Braydon Coburn Brings ‘Character, Size and Strength’ to Islanders Blue Line | NYHN+

It was a pretty uneventful day in New York Islanders country, but general manager Lou Lamoriello was able to bolster the team’s defense well in advance of Monday’s trade deadline.

The Islanders added veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn in a late-night deal just after they had defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime. A seventh-round pick in next year’s draft was sent to Ottawa as part of the trade.

The trade — the Islanders’ only other move before Monday’s deadline — wasn’t a flashy one but brought in a player that Lamoriello felt has plenty of experience.

“A defenseman who has size and strength,” Lamoriello said during a conference call on Monday. “Has played in this division, as we all know, as far as when he was in Philly. He knows a lot about it, but he has tremendous character and knows his role and accepts it. We couldn’t be more delighted than to be able to get him.”

When Lamoriello addressed reporters 30 minutes after the trade deadline passed on Monday, Coburn had already left Ottawa to drive to New York. Coburn will need to adhere to New York state’s quarantine guidelines once he arrives, so it could be four to five days before he joins the Islanders on the ice.

Braydon Coburn was tested for COVID-19 before he left Ottawa and will be tested during his quarantine, Lamoriello said.

The 36-year-old has two points in 16 games this season with Ottawa and won a Stanley Cup last season with Tampa Bay. Coburn has appeared in 137 playoff games over the course of his 16 years in the NHL, where he has recorded three goals and 29 points.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough experience, especially when they’re quality people and great teammates,” Lamoriello said. “Barry is very familiar with Braydon from where his hometown is. The reputation he has just proceeded itself as far as a teammate. Just looking at him making a decision when Tampa was in a cap problem to sort of waive his trade clause — he has a no-trade clause he had to waive it to come here — to help out the team that he helped win a Stanley Cup.

“I think that says something about his character.”

For the Islanders organization character has been a major point of emphasis along with the skill a player has. The term was mentioned by Lamoriello when the Islanders acquired Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri as well last week.

Braydon Coburn is now one of the most experienced defensemen on the Islanders roster, along with Thomas Hickey who helped fill in when Noah Dobson was sidelined by COVID-19. The two lefties will likely serve as the Islanders’ seventh and eighth defensemen down the stretch.

Asked if the Islanders had looked for a right-handed defenseman since Hickey is also a lefty, Lamoriello said it didn’t come into the equation.

“I think we were trying to find the best defenseman that we could to play that supporting role that he will play,” Lamoriello said. “He was the best. If the best was a right-hander and we could have made the transaction we’d have certainly done that. We’re happy with what we have.”