Noah Pedrazzoli takes a look at the impact of the new defensemen joining the New York Islanders to keep the team afloat with a battered blue line.
The New York Islanders’ blue line welcomed three new defensemen. On January 24th, the Islanders announced they signed UFA Tony DeAngelo, fresh off his stint with SKA Moscow. On January 27th, the team announced that they traded a 2026 fifth-round pick for St. Louis Blues’ defenseman, Scott Perunovich. Lastly, the Islanders claimed Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers on January 31st. Let’s see how their presence has shaped the D-Corps.
Their Impact
With Noah Dobson out “week-to-week” and Ryan Pulock sustaining a long-term injury after a collision with Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake, the Islanders desperately needed reinforcements on the back-end.
HOW 'BOUT THOSE ISLES 🔥
— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2025
Tony DeAngelo buries his first with his new squad in @Energizer OT to extend their win streak to seven games! pic.twitter.com/ZXvG4Z2RRc
Tony DeAngelo nets his first goal as an Islander
Tony DeAngelo
It began with the signing of Tony DeAngelo. DeAngelo is an experienced puck-moving defenseman who played all around the NHL. DeAngelo was a pleasant surprise against his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes, where he provided his stretch passes and maneuvered the puck across all three zones with ease.
He was also instrumental in providing a faster pace on the power play; his confidence is a breath of fresh air as it allows for the power play to flow and apply pressure on the opposing penalty kill. DeAngelo has one goal and three assists for four points in his eight games played with the team. He scored his first goal as an Islander in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“The fusion of Perunovich, DeAngelo, and Boqvist with the Islanders’ system has given Lamoriello a valuable commodity: flexibility.”
Scott Perunovich
Scott Perunovich was considered an underappreciated asset in St. Louis. The Blues decided to install a veteran approach since their defensive corps has an average age of 30.5, through their acquisition of Cam Fowler earlier in the fall. As a result, Perunovich was unable to find playing time under the Blues’ regime.
Perunovich is capable of securing his own zone and moving the puck out of the defensive zone with ease and efficiency. He has a defensive mind, capable of sticking to the fundamentals, and can contribute on offense. The 2020 Hobey Baker winner is a Swiss Army knife defender who currently has three assists in his seven games as an Islander.
Lee on the doorstep! #LGI | @Ford pic.twitter.com/EpTlAabfmK
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 9, 2025
Scott Perunovich makes a great play to set up Anders Lee for a goal
Adam Boqvist
The Islanders claimed Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers, the second waiver claim from the Panthers in as many years (Mike Reilly last season). Boqvist scored a goal in his first game as an Islander against the Tampa Bay Lightning off a Mat Barzal rebound. Boqvist is another demonstration of how Lou Lamoriello’s pickups are already making an impact for the injury-riddled lineup.
WELCOME TO THE ISLANDERS ADAM BOQVIST. WE ARE TIED. pic.twitter.com/LUvIiFK92T
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 2, 2025
Adam Boqvist tallies a goal in hist first as an Islander vs Tampa
What does this mean for the lineup?
With the addition of three capable NHL defenseman, the Islanders will have a plethora of players to consider and choose from.
The offseason will be interesting for the Islanders to say the least, with Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov needing new contracts. While paired with DeAngelo, Romanov has thrived and is demonstrating that he could be one of the best two-way defensemen in the league.
Dobson, after receiving Norris votes last year, has struggled to say the least. The emergence of Alexander Romanov next to Tony DeAngelo could provide the Islanders with some leverage in the trade market or contract negotiations depending on how Lou Lamoriello decides to proceed.
Will Lou Lamoriello sign Noah Dobson to a bridge deal or will he explore the trade market? Time will tell, but the fusion of Perunovich, DeAngelo, and Boqvist with the Islanders’ system has given Lamoriello a valuable commodity: flexibility.
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