New York Islanders Don’t Have First Round Pick For Draft

The New York Islanders don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. So what. They didn’t have one in 2015 and still left day one with two first rounders.

The New York Islanders traded their first round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft to the Vegas Golden Knights. So why watch the draft tonight? Aren’t the Isles going to be doing nothing at all?

In order to get Mikhail Grabovski‘s $5 million deal and for the Golden Knights to take UFA Jean-Francois Berube in the expansion the Isles had to send their 15th overall pick int he Entry Draft to George McPhee‘s Golden Knights.

So that’s it right? The Isles have done their work. Now to round two of the draft. Right?

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Remember 2015

Remember the 2015 NHL Entry Draft? The New York Islanders much like this season didn’t have a first-round pick in that year’s draft.

Thank the Thomas Vanek trade from the Buffalo Sabres for that one. In that trade, Garth Snow sent the Isles first-round pick in either 2014 or 2015. The Isles chose 2015.

So going into the McDavid draft the Isles weren’t going to make a pick until late in the second round. And then Garth showed up with his game face.

At the draft table Garth was able to trade former first round pick Griffin Reinhart to the Edmonton Oilers for their first round pick and a second round pick. They used that pick to select Mathew Barzal at number 15. That was the first of two picks Garth would make on the first day of the draft.

Snow packaged Edmonton’s second-round pick and the Islanders second round pick for the Rangers first round pick (28th overall) that was held by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Steve Yzerman held the Rangers pick from the Martin St-Louis trade.

Must Read: Isles Owe a Big Thanks to Martin St-Louis

The Isles turned that pick into Anthony Beauvillier.

C’mon Garth

This has to be the most infuriating part of Garth Snow as a GM. He has the capacity to pull off these fantastic deals. But somehow, just regresses when it comes to other aspects of roster construction.

Like paying $6.85 million per year for Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas together and even carrying three goalies on the active roster for two seasons. Or when he completes these clunker trades like Thomas Vanek.

Next: Top 5 Ryan Strome Moments As An Islander

So tonight don’t stay away from the draft just because the New York Islanders don’t have a pick in the first round of the entry draft. Garth still has a second round pick and a number of later round picks he can use to move up into the top 31 picks.