Islanders trade James Wisniewski

 The Islanders have traded defenseman James Wisniewski to Montreal for a compensatory second-round pick this year and a conditional 5th round pick in 2012.

Wisniewski, 26,  is tied for the team lead with 3 goals and 18 assists for 21 points this season. He was acquired in August for a conditional third round pick from Anaheim.

The compensatory pick of Montreal's is from not signing their former first-round pick David Fisher.

The Islanders would have moved Wisiniewski at some point before the deadline-- he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season--but by striking while the iron is hot, they turned a 3rd-rounder into a 2nd and a 5th.

For more on this move, follow Newsday's columnist Arthur Staple on twitter @StapeNewsday and on his Center Ice blog.