The New York Islanders revealed on Tuesday that they have traded forward Julien Gauthier to the St. Louis Blues in return for Matt Luff. At the time of the deal, both players were assigned to American Hockey League (AHL) teams and are expected to join their new minor league affiliates immediately without requiring waivers clearance. This move is part of each team’s effort to adjust their organizational depth ahead of the NHL offseason.
Matt Luff’s Performance and Role with the Blues
Matt Luff, 28, has been utilized sparingly at the NHL level this season with the Blues, appearing in only five games. During those appearances, he scored one goal and recorded a -2 plus-minus rating. St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery deployed Luff primarily in a fourth-line role, consistent with his career usage, resulting in a relatively modest average ice time of 9 minutes and 8 seconds per game. Notably, Luff’s December call-up marked his first NHL action since his 2022-23 season stint with the Detroit Red Wings.
Despite limited NHL opportunities, Luff has been a productive player in the AHL. Over the past decade, he has played in 321 AHL games, representing multiple franchises such as the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues. Throughout this span, he has maintained an average of 0.78 points per game, trending closer to a point per game in recent years. This season with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Luff has tallied 14 goals and 39 points across 42 contests. Although the Islanders gain a player with 111 NHL games of experience, Luff’s immediate impact will likely be on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ roster as a leading scorer and a reliable call-up option before he enters unrestricted free agency this summer.
Julien Gauthier’s Journey and Departure from the Islanders
Julien Gauthier, also 28, has shown potential as a strong performer in the AHL when healthy, but injuries have limited his contributions since joining the Islanders organization in 2023. Gauthier’s last NHL appearance was in October 2024, and since then, he has participated in only 25 AHL games, accumulating an 8-7–15 line. Reports, including those from Stefen Rosner of NHL.com, indicated the Islanders sought to provide Gauthier with a fresh start, recognizing that his contract was approaching unrestricted free agent status this summer regardless of the trade.
Drafted 21st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016, Gauthier has been part of several NHL teams, with the Blues becoming his fifth franchise. He was traded in a change-of-scenery deal with the New York Rangers four years ago and was later used by the Senators in an exchange to acquire Tyler Motte at the 2023 trade deadline. After the Senators, he joined the Islanders as a non-tendered restricted free agent. His tenure with New York ended with nine points in 28 NHL games and 25 points over 40 games with Bridgeport, totaling 68 appearances across the past three years.
Implications of the Trade for Both Teams
This player exchange enables the Islanders to strengthen their AHL roster with Matt Luff, an experienced minor-league scorer who may also provide NHL depth if called upon. For St. Louis, the addition of Julien Gauthier offers a fresh opportunity for a power forward who has yet to fully realize his potential due to injuries and limited playing time. Both clubs appear to be positioning themselves ahead of the offseason, balancing immediate organizational needs with future roster flexibility as unrestricted free agency approaches for both players.
#Isles announce that they have acquired F Matt Luff from the #stlblues in exchange for F Julien Gauthier.
Believe finding a home for Gauthier has been in the works for a bit.
Was hurt for a little.
Luff will be a big boost for Bridgeport.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) February 24, 2026
