Though there are 31 teams in the NHL that the NY Islanders could turn into trade partners, history has proven that the number is really 30. Considered sacrilegious to potentially make your heated rival, let alone improve your cross-town rival, is something the fans and the organization couldn't tolerate.
But what if a potential deal works in favor of what the NY Islanders and Mathieu Darche are attempting to build?
Islanders and Rangers trade proposal
Yesterday, Cole Shelton of Heavy.com pitched a trade idea that could potentially benefit both sides. The trade consists of Adam Pelech being shipped to Manhattan in exchange for Scott Morrow and a second-round pick in 2026.
Pelech, 31, has been a mainstay in the Islanders' lineup since the 2016-17 season. Once considered a top-pairing defensive-defensemen, the wear and tear on Pelech's body has begun to catch up with him. Pelech has missed at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons.
A left-handed defenseman, Pelech has four years remaining on his current contract at a cap hit of $5.75M, with a modified 16-team no-trade list. The Islanders have a plethora of left-handed defensemen in their prospect pool, including Isaiah George, Matthew Schaefer, and Kashawn Aitcheson.
By joining the Rangers, Pelech could once again see himself earning top-pair minutes, as he could be the ideal partner for Adam Fox. The deal would take some cap juggling on the Rangers' end, as they only have $2.3M in cap space as things stand.
Morrow, 22, was recently acquired by the Rangers in the trade that sent K'Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes. A second-round pick in 2021, Morrow was considered the Hurricanes' top prospect before this summer's blockbuster trade.
A 6'2" right-handed defenseman, Morrow spent most of last season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. Finishing last season with 39 points (13 G, 26 A) in 52 games while playing over 20 minutes a night, Morrow accrued the 13th highest total in the AHL despite missing time due to an NHL call-up.
With the Hurricanes, Morrow amassed one goal and five assists in 14 NHL games.
The Islanders are quite barren on the right side of the blue line, and Morrow loves to transport the puck up the ice - something the Islanders are in desperate need of. They'd also be acquiring a second-round pick in what is expected to be a deep 2026 draft class.
Entering the final year of his ELC, moving Pelech and acquiring Morrow would free up cap space for the Islanders, as they could potentially look to make a splash in free agency next summer.
While the proposal isn't lopsided either way, this deal likely never gets done. The Islanders and Rangers have only made three trades in the Isles' 52-year history, with two happening in 1972 (the Islanders' inaugural season), and the most recent coming in 2010 when the Isles acquired Jyri Niemi for a sixth-round pick at the 2010 NHL Draft.
