Trade action around the NHL picked up over the weekend, though not for the Isles (at least by the time of this posting). As the whole league heads into the Trade Deadline week, the East has at least eight teams fighting for two wild card spots, while the West has at least four and probably five who are out of it completely.
That sets up some different dynamic for would-be sellers and buyers. The Smurfs, tonight’s opponent for the Islanders, are above them in the standings but being realistic about where they are as a franchise. They held Reilly Smith out of last night’s tilt with the Predators for “roster management” purposes — i.