New York Islanders Need to Get Lucky at the NHL Lottery

Let’s face facts, it’s been a tough year for the New York Islanders organization and their fan base. The franchise needs a major boost. The Isles need to get lucky in the lottery.

The New York Islanders season was basically over at the beginning of March. The last month of the season was one filled with major disappointment. In addition, while for many hope springs eternal, the Islanders and their fans are currently worrying about if John Tavares will stay with the blue and orange.

The Islanders need the ping-pong balls to give them a lucky bounce.

April 28th

Circle your calendars Islander fans for Saturday night April 28th. That is the night of the NHL Lottery and the Isles have two tickets they are hoping will bring them to paradise.

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As a result of the Travis Hamonic trade with Calgary last June, the Isles have two, first-round picks (as well as two, second-rounders) both of which are ping-pong balls in this year’s NHL Lottery.

In terms of the NHL Lottery, the Isles have the 10th and 12th ping-pong balls.

The Isles have 19.6% chance of landing a top-three pick. There is a 6% chance they land the ultimate prize the number one overall pick in the 2018 Draft.

Break out the lucky rabbit’s foot Islander fans.

The Dream is Dahlin

The dream scenario for the Islanders is one of their golden tickets comes up when the NHL  Lottery is revealed on the 28th. If that happens there will be no doubt who the Isles will be taking come June.

That player will be Rasmus Dahlin. The 6’2, 183 lbs, Swedish defenseman is a potential two-way, #1 blue liner, who is also an elite skater, and his hockey sense is off the charts. Dahlin is from central casting in terms of being a future number one defenseman in the NHL.

If the Isles were to land either the second or third overall pick they will be going with a forward. The question is will it be Andrei Svechnikov, Brady Tkachuk, or Filip Zadina? If that were to happen the Isles would be putting another future core forward in their pipeline to go along with Kieffer Bellows.

There is no way the Isles would consider trading out of the number one spot if they won the lottery. However, if they landed the second or third overall choice that pick could be in play if the Isles could net a front line defenseman or a goalie who would be under team control the next few seasons.

Next: Who is Mikko Koskinen

After this terrible season, the Isles need the Hockey Gods to give them a helping hand come the end of April.