Lamoriello walking fine line on deadline

Lou Lamoriello has been through 30 trade deadlines as an NHL executive, but the extensive experience doesn’t have him expecting to enjoy his 31st next week.

As he nears his first deadline as president of hockey operations and general manager of the Islanders — set for Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. — Lamoriello is well aware of the weight that comes with this time of year.

“I think it’s a very difficult week for players, organizations, everything,” Lamoriello said Saturday. “You have to be very, very careful. There are so many factors involved, whether it’s chemistry of your team, needs and also making sure it doesn’t get in the way of what is transpiring, especially if you’ve been doing things positively as a team, which we have been.”

The Islanders’ success has Lamoriello in position to potentially add to the roster ahead of their playoff push. The Hall of Famer has not been afraid to deal prospects in past years in his previous positions with the Devils and Maple Leafs, but said he was “very comfortable with this hockey team” if no moves were made before the deadline — though adding that they “can’t rest on anything.”

“You take as much time as you possibly can,” Lamoriello said before the Islanders beat the Oilers 5-2 at Barclays Center. “But right now, we’ll just see how things come out.”

The Islanders don’t have a third- or fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft but could use other assets to upgrade their top nine in addition to getting help on the power play — a unit that entered Saturday ranked 27th in the league at 15.88 percent.

Two players the Islanders could add before the deadline, for no cost, are taking the next step in their rehab process.

Winger Andrew Ladd (lower body) and defenseman Thomas Hickey (concussion) were sent to AHL Bridgeport on Saturday on a conditioning loan, set to play both ends of a back-to-back. They do not have to be activated right away, but the Islanders will re-assess their condition after the weekend. Ladd has been out since November and Hickey since December.

Ladd and Hickey jumped right into the action, both scoring a goal with Ladd adding an assist in a 4-3 win over Hartford.