The Answers Weren't in the Room.

Exactly one year ago, then-GM of the New York Islanders Tony Chiu faced the media after the 2021 EHE trade deadline and justified his decision to stand pat, giving a vote of confidence to a team that was supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender but was instead struggling to secure a playoff spot.

"The solutions are already in the room," said Chiu at the time. "We have everybody we need."

Fast forward to the eve of the 2022 deadline, and much had changed for the Islanders: a new GM, a new coach, and perhaps most importantly, a new supporting cast for the core assembled by Chiu, with the additions of Erik Karlsson, Jared McCann, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ryan McDonagh, Jake DeBrusk, and Jakub Vrana.

And yet the team found itself in almost the exact same predicament they were in a year ago, clinging to fifth in the Metro division and the Eastern Conference's second wild card--with every team behind them holding at least two games in hand.

This was the situation facing Kyle Phillips ahead of his first deadline as Islanders GM. With a list of trades as long as his arm in just 5 months at the helm, it perhaps should have been expected that he would make yet more moves ahead of the league's annual trade freeze.

Now the moves have come, and they may be the most more important of all, less for the talent changing teams than for what those changes represent for the Islanders' identity.

Whereas Phillips's early-season, high-profile wheeling and dealing had been geared exclusively towards upgrading the Islanders' roster, the blockbuster deals which came down just last week represent a major shakeup of a core which had been in place for over four years. They also make one thing clear: after evaluating his team for three quarters of the season, Phillips, unlike his predecessor, had decided the answers weren't in the room after all.

Here then is a brief recap of the three recent trades which have drasctically reshaped the identity of the New York Islanders, one way or another.

(With analysis from ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro, and an anonymous EHE insider

To New York Islanders: Rasmus Dahlin, Mikael Backlund, Owen Tippett, $3,500,000

To Calgary: Patrik Laine, John Klingberg, Sam Colangelo, Zach Senyshyn

Islanders GM Kyle Phillips: "This was a tough one, because I love what Patrik Laine brings to the table. That being said, we had built up a lot of scoring depth behind him, at the expense of some very good young defensemen. So there was a clear need for a great young player to build around on the blueline, and we believe Rasmus can be that guy for years to come."

EHE Insider: “It's nice to see a good old-fashioned hockey trade. Two teams filling holes in their lineups. Love Dahlin and Tippett long term, but with Calgary contending for the first time ever, I'm happy to see them making a push for the playoffs."

To New York Islanders: Vladislav Gavrikov, Mike Hardman, PIT 3 2023, $200,000

To Pittsburgh Penguins: Dougie Hamilton, Brian Flynn

Islanders GM Kyle Phillips: "Dougie Hamilton is a very good defenseman with a lot of good years left, but with his pending free agency we felt this move made sense. And with Vladdy Gavrikov we think we've added a long-term top-four piece."

ESPN Analyst Ray Ferraro: "They would never come out and say it, but it sounds like the Islanders were disappointed with Dougie Hamilton, and you can sorta see their point. Dougie's a great, great player, but man, he was wearing the green jacket for them this year and the next guy wasn't particularly close. That's tough when you're on a team with a goal differential that's something like plus-25 and you're supposed to be the number one D. He was a combined minus 34 in four years, he didn't make the PP go, he wasn't great on the PK, and I think the coaching staff had kinda lost confidence in him.

"I do think he's gonna go to Pittsburgh and make them look real smart, but at the same time you can see why the Islanders were ready to move on."

EHE Insider: "I think another week of patience would have paid dividends for the Isles here. They paid steep prices earlier in the year to make a playoff push and now it seems like Phillips is changing course as soon as the going gets a little tight in the playoff races. Pick a lane!"

To New York Islanders: Matt Kiersted, VGK 3 2022

To Carolina: Mikael Backlund

Islanders GM Kyle Phillips: "We really liked Mikael a lot, and would have loved to fit him in as more than just a rental. But I played that card already this year bringing in some older guys on short deals, so it made sense to get some assets in this case. It's always nice when you can send a veteran guy to a contender, too."

EHE Insider: "This is a trade generated from AI. The Hurricanes love trading mid round picks for veteran help at the deadline, and this one goes off like clockwork. Backlund was a weird fit for an Islanders team that's deep down the middle, so I wasn't surprised to see him flipped quickly. Maybe they could have squeaked out a 2nd rounder with a little patience, but it seems like we might have a quiet deadline this year."