DALLAS — Trade Rumors Surrounding Scott Mayfield Dismissed

Earlier this week, suggestions that Scott Mayfield might seek a trade were firmly denied by Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche. On Saturday, Mayfield himself reiterated that he has no intention of pursuing any trade discussions.

“No, not one bit,” Mayfield responded to a question about whether he had considered asking for a trade or mentioned being open to waiving his no-trade clause. “When I signed my contract, it was to play for the Islanders. I love it here. Sure, circumstances are what they are, but there’s nothing like that.”

As a long-time member of the Islanders, Mayfield’s relationship with the franchise, spanning over 15 years, isn’t likely to be jeopardized by sitting out for eight of the first ten games this season. He is contracted through 2030, retaining full no-trade rights until the 2027-28 season, at which point his no-trade list will be limited to 16 teams.

While Mayfield acknowledges that he’s had to fight for his position in the past, the current situation feels different. He’s not just the seventh defenseman; now, he’s appeared to fall to eighth spot, particularly with Matt Kessel surpassing him due to Alexander Romanov’s injury.

“I think you always want to be on the ice. It’s tough watching the games from the sidelines,” Mayfield noted. Yet, he’s trying to stay focused and prepared. “My approach is to stay positive, control what I can control. When the opportunity arises, I want to be ready. Keeping up my cardio, pushing myself. You know, it’s about doing extra stuff on my own since practice reps can sometimes be limited.”

Coach DeBoer has mentioned he aims to avoid prolonged bench time for players, but with Kessel performing well and the Islanders riding a five-game points streak, significant changes seem unlikely.

In fact, the Islanders practiced on Saturday with the same lineup they’ve used in their previous two games.

Mayfield mentioned he hasn’t really needed much encouragement from DeBoer or Darche. “I’ve been around for some time and understand how this works,” he said. “I’ve seen situations like this unfold. It’s all about focusing on what I can control. Staying positive and being ready is key.”

On a side note, coach DeBoer reported that players Mat Barzal (left knee), Matias Maccelli (lower body), and Calum Ritchie (lower body) did not travel with the Islanders to Dallas.