Three Trade Options to Clear Out a Defenseman Ahead of the Deadline

It’s no secret the New York Islanders will be active this week in the lead-up to the trade deadline. The activities in question remain unknown. All season long, rumors have swirled about Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. Recently, some wind about Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau picked up steam.

Those are all uncertainties, though. What’s certain is by Friday afternoon, the New York Islanders will not have the same nine defensemen on their roster. The team cleared Mike Reilly for contact, and he has ramped up his activity. His offensive play style fits head coach Patrick Roy’s system to a tee.

Even if the Islanders do not want to rush Reilly, who could even receive a conditioning stint down in Bridgeport, he needs to be activated at some point. Matt Martin can’t be removed from the roster this time.

So, that means the Islanders must make a trade this week. Let’s evaluate the options.

Option #1: Anthony DeAngelo

Starting with what I consider the most logical route, the Islanders can trade Anthony DeAngelo for a mid-round pick. DeAngelo, 29, signed with the Islanders off the street after leaving the KHL.

He’s recorded one goal and six points through 12 games. He’s averaged around 24 minutes per game and played a big role during the latter stage of the seven-game winning streak. However, the experiment is turning sour. With each passing game, his power play unit looks worse and fails to score. He’s unreliable defensively and has already scored three own goals.

The downside is how well he’s meshed with Alexander Romanov. Romanov’s game has reached new heights recently, and there would be concern about taking his preferred partner from him.

However, with Adam Boqvist’s emergence, you have a perfect in-house replacement for him. From a pure asset-management perspective, turning a guy from a desperation signing into added draft capital is a massive win. Add in the fact DeAngelo has no business being on the roster next season when Isaiah George will return to the NHL, and he’s squeezed out.

Option #2: Scott Mayfield

This is where it gets interesting. As of 10 days, the notion of trading Scott Mayfield would’ve been just pure fantasy. Now, 10 days and three consecutive healthy scratches later, it sure seems possible.

Mayfield, 32, is in year two of a monster seven-year extension worth $3.5 annually. He holds a full no-trade clause right now, so any potential trades would have to be approved by him. That’s why a trade involving him as little as a week ago would not have seemed possible.

Perhaps being healthy and scratched three times in a row changes his tune. Reports earlier this year revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs hold an interest in Mayfield. If the Islanders can get the contract off the books, it opens up a nice chunk of change.

The return would be paltry due to the contract, likely a mid-round pick like DeAngelo. But, it is a seller’s market, which may help inflate the cost. It’d also serve to shake up the room. Mayfield debuted with the Islanders all the way back in 2013-14. 11 years later, he’s still here and is close buddies with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. It would not be an easy trade, but if there’s one to be made, it’s hard to ignore it.

Option #3: Scott Perunovich

The third option is to send Scott Perunovich back out the door. The Islanders acquired Perunovich, 26, out of need. He’s shown some flashes of potential, but he’s also been a healthy scratch for the last two games.

With Mike Reilly returning, Romanov and Pelech as staples, and George on the way, it doesn’t seem like there’s a role for him beyond that stopgap. The caveat is that if the Islanders flip Reilly, then Perunovich is a candidate for the 6/7D spot next year with George, but it remains to be seen.

Perunovich could be sent out for essentially the same thing he came for. A conditional fifth-round pick. This is also a simple trade, and it’s one that’s easy to see. I don’t think the Islanders would waive him, but if they find no takers, he’s by far the likeliest player to hit waivers. This is likely the route the Islanders will go when push comes to shove.