New York Islanders Trades That Built 2018-19 Roster

2 of 7

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: (l-r) Mathew Barzal #13, Anthony Beauvillier #72, Jordan Eberle #7 and Dennis Seidenberg #4 of the New York Islanders celebrate a first period goal by Beauvillier at the Barclays Center on March 30, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier

Going into the 2015 NHL Draft the New York Islanders didn’t have a first-round pick. The Buffalo Sabres held their pick as part of a trade that sent Thomas Vanek to the Island. A trade that was both good and bad in the short-term.

With a second-round pick as his earliest pick, Garth Snow sought out to get himself into the first round of what was supposed to be a deep draft. Thankfully, Peter Chiarelli came to the rescue.

The Edmonton Oilers GM already had the first overall pick that he’d used to select Connor McDavid, so his 16th overall could be used to acquire a young defenseman. The Islanders sent him fourth overall pick in 2012 Griffin Reinhart for the Oilers first (16th overall) and second (33rd overall).

The New York Islanders would use that 16th overall pick to take 2017 Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal. And it wasn’t over.

The Isles would then send the second round pick they got from Edmonton along with a Florida third-round pick they acquired in 2014 in a swap of third rounders to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 28th overall int he draft.

The Islanders, who didn’t have a single first round pick in 2015, would draft Anthony Beauvillier 28th overall in 2015 for their second pick in the top round.

Meaning the New York Islanders used Griffin Reinhart and a third-round pick to get Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. If not for Connor McDavid being drafted first overall, the Islanders would have won the 2015 draft.

Rating: 5/5