If you thought the New York Islanders were planning to sell at the March 6 NHL trade deadline, think again. Despite early season doubts, the Isles have clawed their way into serious playoff contention. Now, insider reports suggest GM Mathieu Darche is preparing a massive swing to shore up the blue line. The target? Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
With potential access to over $12 million in LTIR salary cap relief, the Islanders have the financial muscle to make a splash. But the question isn’t can they do it—it’s whether they are willing to pay the high price of a 2026 first-round pick and a top prospect to land the right-shot defender they desperately need.
Analyzing the Islanders’ Push for a Top-4 Defenseman
Let’s be honest: the Islanders’ current position in the standings is a testament to the team’s resilience. However, the holes in the roster are glaring. The departure of Noah Dobson left a void on the right side of the defense that has never truly been filled, and with Alexander Romanov sidelined, the defensive corps is stretched thin.
The Islanders’ priority must be the back end. This is where Rasmus Andersson becomes the “obvious fit.” With 18 points in 27 games this season, Andersson brings exactly what Long Island is missing: puck-moving ability, grit, and the capacity to eat big minutes.
From my perspective, this trade makes too much sense to ignore. While trading a 2026 first-round pick and a top prospect is steep, the Islanders’ window is right now. You don’t hold onto expiring contracts like Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau just to finish in the “mushy middle.” If the Isles are keeping their vets, they owe it to the locker room to bring in reinforcements.
Andersson isn’t just a rental; he’s a stabilizer. He fits the Islanders’ hard-nosed identity but adds the offensive flair required to transition the puck up the ice—something the team has struggled with since Dobson’s exit. If Darche can pull this off without subtracting from the current roster, the Islanders go from a bubble team to a legitimate threat in the East.
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