NHL

Visnovsky files grievance over deal to Islanders

It was a matter of principle rather than preference as veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky filed a grievance with the NHL Players Association against the Ducks in hopes of voiding his trade to the Islanders.

On draft day last month, Visnovsky was moved to the Islanders in exchange for a second-round pick in 2013. Yet even before the trade was announced, Visnovsky had made his displeasure known to Anaheim, citing his no-trade and no-move clauses, The Post has learned.

The grievance was filed on June 30 and claims the five-year, $28 million contract Visnovsky signed in 2008 while with the Oilers necessitates a player being involved in the trade process. Visnovsky’s agent, Neil Sheehy, said that process was not followed and now the grievance is in the hands of the league and the NHLPA in what is an issue of collective bargaining.

“Lubo has been in the league a long time and believes he should be treated properly,” Sheehy said of his client, who is about to turn 36 years old and has 11 years of NHL experience. “But this has nothing to do with the New York Islanders.”

Visnovsky will make $3 million this season, but the Islanders will take a $5.6 million cap hit, getting them closer to the salary-cap floor.

Even if Visnovsky and the NHLPA should win the grievance — which as of now has no date but is expected to happen sometime in the next couple weeks — there is still a good chance he could play for the Islanders. Visnovsky, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, insisted to Sheehy he likes the organization, and stressed his desire to be on the first power-play unit.

The Islanders’ training camp starts on Sept. 15.

“This is no longer between a player and team,” Sheehy said. “It’s now a collective bargaining issue.”

The Islanders have seen more than one free agent snub them in recent seasons, but this is a different case. The team had no official comment, saying the matter is between the Visnovsky and the Ducks.