New York Islanders 2018 NHL Mock Draft with Trade 3.0

11. Justin Faulk (Evan Bouchard)

…wait. The same Justin Faulk? Yup! The Islanders trade their eleventh overall pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for a former 15 goal scorer and 49 point blueliner.

The Islanders need a top-four defender and Justin Faulk is the guy. He’s a right shot. He won’t return you less than 30 points in a season. He can run a power play. He’s exactly what the New York Islanders want in a top-four defender.

It’s probably going to take a first and likely a low-level prospect. But that’s it and the New York Islanders get a guy that can play on the top pair or on the second pair and immediately give the Isles the support from the back that they desperately need.

Oh, and the Hurricanes? They use the pick to take defenseman Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. In case you were wondering.

12. Joe Veleno

The New York Islanders still have a first-round pick to use up. And they take center Joe Veleno. The 6’0″ 180lbs center scored 79 points in 64 games between the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL last season.

The Isles don’t have centers coming up through the system. Drafting the best available center at number 12 is probably the best option for them.

The New York Islanders have defensive depth in the system with David Quenneville, Sebastian Aho, and Mitch Vande Sompel. They even have a few wingers. But they don’t have any centers in the system now that Mathew Barzal is playing with the big club.

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Next: Pros and Cons of Trading Up At 2018 Draft

The New York Islanders need to use at least one of their first-round picks to improve their roster. Either for a defenseman or a goalie. Either way, they have to use their draft assets to improve the team today. Using both picks to draft players for tomorrow isn’t an option.