The New York Islanders have made a minor trade following the conclusion of the Olympics and the lifting of the NHL roster freeze. General Manager Mathieu Darche announced on Tuesday that the team has traded veteran forward Julien Gauthier to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Matt Luff.
Luff, 28, has been performing impressively in the AHL, leading his team with 39 points, including 14 goals in just 42 games this season for the Springfield Thunderbirds. Standing at 6-foot-3, he has made a mark in the NHL with 16 goals across 111 games played for four different teams, registering one goal in five appearances this season with the Blues.
In contrast, Julien Gauthier, also 28, has struggled to find playing time, appearing in only one game for the Islanders and 23 games with AHL Bridgeport over the past two seasons, largely due to injuries. Gauthier previously played for the New York Rangers from 2020 to 2023.
As the Islanders prepare for their first game after the Olympic break on Thursday in Montreal, they currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a total of 69 points. The trade may signal a push for increased performance and depth as they prepare for the final stretch of the regular season. Stay tuned for further developments on this transaction and its implications for both players and their new teams.