Top 10 Islanders trade deadline deals

The NHL trade deadline is Friday, halfway through the Islanders’ four-game road trip that opens Wednesday in Anaheim.

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche already has made two pre-deadline deals, so there’s no guarantee he’ll make another despite being very active on the phone with his fellow GMs and with the Islanders having a glaring need for a top-six scoring wing.

He acquired defenseman Carson Soucy from the Rangers on Jan. 26 for a third-round pick in 2026 to solidify the third pair, which had been in flux since Alexander Romanov suffered a regular season-ending shoulder injury on Nov. 18. On Jan. 27, Darche brought in left wing Ondrej Palat, who has settled into a role on Bo Horvat’s top line with Mathew Barzal, and a 2026 third-round pick from the Devils for seldom-used forward Max Tsyplakov and a sixth-round pick in 2027.

It will take time to fully grade those trades.

But here are the Islanders’ top 10 trade deadline (or near the trade deadline) deals:

10. Feb. 27, 2007 — Ryan Smyth rental

GM Garth Snow sent former first-rounders Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra and a first-round pick (Alex Plante) to the Oilers for the Edmonton fan favorite. Smyth had five goals and 10 assists in 18 games with the Islanders to help them reach the playoffs and added a goal and three assists in a five-game loss to the Sabres before signing a five-year, $31.25 million deal with the Avalanche.

9. March 10, 1981 — changing the dynasty personnel

Chico Resch no longer wanted to play playoff backup to Bill Smith, so GM Bill Torrey sent the goalie and Steve Tambellini to the Colorado Rockies for former Rangers defenseman Mike McEwen and goalie Jari Kaarela. Kaarela never played for the Islanders, but McEwen played a valuable role in three Stanley Cup wins.

8. March 13, 1996 — getting a lot from the Maple Leafs

GM Mike Milbury salvaged Wendel Clark wanting out by sending him, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith to the Maple Leafs for defenseman Kenny Jonsson, Darby Hendrickson, Sean Haggerty and a first-round pick. Jonsson became the Islanders’ captain and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2012. Milbury used the pick to draft Roberto Luongo, who played the bulk of his Hall of Fame career elsewhere.

7. March 7, 2025 — replacing Brock Nelson

This trade someday may be graded a lot higher and be seen as GM Lou Lamoriello’s farewell gift, depending on how successful rookie center Cal Ritchie becomes. Nelson didn’t accept Lamoriello’s final contract offer and was sent to the Avalanche along with minor-leaguer William Dufour for Ritchie, a conditional 2026 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 third-round pick and defenseman Oliver Kylington, who was traded to the Ducks the same day. Ritchie has taken Nelson’s place centering the second line.

6. Feb. 16, 2020 — a deal with the Devils

Lamoriello, needing to solidify his defense corps with Adam Pelech lost for the season and rookie Noah Dobson inconsistent, acquired former Devils captain Andy Greene for minor-leaguer David Quenneville and a second-round pick. Greene’s veteran presence helped the Islanders make back-to-back trips to the NHL semifinals, and he was a key mentor to Dobson.

5. April 7, 2021 — another deal with the Devils

With Anders Lee out for the season, Lamoriello again reached out to his former team to acquire Smithtown’s Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac for A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick to bolster the up-front scoring and depth. The Islanders reached the NHL semifinals, again losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Lightning, and Palmieri wound up signing a four-year, $20 million extension to stay.

4. Feb. 24, 2020 — Pageau’s arrival

There’s current speculation as to whether Darche will trade pending unrestricted free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau rather than risk losing him for nothing (no deal is imminent and Pageau is unlikely to go). Lamoriello acquired him from his hometown Ottawa Senators for a first-, second- and third-round pick at a time when the versatile center was one of the most sought-after trade pieces and promptly signed him to a six-year, $30 million deal. He was a key part of the Islanders’ playoff runs in 2020 and 2021.

3. Jan. 30, 2023 — acquiring an All-Star

Lamoriello sent Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a first-round pick to the Canucks for Bo Horvat, who was in Sunrise, Florida, to play for the Pacific Division in the All-Star Game. Horvat promptly signed an eight-year, $68 million deal and finished second on the team in goals his first two full seasons with the Islanders. He has the most goals this season.

2. March 4, 2014 — two picks with huge dividends from Flyers

It was tough sending a team leader such as defenseman Andrew MacDonald to the Flyers, but Snow used the third-round pick he acquired to draft current No. 1 goalie Ilya Sorokin, who finally joined the organization in 2020, and used the second-round pick as part of the package to acquire cornerstone defenseman Johnny Boychuk from the Bruins.

1. March 10, 1980 — the Butch Goring deal

Arguably the best trade deadline deal in NHL history. Torrey’s acquisition of the versatile center for original Islander Billy Harris and Dave Lewis was the final piece to set up the Islanders’ four Stanley Cups from 1980-83. Goring won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 1981.