The Islanders have acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac in exchange for a 2021 first-round pick, a conditional 2022 4th, and prospects Mason Jobst and AJ Greer. What is going to happen going forward for the Islanders and what should be expected of the lines?
The Islanders definitely won this trade. They got a potential top 6 winger to play alongside Barzal that can play on both the power play and the penalty kill and they got a depth forward in Zajac that can also play on the penalty kill. They did this while only giving up a first-round pick and some throw-ins.
Palmieri is a great fit alongside Barzal but can also play in the bottom 6 with Pageau and Zajac. He has a great shot and although he has not had a good year, he has been on an awful Devils team and with getting an upgraded center compared to the ones he has been playing within New Jersey, he can really succeed. In 2020 he was an All-Star and put up 25 goals and 20 assists in 65 games for 45 points. Overall, he is just a great fit for the Islanders.
Islanders GM Lou Lou Lamoriello is familiar with these two faces, he was once a GM for the Devils and drafted Travis Zajac! He brought in Andy Greene last year from New Jersey, so now these three can reunite!
Here is what Palmieri said after being traded to the Islanders: “You see the way they play their system and how difficult they are to play against, obviously playing in their division for the last couple of years. They have a lot of talent on that roster, but I think the biggest thing you notice is how well they play as a team and how dedicated they are to winning and doing the right things to give themselves an opportunity to win. That’s something that’s evident and they bring it every night, up and down the lineup… As a new piece coming in, all you can hope is that you bring a positive impact to not only the room but on the ice and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Projected lines
Wahlstrom-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Pageau-Zajac-Palmieri
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
