Devs send Greene to Isles

The Islanders solidified their defense for the playoff push Sunday, acquiring Devils captain Andy Greene.

The Devils got young defenseman David Quenneville and the Islanders' second-round pick in the 2021 draft in return for Greene hours before a 4-3 shootout vic- tory over Columbus in Newark.

The deal came eight days before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 24.

The Islanders have been searching for a quality defenseman since losing Adam Pelech to an Achilles tendon injury in pregame skate on Jan. 2. The deal also gives them a lefty-shooting defender on a team filled with right-handed defensemen.

The deal reunites the 37-year-old Greene with Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio) University in 2006.

Greene, who is in the final year of a five-year, $25 million contract, had a notrade clause and had to approve the deal. His 14 seasons with the Devils, which included a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, made him the Devils' longestserving active player.

Devils interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald said he has talked to Lamoriello frequently over the past month.

“Lou is trying to help his team win right now,” said Fitzgerald, who has known Lamoriello since their days at Providence. “Andy is a guy that he obviously knows very well and feels very comfortable with him. We're in this situation where playoffs aren't in the picture for us.

Greene became a fan favorite with the Devils for his steady play and shot-blocking ability. He has 49 goals, and 197 assists for 246 points in 932 games, which rank seventh on the Devils' career list.