New York Islanders First-Round Pick Should be in Play

There have been very few positives for the New York Islanders this season. One of them, however, is they will have a really good draft pick come this June. But the Isles first-round pick should be in play this off-season to pull off a major trade.

It looks like the New York Islanders will finish between the 11th and 13th slots for the 2017 draft, prior to the lottery. There is always a chance, albeit a small one, the ping pong balls bounce their way and they wind up with a top-three pick.

The Islanders first-round pick should be dangled in trade talks to land a proven second-line center. Is this short-term thinking? Given what the entire Islanders organization holds player wise it would be a smart move.

Prospect Pipeline

The Islanders have a deep and talented system. The proof in that pudding started to show this year with Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Ho-Sang. There are more coming to Long Island very soon.

At forward, both Mathew Barzal (The Hockey News just ranked him the 8th best prospect) and Michael Dal Colle could be solid to strong contributors for the blue and orange next season. The Isles first-round pick last year, Kiefer Bellows isn’t that far behind them.

New York Islanders

On the blue line, Ryan Pulock should be one of the Islanders D-men come opening night next season. Devon Toews could be ready for the NHL sometime next season as well. Don’t forget about defensive prospects Parker Wotherspoon or Mitch Vande Sompel.

In between the pipes, the Islanders could have two starting goalie’s on the horizon in Ilya Sorokin and Linus Soderstrom. Both aren’t that far away from the NHL. Sorokin continues to hone his game in the KHL, while Soderstrom does so in the Swiss league.

This depth allows the Islanders to trade their 2017 first-round pick to help the team now. Keep in mind the Isles will still have picks in rounds two, three, five, and seven.

Value of 1st-Rounder

A first-round pick, especially one in the top half of the draft carries a lot of value. Clubs view these picks as future core players to their organization. In addition, in today’s NHL cap world, these top prospects are more valuable than ever.

No one is saying that the Islanders 2017 first-round pick alone will net a proven second line center. However, this asset will carry a lot of weight in getting such a deal done.

In addition, this would allow the Islanders to give up less in terms of their main roster as well as their prospects down below.

Not Patrick or Hischier

The one exemption to the Islanders trading their 2017 first-round pick is if somehow the ping pong gods smile on the Isles and they wind up with one of the top two picks. If that happened either Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier would become an Islander.

Patrick, 6’2, 198 lbs, center, will be a top core player for some team in the league with a chance to be a first line center.

Hischier, 6’0, 174 lbs, center, his upside is to become an elite scorer in the NHL.

If the lottery fell this way for the Isles then trading the first-round pick is off the table.

Next: Lee Turned it Around

The Islanders have a lot of assets to play with to pull off a major move or two this off-season. The blue and orange should be more than willing to move their 2017 first-round pick in the right deal.