New York Islanders Thomas Vanek Trade Led To Mathew Barzal

UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 02: Thomas Vanek #26 of the New York Islanders scores at 8:09 of the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks and is hugged by John Tavares #91 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 2, 2014 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: Michael Dal Colle /

The Lottery Protected Pick

Maybe Garth saw the writing on the wall early for the New York Islanders. At the time of the trade, the Islanders were second in the Metro with 11 points from 11 games. Either way, lottery protecting the first-round pick sent to Buffalo was a good move.

Turns out the Islanders, even with Vanek weren’t very good. They ended the season with a 34-37-11 record finishing last in the Metropolitan division by four points and fifth from bottom in the league.

With the Isles ending up in the lottery that meant the Sabres got the Isles 2015 first-round pick instead. Which was great! Cause you know Dal Colle has been a beast in the NHL.

I have no problems with the Isles taking a 95 point player in junior fifth overall. That’s the point o the draft. Take the best available player. And based on the scouting reports, Michael Dal Colle was going to be good.

Knowing what we know now about Michael Dal Colle, giving him up to Buffalo wouldn’t have been so bad. But then, losing their first-round pick in 2015 left a void that Garth Snow needed to fill going into the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. And boy did he ever do that.