How Islanders convinced Schenn to accept trade

It appears that a scheduling quirk may have helped the New York Islanders land Brayden Schenn at this year's trade deadline.

As Friday's deadline approached, both the Islanders and St. Louis Blues were coincidentally staying at the same hotel in San Jose, something that New York used to its advantage in convincing Schenn to waive his no-trade clause, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday.

"(The Islanders) weren't sure that Schenn was going to take this deal," Friedman said during the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. "And what happened was, (general manager) Mathieu Darche and (head coach) Patrick Roy asked, 'Could we meet Schenn face-to-face and talk to him about why he should join our team?'"

Of course, Schenn ultimately approved the deal that ended his nine-season tenure in St. Louis, heading to New York for Jonathan Drouin, a 2026 first-rounder (via Colorado), a 2026 third-rounder (via New Jersey) and goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof.

In 61 games this season with the Blues, Schenn has 12 goals and 28 points.

Schenn is in the sixth year of an eight-year contract that carries a $6.5 million cap hit.

"I told someone this story today," Friedman continued. "And they were like, 'There was no way Patrick Roy was letting Schenn get out of that room without saying yes to the Islanders."

Schenn, 34, was in his third season as captain and won the Stanley Cup with the franchise in 2019; his history with the team likely a cause for New York needing to convince him to accept a move.

Of course, the Blues were in the middle of more public no-trade clause drama this deadline, as defenceman Colton Parayko nixed a deal to the Buffalo Sabres.

Friedman also hinted that other Blues players exercised a no-movement clause in their contracts this week.

But luckily for the Islanders, the hotel crossover allowed them to land the veteran centre.

"It was in that meeting that they convinced Schenn to say yes," Friedman said. "And that was the final thing that got that Brayden Schenn over the line."