Potential Islanders trade partner: Winnipeg Jets

Closets cleaned out. The dust settled. The story of the 2023-24 New York Islanders season has come to an end. The Islanders can now focus on improving their roster from average to contender. While we haven't gotten any indication from President of Hockey Operations/GM Lou Lamoriello that he's buying into the NHL trade market, that seems like a certainty, too.

As the sun rises in the east, the Islanders' need for a six-point winger remains. Since the departure of Jordan Eberle, the team has had to join the top six.

After a tough first round loss, the trade winds are blowing in Winnipeg and that could be good news for the Islanders.

A potential fit for the Islanders' trade needs is Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolai Ehlers.

Ehlers, 28, is coming off a 25-goal, 61-point campaign. Winnipeg had an incredible regular season, winning 52 games, including a league-leading 46 shutouts. However, Winnipeg fell spectacularly and head coach Rick Bowness retired.

Since 2018, they have tried and failed to reach greater heights than just making the playoffs. Now Winnipeg can shuffle the deck.

Ehlers is a player who makes noise. He is entering a contract year and is a consistent 20+ goal scorer. He's the type of player the Islanders could use in the top lineup alongside Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, as opposed to the “revolving door” Horvat referred to in his exit interview.

Ehlers is a versatile, skilled winger who can play both wings with good finishing and playmaking skills. At 28 years old, he is currently in his prime and cements a huge hole in the Islanders lineup. Anders Lee, 33, is aging and has suffered a significant drop in goals and points this season, raising concerns that he may no longer be able to fill the spot, or soon. Nor did Oliver Wahlstrom ever step up the way the organization hoped.

It's worth noting that Ehlers has a 10-team no-trade clause, but the Islanders aren't usually a team players avoid, and a potential team success with Ehlers should remove any barriers.

Trade of potential islands

What will the trade be like? Could it be as simple as a rare single deal?

The answer to that last one is a resounding… maybe. Ryan Pulock is a native of Manitoba. Pulock has a full no-trade clause, but a pairing with Josh Morrissey would be interesting. Morrissey's current running mate Dylan DeMelo is a pending unrestricted free agent and is not guaranteed to re-sign. In addition to DeMelo, right guard Colin Miller is also a free agent, and Logan Stanley is an RFA in need of a new, more expensive deal.

6.15 million until the end of the 2028-29 season. His play hasn't really diminished, nor does he have much potential value for a team in a winning mode like the Jets. Ehlers' salary, even $6 million, would make a trade easier for both teams.

A potential Pulock swap for Ehlers would leave a huge hole on the Islanders' right side, but if Scott Mayfield returns and stays healthy, he could fill the void. The Isles may be intent on signing the right fielder on July 1; With some symmetry, maybe DeMelo could be a good replacement for Pulock.

Such trade has a cascading effect. Adding Ehlers would allow coach Patrick Roy to return Casey Cizikas to his usual bottom-six role and give Jean-Gabriel Pajau and his $5.5 million salary an extension.

(Later this week, I'll follow up on Andrew Fantuccio's article from last week about Peugeot and how the Islanders can maximize the Peugeot deal)

Despite finishing third in the Metro Division, the Islanders need a big boost. The stark reality is that their season point total would have left them in the final wild card position for many seasons. Few believe the Islanders don't need to improve to keep up with the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers.

The Ehlers are a tight fit, and the look on this keyboard is separated by a Pulock or other external main body worth investigating.

What the Islanders currently have is not enough. The Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers have been down for six weeks, and the Islanders have the upper hand. The gift was a gift from a gentleman from Carolina.

Acquiring Ehlers or someone of similar stature while parting ways with a member of the old guard feels like a slam dunk.