nowhere, but he would be the first ask for any team that's not in a playoff spot. We reached out to an NHL scout who has covered Kyrou: > Kyrou’s game is about speed and attacking the net. He drives to play with his > hands and vision, frequently funneling passes on the net while perusing the > offensive zone. He can set up a play, but he also likes to position himself > around the slot and hash marks to put shots on the net. While he is at his > best alongside an elite playmaker like Robert Thomas, Kyrou is capable of > being the motor of his line. In 12 games with Thomas on the IR, Kyrou led the > Blues in points with three goals and six assists, five of which were primary. - With the Islanders having the ability to go over the cap by at least $9.15 million, the Islanders would have the cap space for a move of this magnitude. If Barzal can come back, whether by the end of the season or is ready for the start of the next, where would Kyrou fit into the game plan? The honest truth is that Kyrou would fit nicely on any line, given his speed. He would thrive alongside Barzal and Bo Horvat, giving the line another elite skater and goal-scorer. He would also play well alongside Anders Lee or Maxim Tsyplakov, given his ability to put pucks on the net and in high-danger areas. If Lamoriello wants to reward this group, one that is 8-1-0 over their last nine games, Kyrou would be a strong option if they want to take advantage of their injuries.
