Eyes On Isles
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New York Islanders Get Windfall in Round One of the NHL Draft

By Christopher Lizza

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Noah Dobson poses after being selected twelfth overall by the New York Islanders during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Noah Dobson poses after being selected twelfth overall by the New York Islanders during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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It was a big night for the New York Islanders as the NHL Draft Hockey Gods smiled on them. Two terrific prospects fell to the Isles as the blue and orange landed a windfall in Dallas last night.

No one could have expected for Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson to fall to the New York Islanders at picks eleven and twelve. It was beyond a perfect storm for the Isles.

Wahlstrom and Dobson fell to the Islanders because of the Canadiens and the Coyotes fell in love with landing a center. Montreal took Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Arizona selected Barrett Hayton.

Then the Isles got a lending hand from all places the New York Rangers. The Blue Shirts took Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov a bit earlier than most people expected.

Once Edmonton took Evan Bouchard at ten that made Lou Lamoriello‘s decision at eleven and twelve very easy.

More from Draft

Wahlstrom

Wahlstrom might be the best goal scorer in the 2018 NHL Draft. The kid from Yarmouth, Massachusetts also possesses really good size (6’1, 215 lbs) as well as skill.

Wahlstrom has a quick, heavy shot. The 18-year old winger comes from the U.S National Team Development Program.

How special is Wahlstrom’s goal-scoring ability? During the drafts telecast last night he was being compared to Alex Ovechkin and Mike Bossy.

The Isles might have landed themselves a sniper.

Dobson

Dobson watched three other defensemen go off the board before him. He may be the best blue liner in this year’s draft.

Dobson has size (6’3, 180 lbs), great skater, plays both ends of the ice at a high level, he continues to improve, and best of all most scouts feel he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet.

Dobson should be at minimum a second pairing defenseman for the Isles for years to come. However, his ceiling is one of being a first pairing D-man.

Next: Decision Day for Tavares

The first-round could not have gone any better for the Islanders. The Isles very well could have added an offensive sniper and a all-around blue liner in round one at the 2018 NHL Draft.

Hopefully, more things continue to fall the Isles way this weekend, particularly with John Tavares.

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