New York Islanders Re-Drafting 2011 NHL Entry Draft

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WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 15: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after scoring a goal on Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals during the second period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Round Two – 34th Overall Pick

NYI Pick: Scott Mayfield
Pick they should have made: John Gibson (39th overall ANA)

I like Scott Mayfield. I think he’s a good third pairing defenseman. He’s got size, strength, and he’s got a bit of an offensive side to his game. I can see why the Islanders drafted him 34th overall in the 2011 draft. Mayfield is an NHL player.

But so is John Gibson. With a career 2.29 GAA and 0.923 SV% in the NHL John Gibson is that franchise starting goalie the Islanders are still searching for today.

By 2011 the Islanders should have known they’d need a replacement for Rick DiPietro soon rather than later. John Gibson could and should have been that player for the New York Islanders. Too bad former NHL goalie and Islanders GM Garth Snow whiffed on that one.

Round Two – 50th Overall Pick

NYI Pick: Johan Sundstrom
Pick they should have made: Nikita Kucherov (58th overall TBL)

With the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, the Islanders selected center Johan Sundstrom. Rather than right-wing Nikita Kucherov.

Imagine taking a player who’s played eleven NHL games in his career over a player that has scored 334 points in 365 NHL games to date. And most recently scored 39 goals and 100 points. Oops!

It’s not like Sunstrom had a better draft year. In 37 games with the U20 SHL Sundstrom had 30 points. Kucherov had 54 in 53 in a similar caliber league in Russia.

Taking Kucherov eight spots would have provided Tavares that elite level winger we’d all been calling for for years. Not right away, but at least before the Leafs came calling.

I know we’re playing revisionist history but to have Mark Scheifele, John Gibson, and Nikita Kucherov with the Isles first three picks in 2011 would have drastically altered the fate of this franchise. Assuming they develop as they have in the real world that is.