The New York Islanders (17-19-7) woke up this morning in 15th place in the Eastern Conference, with a seven-point gulf between them and a playoff spot.

Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are eyeing reinforcements to bolster both their offense and defense corps and a new name seems to have entered their radar. New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield has emerged as a potential trade target ahead of the NHL's trade deadline set for March 7.

Right-side defenseman Ryan Pulock, who has been playing impressive hockey as of late, is in the third year of an eight-year deal worth $6.15 million. Left-side defenseman Adam Pelech, who is also in the third year of an eight-year deal, carries an annual cap hit of $5.75 million.

The player who is currently leading the Islanders in plus-minus might be the least talked about regular on the team.

DEFENSEMEN WITH TRADE PROTECTION: Adam Pelech (full no-trade), Ryan Pulock (full no-trade), & Scott Mayfield (full no-trade).

Sean Couturier scored his 199th NHL goal and Travis Konecny added three assists as the Flyers overcame the first two Islander power play goals in the last fifteen games for a 5-3 win over the Isles before a crowd of 15,761 at UBS Arena.

When I was talking to Scott Mayfield last week in Las Vegas for a piece on what’s been a quietly resurgent season for No. 24, he said something that did not make it into the story but which caught my ear. “I think for us, we have a goal in here, and that’s to make playoffs and to win a Stanley Cup,” he said.

With 51 days until the NHL trade deadline, it's time to figure out who fits elsewhere and what the Islanders could get in return.

Baker Mayfield, who’ll turn 30 in April, is playing like a top-tier quarterback and became just the fourth in NFL history to have 4,000 yards passing, 40 touchdowns and a completion

Head-to-head matchups with three of the nine teams trying to claim the two wild-card positions in the Eastern Conference are going to be meaningful.

Just when the New York Islanders look like toast and their season is over, they win three games in a row, on the road nonetheless. They won on Jan. 5 against the Boston Bruins in a 5-4 back-and-forth overtime game.