The New York Islanders have been bitten by the injury bug yet again. They have lost two D-men to injury in the same week. First, Noah Dobson was placed on IR, and now, just a few days later, Ryan Pulock follows. These injuries have led to a trade taking place. On Monday afternoon, New York announced that they acquired Scott Perunovich from the St. Louis Blues via trade for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
#Isles Transaction: The New York Islanders have acquired defenseman Scott Perunovich from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a conditional 5th round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 27, 2025
Islanders Acquire Scott Perunovich via Trade
After the lower-body injury to Dobson, the Islanders went out and signed Tony DeAngelo. Now, Pulock goes down with an upper-body injury just 15 seconds into their 3-2 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the Islanders wasted no time on the trade market acquiring his replacement. Perunovich is 5-10 26-year-old left-handed defenseman who can play both sides. He has spent the first three years of his NHL career with the Blues. St. Louis drafted him in the second round (No. 45) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. In his final season with the Bulldogs he won the 2020 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, recognizing him as the top player in college hockey. At the NHL level he has two goals, 27 assists, and 29 points in 97 games.
What It Means
The acquisition of Perunovich means that due to injuries the Islanders needed more insurance on their blueline. This deal follows the DeAngelo signing. However, it shows the Isles clearly don’t trust any of their the AHL prospects. Grant Hutton had been the guy they have called up in past but they have been reluctant to do it here. Perunovich has experience quarterbacking power plays, he did it for the Blues and at the AHL and NCAA levels. With Dobson and Pulock both out, they will need him to fill that role on the second powerplay unit.
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
