The New York Islanders announced a trade that brings defenseman Ryan Healey into the fold, exchanging future considerations with the Minnesota Wild. The move signals the club’s intent to bolster its defensive depth with a player who has been generating buzz in collegiate circles.
Healey entered the NHL draft as a fourth‑round selection in 2022, landing 21st overall. Prior to that, he honed his skills in the USHL with Sioux Falls, posting 21 points across 59 games. His collegiate career unfolded at Harvard, where he amassed 19 goals and 36 assists in 120 appearances, exhausting his eligibility after four seasons.
The Islanders have set an August 15 deadline to ink Healey to an entry‑level contract. Should they miss the window, his rights will revert to the Wild, making the timing of the agreement critical for both sides.
What Healey Brings to the Islanders
During the most recent season, Healey contributed four goals and eight assists in 34 games, but his breakout came in the 2023‑24 campaign when he tallied 22 points over 29 appearances. Those numbers suggest a player capable of adding offensive punch from the blue line while still developing his defensive reliability.
If the contract is secured, the next step will likely be a professional debut with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders’ affiliate. The organization will monitor his adjustment to the pro game, but the expectation is that he will become a regular presence in the system within the next season.