The decision to trade Noah Dobson to the Islanders for Mathieu Darche may be a long-term win-win for both teams, as it is too early to judge the impact of the trade on the team's performance this season. However, it remains unclear how the team would have been without Dobson in the playoffs due to an upper-body injury and a potential reevaluation in two weeks. Despite the trade, it is acknowledged that the Islanders greatly missed Dobson this season due to their lack of depth on the defense. The team also benefited from Emil Heineman, who scored 22 goals and is expected to be a key player for the team in the future. Despite this, the jury is still out on the effects of the deal, with Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson yet to make their NHL debuts. The Islanders have made strides in investing in prospects and player development this season, but are not yet confident in their ability to maintain consistency.