When you look to retain, or add, older athletes to your squad, you’re obviously paying up for the wisdom and experience they bring to the table. But that’s not how everyone’s seeing the recent trade rumors in the NHL involving the New York Islanders.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Islanders are rumored to be looking to trade defenseman Noah Dobson, who is just out of a lower-body injury. Furthermore, they have also seemingly extended Brock Nelson‘s contract. But the moves don’t make sense to many experts.

A post by the official NHL Network on X from February 7 highlights the New York Islanders’ possible deals for two of their stars, as it shared the opinion of two pundits on the matter. “@BriBrows22 and @jasondemers5 can’t believe the Islanders would trade a young defenseman and keep an aging forward,” the post notes. 

At one point during the conversation, Brian Boyle underscored his exasperation over the Islanders’ actions. “...this is, you’re saying this is a sideways deal, but they just give too many deals to 30 plus guys. And listen, I don’t mind that because I was the 30-plus guy looking for deals all the time. And I had gas left in the tank, but you can’t punt on young talent,” the former New York Rangers center said with a bamboozled demeanor. He also added that he has no problem with Nelson getting a new deal despite his age. After all, with 16 goals and 33 points so far, the veteran has shown that he still has a lot of skating left in him. Still. The idea of a bright prospect like Dobson being traded is more than just strange.

It’s true that Dobson, 25, hasn’t been having the best of runs. He has also not been snubbed by Canada for the Four Nation Face-Off. But that does not tell the whole story. He is one of the only two defensemen in the Islanders history to register a 70-point season, making him an elite NHL star by every means. The only other person on the list? The long retired, Denis Potvin. Naturally, the thought of the New York team looking to let go of such a promising young athlete while extending the contract for an aging pending unrestricted free agent like Nelson is making many scratch their heads in amazement, and the analysts didn’t hide their bewilderment either.

Dobson will not be returning to the NHL action before the Four Nation Face-off, and Jason Demers pondered if Lou Lamoriello was trying to understand the market for Dobson by floating trade rumors. He also shared how with an RFA due soon, the 25-year-old might end up wanting more for his services than Lamoriello wants to spare.”Lou does not want to pay that kind of money to a defenseman like Noah Dobson, who has been fantastic, but did he hit his ceiling last year? And is it kind of, that’s the highest we’ll get out of him? ” added the ex-Florida Panthers player on the show.

However, while the New York Islanders meander around the issues and find their solutions, the NHL trade deadline is also prompting other franchises to move mountains as well.

The New York Islanders aren’t the only ones undergoing tumultuous changes

The Toronto Maple Leafs are also rumored to be looking at trade options for a right-shot defenseman before the deadline ends on March 7. Links between stars David Savard, Jamie Oleksiak, Brandon Carlo, and the Leafs have been speculated by The Athletic. Considering the uncertainty around Jani Hakanpää‘s future with the team, Toronto could be eagerly looking for a defenseman to team up with Morgan Rielly. The Calgary Flames have also sent calls to Ilya Solovyov, who is currently playing for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers.

The Vancouver Canucks have also been undergoing some serious locker room changes. Only recently did they waive off some defensive muscle when the team sent off veteran Mark Friedman to the Nashville Predators. On the other hand, the beef between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller also saw the latter return to where all the NHL thrill started for him: the New York Rangers camp.

But which of these trades and swaps will prove to be the most beneficial for the teams and the athletes? Will the New York Islanders’ playoff dreams see brighter days with their restacked roster? Tell us in a comment below!