Not all Stanley Cup contenders will be buyers next Monday.
“Our trade deadline was Oct. 4.” That’s how one anonymous source described the New York Islanders’ trade deadline plans to the New York Post‘s Brett Cyrgalis, who reported the Isles’ March 2 strategy.
Though injured forward Kyle Okposo plans to resume skating this week and the severity of centre Frans Nielsen’s apparent lower-body injury remains unknown, general manager Garth Snow’s plan is to stand pat this week and let the other contending teams rent high-profile players, according to the report.
The Isles hold a two-point lead over the cross-town Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan, thanks in large part to the pair of pre-season deals Snow orchestrated to shore up his defence, landing Nick Leddy from Chicago and Johnny Boychuk from Boston.
The Islanders already sent their 2015 second-round draft pick to the Sabres, as part of last season’s acquisition of Thomas Vanek, a sniper they offloaded to Montreal at last year’s deadline when it became apparent he would not re-sign.
Snow’s focus should remain on extending Boychuk’s contract. A horse on the blueline, the 31-year-old has six goals, 28 points and a plus-10 rating for the Islanders through 51 games this season. Without a new deal, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
One way or another, the Post‘s Larry Brooks figures Boychuk’s salary next season should start at $6 million.
