New York Islanders Owe A Big Thanks to Martin St-Louis

But wait, wasn’t Martin St. Louis a New York Ranger at one point in his career? Why would the New York Islanders have to thank him?

After being snubbed by Team Canada for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Martin St. Louis requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was sent to the New York Rangers for Ryan Callahan and some draft picks. And the New York Islanders got both of those picks.

In 2013-14 St-Louis was 38-years-old, well outside of his prime, but the 5’8″ player was still putting up points. He finished the previous lockout-shortened season with 60 points in 48 games. And had 69 points in the 2013-14 season.

He felt like he deserved to go to the Olympics and represent his country. An honor that St. Louis never received from Team Canada executive and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman.

It was the last straw in a career that was filled with its share of strife. Being 5’8″ St. Louis was never given much respect as he sought a career playing professional hockey.

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The Trade

So after that most recent snub in 2014, St. Louis asked GM Yzerman for a trade. On March 4th, 2014 he got his wish. Being sent to the New York Rangers for Ryan Callahan, a first round pick in 2014, and conditional second round pick in 2015.

The condition of that 2015 second round pick was that if the Rangers reach the 2014 Eastern Conference finals, the pick would become a first round selection in 2015.

In 2014 Martin St Louis powered the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup finals with 15 points in 25 games. Gifting the Lightning with a second first round pick.

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Enter Garth Snow

So that’s how the Rangers lost their two first picks in 2014 and 2015. How did the New York Islanders get them? It involves two draft day trades with the Lightning and two pairs of second round picks.

In 2014, the New York Islanders traded their second round pick and the Montréal Canadiens second round pick acquired from the Vanek trade for the Rangers pick, 28th overall.

A pick the Islanders used to draft Joshua Ho-Sang from the Windsor Spitfires.

In 2015, the same scenario happened. Garth Snow called up Steve Yzerman on those decorative phones we see on the team’s table on draft day. And again sent the Lightning two second round picks, the Isles and the Oilers pick for the Ranger’s first round (28th overall).

That Oilers pick came from the Griffen Reinhart trade to Edmonton. The New York Islanders would select Anthony Beauvillier with the pick.

Next: Dissatisfying Calvin de Haan Trade

Until last season the verdict was out on whether or not those two prospects would be any good at the NHL level. But after Beauvillier completed his first NHL season and put up 24 and Josh Ho-Sang look every bit as dynamic as he had proclaimed we have to thank the Rangers and Martin St. Louis for the picks.