“I believe he improves us to get that opportunity to get in the playoffs and then we’ll go one step at a time,” Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello said on Monday. “Once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen.”
Only four points separate the five teams battling it out for the final two wild card spots in the east. Washington is currently holding down seventh place in the standings with 58 points, followed by Pittsburgh , Buffalo , N.Y. Islanders and Florida .Article content The 27-year-old, who was considered the top prize heading into this year’s trade deadline, cost the Islanders a package that includes winger Anthony Beauvillier, centre prospect Aatu Raty, as well as a protected 2023 1st round pick. For a Canucks team that is trying to rebuild on the fly, it moves them in the right direction.As for the Islanders, they are clearly going for it. The first-round pick is top-12 protected, meaning that it slides to 2024 if the Islanders finish in the bottom-12.