 Shortly after debuting with the Islanders, however, he was sidelined for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury sustained in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 13, 2000.After a full season with the Islanders in 2000–01, he was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators on June 23, 2001.Muckalt was dealt to Ottawa along with up-and-coming defenceman Zdeno Chara and the Islanders' first round pick in 2001 (which Ottawa would subsequently use to select Jason Spezza) in exchange for star centre Alexei Yashin.