The New York Islanders acquired center Brayden Schenn from the St. Louis Blues on NHL Trade Deadline Day. In exchange, the Blues received forward Jonathan Drouin, goaltender prospect Marcus Gidlof, a 2026 first-round pick originally from Colorado, and a 2026 third-round pick originally from New Jersey. Schenn waived his 15-team no-trade clause to facilitate the deal.
The trade, announced on March 6, 2026, marks a significant move for the Islanders, who are positioning themselves as playoff contenders after a rebound season under general manager Mathieu Darche. Schenn, 34, has recorded 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 61 games with the Blues this season, averaging 16:41 of ice time. He has maintained an iron-man streak of 307 consecutive games since the 2022-23 season opener and served as Blues captain for the past three years. Over his 17-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Blues, Schenn has amassed 713 points (290 goals, 423 assists) in 1,083 regular-season games, including a Stanley Cup win in 2019 and 43 playoff points in 82 games. He also represented Canada internationally, earning gold medals and MVP honors at the 2011 Under-20 World Championships.
For the Blues, general manager Doug Armstrong secured valuable assets amid a rebuild. Drouin, 30, posted three goals and 18 assists in 55 games for the Islanders this season and has 395 career points in 662 games across stints with Tampa Bay, Montreal, Colorado, and New York. His contract carries a $4 million cap hit through next season. Gidlof, a 20-year-old unsigned fifth-round pick (147th overall) by the Islanders in 2024, has a 9-15-0 record with a 2.84 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 24 games for Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League.
Schenn's contract extends through the 2026-27 season at a $6.5 million cap hit. Analysts note his strengths in faceoffs (54.2% win rate) and physicality (138 hits this season), though his skating and underlying metrics have declined. The Islanders, third in the Metropolitan Division, recently added defenseman Carson Soucy and forward Ondřej Palát, while the Blues previously traded Justin Faulk and saw a deal for Colton Parayko fall through due to a no-trade clause. This transaction reflects the Islanders' shift from sellers last season—when they traded Brock Nelson—to buyers aiming for a deep playoff run.
