The New York Islanders have acquired Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils. Let me tell ya, I was terrified when I got this notification wondering who got traded off the Island. New Jersey has acquired A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, and the Isles first-round pick in the 2021 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft. New Jersey has agreed to obtain 50% of their salaries.
The Kiddos
A.J. Greer and Mason Jobst have been playing for the Islanders AHL affiliate team, Bridgeport Sound Tigers. A.J Greer was traded to New York from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Kyle Burroughs. Greer has 6 points in 37 NHL games with the Avs. This season, he has one goal and one assist in 10 games for the Tigers. Jobst has not played any NHL games and has two assists this season for the Tigers.
The Vets
Kyle Palmieri is in the final year of a 5-year contract with the Devils and will be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He has scored 183 goals and 172 assists for a combined 355 points in 595 regular-season games with the Ducks and the Devils. He was drafted 26th overall in 2009 by the Ducks.
Travis Zajac is on the final year of an 8-year contract with the Devils and will also be an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He was selected 20th overall in 2004 by New Jersey and has 520 points in 1,024 regular-season games.
I’m not really sure how Lou Lamoriello pulled this one off. The man works in mysterious ways. The Islanders lost their captain, Anders Lee, in early March due to a torn ACL. He’ll be back for the 2021-22 season but if the Isles intend on a playoff run as deep as last seasons, these are the kinds of assets they need to fill in those gaps in front of the net that Anders always thrives in.
There is no timeline for their debut with the New York Islanders but I would guess as early as Friday against the cross-town rival, the New York Rangers.
