Islanders Just Signed an Easy Trade Chip in Logan Stanley

“We’ve been waiting on some unsigned players to choose NHL homes for 2026-27. There is news this morning there is mutual interest between the Islanders Logan Stanley 1 x $1.5M,” wrote Elliotte Friedman on Sunday morning. The New York Islanders quickly confirmed the news as well, reporting Stanley is signed and then posting a photo of him already on the ice with the team.

Logan Stanley has hit the ice with the #Isles. He will wear #8! pic.twitter.com/H5mq5S0WXZ

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 27, 2026

Stefan Rosner of The Hockey News writes, “There have been talks throughout the summer between Stanley’s camp and the club but NYI was hoping that [Isaiah] George would have won that spot. Was his spot to lose and he ultimately lost it.”

Stanley enjoyed a career year in 2025-26, posting career highs in goals (nine), assists (17), points (26) and average ice time (17:12) across 76 games split between Winnipeg and Buffalo. As such, it was quite surprising that no NHL team seemed interested in signing him as a free agent. The one-year deal with the Islanders is a real indication that the market for him was not strong. If he had been waiting for certain money to come his way, it never did.

A 6-foot-7 defenseman, Stanley was believed to be a defenseman that would get paid. Given his size, his youth at 28, and his goal-scoring, many saw him as a Vincent Desharnais type. That’s a $4 million player in today’s NHL. But Stanley lacks a well-rounded game.

Drafted 18th overall by Winnipeg in 2016, he has totaled 62 points and a plus-29 rating in 278 career NHL games, adding four points in 25 playoff appearances.

The Islanders have decided to take a chance on him as a depth guy, and at this price, they’ve got no obligation to regularly use him. But, if he has a solid season, this becomes one of the most tradeable contracts at the trade deadline.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Oilers & Penguins Plan?