The NHL is back in action after its damn-near-monthlong Olympic break with eight games tonight, though the Islanders don’t resume until tomorrow night in Montreal, one of 12 games Thursday.
That didn’t keep them from kicking off the looming trade frenzy, though, with a minor league swap of Julien Gauthier to the Blues/Springfield for Matt Luff for the Isles/Bridgeport. This continues what is becoming a tradition of late-season scrapyard swaps between these two franchises.
Both guys have NHL experience
and can step in when needed, but they are primarily AHL resources at this point. The Blues are terrible this season and have dealt with a cascade of forward injuries but only afforded Luff five NHL games. He’s been a scorer in the A though. Gauthier looked like he might have a chance at a regular bottom-line role a couple of seasons ago before injuries derailed both 2024-25 and 2025-26.
- Both Isles Olympians are back in town (Bo Horvat did not skate though) and expected to play Thursday. [THN | Isles]
- The official announcement of Luff for Gauthier. [Isles]
- Patrick Roy knows how both Horvat and Ondrej Palat are feeling after falling short at the Olympics. Roy was on the 1998 Canada team that fell to the Czechs. [Newsday]
- Five important games among many for the Isles down the stretch. [Newsday]
- Islanders Anxiety podcast: Dan and Mike relive the Olympics and some hilarious hot takes. [LHH]
Elsewhere
- The Penguins continue to build flexibility and get younger, flipping Brett Kulak (part of the Jarry trade) to Colorado for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick. [NHL]
- The Kyper trade board is updated for the drama to follow over the next week. [Sportsnet]
- The Canucks are one of those teams that knows they’re about to lose some guys. [Sportsnet]
- Coming off IR just in time for the trade deadline, Blake Coleman is a Flame until he’s told he’s not. [NHL]
- Out since the first day of training camp, Aleksandar Barkov says he’s on track for a playoff return following knee surgery. [NHL]
