Islanders Convince Blues Captain Schenn to Waive No-Trade Clause

Unique hotel meeting led to Brayden Schenn joining the New York Islanders at the trade deadline.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The New York Islanders were able to acquire St. Louis Blues captain and center Brayden Schenn at the NHL trade deadline through a unique circumstance. With the Blues and Islanders staying at the same hotel in San Jose, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche and coach Patrick Roy were able to meet with Schenn in person and convince him to waive his 15-team no-trade clause to join the Islanders. This face-to-face meeting was key, as such interactions are rare during the trade deadline process.

Why it matters

The Islanders were able to secure Schenn, a top-line center, despite his no-trade clause, which is an uncommon occurrence in the NHL. This trade could provide a significant boost to the Islanders' playoff push, as Schenn is a proven scorer and two-way forward. The unique circumstances that allowed the in-person meeting between the Islanders and Schenn highlight the unpredictable nature of the NHL trade deadline.

The details

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Islanders requested to meet with Schenn in person to convince him to waive his no-trade clause. With the Blues and Islanders staying at the same hotel in San Jose, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche and coach Patrick Roy were able to have this face-to-face meeting with Schenn, which ultimately led him to agree to the trade. Schenn's no-trade clause, which included 15 teams he could block a trade to, made this an uncommon occurrence, as players with such trade protection clauses rarely agree to waive them during the deadline.

  • The NHL trade deadline was on March 8, 2026.
  • The Islanders and Blues were staying at the same hotel in San Jose when the trade was completed.

The players

Brayden Schenn

The St. Louis Blues' captain and center who was traded to the New York Islanders at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

Mathieu Darche

The general manager of the New York Islanders who met with Brayden Schenn in person to convince him to waive his no-trade clause.

Patrick Roy

The head coach of the New York Islanders who met with Brayden Schenn in person to convince him to waive his no-trade clause.

Doug Armstrong

The general manager of the St. Louis Blues who facilitated the trade that sent Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders.

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What they’re saying

“The Islanders asked… 'could we meet with Schenn, face-to-face, and talk to him about why he should join our team?'”

— Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider (Sportsnet)

“It was a crazy week in St. Louis. Someday, we're going to find out just how many deals out of that team were - because I don't think Parayko was the only player that had vetoed out of there. I think there were some others.”

— Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider (Sportsnet)

What’s next

The Islanders will look to integrate Brayden Schenn into their lineup as they push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The unique circumstances that allowed the Islanders to meet with Brayden Schenn in person and convince him to waive his no-trade clause highlight the unpredictable nature of the NHL trade deadline. This trade could provide a significant boost to the Islanders' postseason aspirations, showcasing the value of creative problem-solving and taking advantage of rare opportunities in the high-stakes world of professional sports.