The New York Islanders are still in the middle of their search for a new general manager (GM), which holds up the draft process. The direction this team will take will be clear once they know who is steering the ship. Once the Islanders have a GM, it will be time to get to work, not just by making a big selection with the top pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft but also by fixing the roster.
The subsequent fallout that will come from the pick is that other players on the Islanders could be on the move this offseason. It’s unlikely that players will be traded because of the top pick, especially since the prospect probably won’t make an impact from day one. That said, some players can become expendable following the draft and be traded in the offseason to help the Islanders rebuild or retool on the fly.
Adam Pelech
The easy answer for the most expendable defenseman, at least for some fans, is Noah Dobson. He’s a restricted free agent (RFA) and is more expendable based on his style of play. If the Islanders select Matthew Schaefer, they’ll add a scoring presence to replace their only scorer at the point. That said, Dobson is 25 and will remain a staple of the defense along with Alexander Romanov, who is the stay-at-home top-pair option on the unit.
Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are the two defensemen to watch this summer. Both are in their 30s and are no longer the top-pair players they once were, with injuries and decline limiting them. That said, they are both valuable as second-pair stay-at-home options.
Pelech is the one who can be traded for a few reasons. His contract isn’t an ideal one with four more seasons left on it, and a $5.75 million average annual value (AAV) attached to it. However, if the Islanders retain some of the contract, it’s manageable for most teams to take on. The other factor is Schaefer’s position. If the prospect is ready to start the new season, he’ll slot in on the left side as the second-pair defenseman with the possibility of being the top-pair option by the end of the season. That’s the role and position Pelech plays, and it’s why the Islanders can trade him.
Anders Lee
Anders Lee is a trade target regardless of who the Islanders take with the number one pick. Yes, he’s the captain and a key part of the roster. That said, if the Islanders want to rebuild and bring in a considerable haul before the season starts, Lee is the player to trade, and now is the time to trade him.
Lee is coming off one of the best seasons of his career with 29 goals and 25 assists despite being 34 years old, far from his prime. He’s a scorer and will be a key part of any team’s middle six, especially a Cup contender. Lee heads to free agency in the 2026 offseason, so his value is at its highest this offseason.
