New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues make an early morning trade involving Julien Gauthier

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Aaron Itovitch
February 24, 2026 (9:53)

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Photo credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Matt Luff joins the New York Islanders after a Julien Gauthier trade, and it screams «depth now, not later.»

The Islanders announced Monday they acquired Luff from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Gauthier.

Luff is 28 and has been driving Springfield's offense all season.

He's sitting at 14-25-39 in 42 AHL games, leading the Thunderbirds in scoring.

He also popped one goal in five NHL games with St. Louis this year, which matters if the Isles need a quick call-up option.

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The NHL track record is modest, but it's real: 111 games and 16-12-28 across four teams.

Luff went undrafted, so this is another late-blooming bet on work rate and AHL results.

Gauthier, 28, was a 2016 first-round pick, 21st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, so the name value going out is not nothing.

This feels like a practical move for a team trying to win tight games.

The contract angle helps, too: Luff is on a one-year deal with a $775,000 cap hit and can be shuffled without drama.

On the ice, he's a straight-line winger who can chase pucks and live around the crease when the man advantage needs a greasy look.

If Patrick Roy wants fresh legs on a fourth line, Luff fits the «north-south, don't cheat» vibe.

The bigger question is what this does to Bridgeport's top group, because Luff was their prime finisher in this deal.

Either way, the next game is the test: can Luff translate that AHL confidence into two clean shifts and one momentum swing?

Previously on House Of Hockey

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FEVRIER 24\|105 ANSWERS New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues make an early morning trade involving Julien Gauthier Should Matt Luff play for the New York Islanders right away?
Yes	59	56.2 %
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