The New York Rangers and New York Islanders are bitter rivals. The players, fanbases, and organizations don’t like each other, which has made for plenty of intense battles on the ice over the years.
Given their history and rivalry, the two Metropolitan Division foes have very rarely linked up on any trades. In fact, it’s been almost 15 years since they last did so, all the way back in May of 2010.
Despite that, Cole Shelton of Heavy Sports proposed a huge deal between the two that would see longtime staple on the Islanders’ blue line, Adam Pelech, make his way to Manhattan and join the Rangers.
Rangers acquire: Adam Pelech
Islanders acquire: Scott Morrow, 2026 second-round pick (Hurricanes)
“The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as the Rangers would acquire Pelech to bolster their blue line for a young defenseman they acquired this season and a second-round pick,” Shelton wrote.
“Pelech has played his entire career with the Islanders, but his time with the team could be over soon. Islanders’ analyst Michael Stahurski of EyesonIsles named Pelech a trade candidate this season, as New York may look to turn over the defense and go younger,” Shelton added.
The recently turned 31-year-old still has another four years remaining on the eight-year, $46,000,000 contract extension he inked with the Islanders in 2021.
Cap space is minimal for the Rangers
While the idea of the Rangers acquiring a shutdown defenseman like Adam Pelech is intriguing, their current salary cap situation will make it difficult to piece together.
According to PuckPedia, New York has just $777,976 available cap space at the moment, so taking on Pelech’s $5.75 million AAV while only shedding Scott Morrow’s $916,667 wouldn’t be plausible.
Having won the draft lottery to land Matthew Schaefer, it is fair to wonder about the direction of the Islanders as a franchise. However, at this point in time, a blockbuster deal with their New York rivals involving Adam Pelech feels unlikely.
