The New York Islanders have been struggling offensively as of late, but are still in good position in the East, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-15-6 record. Oher than center John Tavares, the team's offense is lacking. Despite this, the window is wide open in the East, and Islanders' general manager Garth Snow is being urged to "get off his assets" and to go for an uncharacteristic dramatic deal to take advantage, according to the NY Post's Larry Brooks.
Offensive support is difficult to produce for the Islanders because other that a brief stint with Thomas Vanek during the 2013-14 season, Tavares has never played on the same line as another All-Star. The 25-year-old needs the support of a competent winger.
"What would it take to add Eric Staal to Tavares' left side? What would it take for the Islanders to pry Dustin Byfuglien or Andrew Ladd out of Winnipeg, if not both? And is it not worth investigating whether Steven Stamkos would be available to play right wing for a few months with Tavares?," Brooks wrote in the New York Post. "If we're going beyond rentals, and why not, don't the Islanders have enough to get Jonathan Drouin? And is there enough for Snow to pull off a deal with old trading buddy Peter Chiarelli, now in Edmonton, to get young Taylor Hall onto No. 91's left wing? Wouldn't that be something?"
While any of these wingers would be sure to bring in offensive power to the team, Snow knows that in order to get a decent winger he "would have to trade away young stars in the making in Travis Hamonic or Calvin de Haan as well as Michael Dal Colle, Josh Ho Sang and Matthew Barzal," according to Garth's Corner.
Someone like the Buffalo Sabres' Matt Moulson may be a good fit for the Islanders, however. They have played together on the same line, and "go together like tortilla chips and salsa" and "complete one another," according to Garth's Corner. "A Moulson-Tavares reunion may be the unbreakable bond that can carry the Islanders to the top of the Eastern Conference standings and then on to a long, prosperous playoff run."
The New York defense is also in a rut as of late, as Johnny Boychuk and Travis Hamonic remain sidelined. While it is possible for the GM to make a move to fill out the team's blue line, getting Tavares the help he needs up front should be the first priority.
