The NHL trade deadline’s biggest winner was the New York Islanders. The Isles pulled off another massive deadline deal.
This time, it wasn’t as sellers. Rather, the Islanders pulled off this coup as buyers.
The Islanders had been in talks with the St. Louis Blues for some time now, pivoting from Robert Thomas to Jordan Kyrou, and eventually landing on Brayden Schenn.
When the dust settled, the Isles had pulled off a blockbuster. The Isles acquired Schenn, the Blues’ former captain, for a seemingly low price. In fact, the price tag was well below what most speculated ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
The Islanders got the 34-year-old Schenn for Jonathan Drouin, goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof, a 2025 first-round pick, and a 2026 third-round selection.
On the surface, the Blues cleaned up by getting four pieces. But upon closer inspection, this wasn’t the NHL trade deadline blockbuster Blues’ fans were hoping for.
Let’s start with Drouin. The 30-year-old had resurrected his career in Colorado. However, cap constraints forced the Avalanche to pass on re-signing him this past offseason. So, Drouin went to Long Island. There, he failed to live up to the numbers he had produced in Colorado.
That’s why the Islanders were looking to dump his contract at the NHL trade deadline. It’s surprising they actually found a taker, especially as part of this deal.
It’s unclear what role Drouin will have in St. Louis. Nevertheless, he’ll likely get a shot to demonstrate what he can do.
Blues Get Magic Beans at NHL Trade Deadline
As for the other pieces, well, they’re pretty much magic beans. Gidlof is a 20-year-old netminder playing in Sweden. He’s a former fifth-round pick. And well, he’s not the sort of player that fans would like to see come back in a deal such as this one.
The 6’7” goalie may end up becoming something. But until the Blues get him to North America, he will be a major question mark.
It’s surprising that the Blues didn’t push for some of the other prospects in the Islanders’ system. Players such as Kashawn Aitcheson and Isaiah George were trending names at the NHL trade deadline.
However, those two prospects, among others, were not part of this deal.
Islanders Send Other Teams’ Draft Picks to St. Louis
As for the draft picks sent to St. Louis at the NHL trade deadline, they weren’t even the Islanders’ to begin with.
The first-rounder originally belonged to the Colorado Avalanche. That pick came back in the Brock Nelson trade last season. With the way things are going, that pick could end up becoming the 32nd-overall pick. That would essentially make it a second-rounder.
The third-round pick originally belong the New Jersey Devils. If the Devils continue to tank, it might be low in the third-round. So, that might be something the Blues could work with.
All told, the draft picks the Islanders sent at the NHL trade deadline were spares obtained in various deals. Kudos to the Isles for knowing how to flip those picks as part of something much bigger this season.
NHL Trade Deadline Biggest Winners Were Islanders