Scott Mayfield Dismisses Trade Rumors Amidst Benching

Scott Mayfield has addressed speculation about his future with the New York Islanders, firmly denying any interest in a trade request despite being benched for eight of the season's first 10 games. His comments on Saturday followed similar remarks made earlier in the week by Islanders General Manager Mathieu Darche.

"No, not one bit," Mayfield told The Post when asked if he had considered asking for a trade or waiving his no-trade clause. "When I signed my contract, it was to play for the Islanders. I love it here. Obviously circumstances are what they are, but there’s nothing like that."

Mayfield, a career Islander, signed a contract extension through 2030. His current deal includes full no-trade rights until the 2027-28 season, after which his no-trade list will be reduced to 16 teams.

While Mayfield acknowledged that sitting out games is difficult, he stated his intention is to remain positive and prepared. "I think you want to be out there every night. Sitting and watching games is hard," he said. "At the same time, my approach is stay positive, work with what I can. Make sure when I do get a chance, I’m ready. Keep the cardio up, keep pushing. You don’t get as many reps sometimes in practice, stuff like that. It’s just making sure you do stuff on your own. Staying ready, pretty much."

He noted that this is not the first time he has had to compete for a roster spot, though he recognizes the current situation is different. With Alexander Romanov sidelined for the season due to a torn ACL, Mayfield finds himself competing with Matt Kessel for a defensive position. The team has also been on a five-game point streak, making immediate lineup changes unlikely.

Coach Lane DeBoer has expressed a desire to avoid extended periods of players being sidelined. However, the Islanders practiced on Saturday in the same configuration they have used for their recent games. Mayfield indicated he has not sought reassurance from DeBoer or Darche, stating, "I’ve been in the league for a while now and know how it works. I know situations, I’ve seen it before. It happened to me, it’s happened to other players. The biggest thing is staying on what I can control. Just staying positive. Just always be ready."

Mat Barzal (left knee), Matias Maccelli (lower body), and Calum Ritchie (lower body) did not travel with the team to Dallas for their upcoming game, according to DeBoer.