NHL Trade Rumors: Big trade coming from New York Islanders

The New York Islanders have been one of the busiest teams on the trade market these last 10 months, and from the sounds of it, general manager Mathieu Darche isn't close to finished.

The NHL's roster freeze is up Feb.22 and with the trade deadline set for Mar.6, look for Darche to continue making moves, after already acquiring Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils, and Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers. It's not often a GM makes two trades with rival teams, but it was obvious Darche identified gaps in his roster, and the familiarity of seeing Palat and Soucy a lot this season certainly played into the trade talks.

As far as his next move, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta recently commented on the Isles on Daily Faceoff Live, and had this to say:

They’re looking. Wouldn’t surprise me if they do. Mathieu Darche has not been sitting on his hands by any stretch. He’s made some shrewd moves already. Like you said, he made a couple moves now last week in bringing in Soucy and Palat. I think they are around 6 million in cap space, something like that still. So they’ve got flexibility to add. I think they’re going to take that… I think they’re going to take advantage of where they’re at. Nice way to come back [Tuesday], collect some points, get back in a bit of a comfort zone, standing wise.

The Islanders have $6 million in cap space to work with, they also still have two first-round picks they could include in trade talks. Steven Stamkos appears to be a target they've connected with in the past, and don't be surprised if Darche has spoke to the Vancouver Canucks about winger Conor Garland.

Another big move coming from Long Island, and it sounds like it will be for a top-six forward.

Photo credit:  Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images