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 (viaBrock Nelson) and the followingdraft 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, acquiringMichael Grabner,Derick Brassard,Mark Letestu, andPetr Mrazek, respectively. The Islanders haven’t made a major deadline move since theShane Princetrade two years ago if even that could be considered a major move.
Describing how desperate Islanders fans are is not even possible.Mike GreenandTyson Barrieare 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 defensemanBrandon Davidsonfrom 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 recentlysigneda 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 wasasked about his requestand 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.
Next: Islanders Lock Up Josh Bailey Long Term
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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