Islanders Not Done Adding & Could Target Blues’ Wingers

Despite the New York Islanders kicking off the 2023 Trade Deadline season by acquiring Bo Horvat in what may be the blockbuster this season, it doesn’t appear like they are done adding. This may come as a shock to some, but the team still has cap space to work with and more of a need for scoring. Swapping Horvat’s 31 goals for Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty’s combined 11 goals is still a big step up, but the Islanders must play from behind in the standings and win many more games than they lose to close out the regular season.

Horvat may shore up the middle of the ice for the Islanders, but they still must address their top-six. Slotted in on the top line right now is Casey Cizikas who has regularly played on the fourth line. That’s not a recipe for success, even if he is beside Horvat and Mathew Barzal. They need another point producer to play big minutes and are looking to the St. Louis Blues to get something done.

Tarasenko and Barbashev on Islanders’ Radar

If the Islanders are looking at Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Barbashev, that means they are going all in this season. We all know not to count the Islanders out if they can get into the postseason, so that’s the minimum they must do. Horvat is still without a contract, but one is being discussed. That means there is still a possibility he isn’t on the Islanders by next season and increases the stakes to make a postseason run this year.

Vladimir Tarasenko

The Blues will be trading Tarasenko, but he controls his future. Stefen Rosner reported that the Islanders are a team that Tarasenko would consider going to at the deadline. The list of teams the Blues’ sniper has can’t be very long, so the Islanders are one of the frontrunners. He is the exact second piece that they can add to push them into a playoff spot. Tarasenko is a six-time 33-goal scorer and has proven these past couple of seasons that he can also pass the puck. Whether he is acquired to play on the top line or second line, he will be another integral addition to upgrade offence even more.

Ivan Barbashev

The Islanders are also looking at Barbashev as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has linked the two. He is a cheaper option than Tarasenko and is also a UFA at the end of the season. Since the Islanders just traded their first round pick and top prospect, he may be a more viable option that they can afford. He may also be someone the team can potentially extend past this season. The 27-year-old had a coming out party last season when he scored 24 goals and 60 points. His production is a bit down from last season, but so is nearly everyone’s on the Blues. His physicality can also play a big part in a postseason push and in games where the intensity picks up.

Related: 4 Surprise Teams Timo Meier Could Be Traded To at 2023 Deadline

The Islanders could also use someone signed past this season as a trade chip to help broker a deal and free up cap space or an unneeded player. The candidate to do this is JG Pageau. The Islanders are a more veteran team that needs to start getting younger but actually just got even older by trading away a 25-year-old and a 20-year-old for a 27-year-old. Pageau is 30 years old and signed for three more years at $5 million AAV. With the Islanders looking to clear cap for the future and the Blues looking to retool with a number of their forwards being moved, Pageau must be included in a deal.