New York Islanders: Four Teams Who Need A First Round Pick

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche were bad last season. Almost historically bad. The Avalanche have the worst points percentage in the salary cap era. By a long shot. Take a look for yourselves.

Their .293 points percentage is the worst since 2005. The second worse record belongs to the 2013-14 Buffalo Sabres with a .317 record. That difference doesn’t seem like much, but when you boil it down it’s pretty bad.

That year Buffalo finished with a -91 goal differential to finish last by a healthy 14 point margin behind the Florida Panthers. Colorado finished last by 21 points and a -112 goal differential this season.

The Colorado Avalanche need to hit the reset button. How they do that is beyond just a first round pick and well beyond just a 15th pick. But getting the Islanders 15th pick might help them move up the draft to within the top three.

We know that Dallas is open to trading their number three pick in the draft. That would get Colorado in Timothy Liljegren territory. According to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek Liljegren is quite the gem:

"A strong Five Nations Tournament alleviated all fears that his game was slipping. For most teams he is the best defenceman in this year’s draft."

Exactly what Colorado is looking for. The 18-year-old Swedish defender has been playing alongside men in the SHL in his home country. He’s an offensive-minded defenceman with a big shot.

Adding the Islanders first round pick to a deal to pry Matt Duchene from their hands serves both the Avalanche’s and the Islander’s interest.