New York Islanders: Should fans actually want Josh Leivo?

The New York Islanders and general manager Garth Snow aren’t known for activity around the NHL trade deadline. Could Toronto’s Josh Leivo be an affordable fit for the team?

The NHL trade deadline is Monday at 3:00 p.m. ET, and like usual, New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow is acting like a statue by doing absolutely nothing to improve the team. The Islanders have many assets both in the form of players (via Brock Nelson) and the following draft picks:

New York Islanders – 1st-5th, 7th
Calgary Flames – 1st-2nd

Intra-division teams such as the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers are making improvements as we speak, acquiring Michael Grabner, Derick Brassard, Mark Letestu, and Petr Mrazek, respectively. The Islanders haven’t made a major deadline move since the Shane Prince trade two years ago if even that could be considered a major move.

Describing how desperate Islanders fans are is not even possible. Mike Green and Tyson Barrie are just some of the names that Islanders fans are screaming out for. Snow, who fans want to fire so much that they are paying for two billboards to be put up about half a mile from Barclays Center, needs to make a move.

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The Islanders already acquired defenseman Brandon Davidson from the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Since Ross Johnston was hooked with a stick on the hand in the game against the Devils, fans are campaigning to acquire former Islander Matt Martin, who reportedly requested a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs last month. However, the Leafs also have another player who requested a trade last month; Josh Leivo.

Leivo, 24, was drafted in the third round (86th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and recently signed a one-year, $925,000 extension that runs through the 2018-19 season. This season, he has one goal and two assists in 13 games.

Leivo has been scratched often this season, only playing two more games than Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney. He was asked about his request and responded with, “I just want to play hockey”, which he has not been able to do this season in Toronto.

Leivo is basically a smaller Ross Johnston who has the ability to score more often and still crash the net. As a bottom-six forward, he could slide into the lineup if Johnston is hurt or slide in for Tanner Fritz.

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As a hybrid of Ross Johnston and Anders Lee, Leivo is a perfect fit for the Islanders. He could be affordable price-wise due to the fact he requested a trade and he is under contract next season as well, so if players like Brock Nelson are not brought back, he could stay in the lineup.

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