New York Islanders: 25 Bold Predictions For 2018-2019 Season

24 of 26

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 24: A general view of the draft board during the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

3: The Islanders will have multiple 1st round picks in 2019 by years end

Speaking of the 2019 draft, for the second year in a row the New York Islanders will have multiple picks in the first round. Why is that? Well, by the time the trade deadline rolls around the Islanders will be out of things.

By that point, the Islanders would be smart to pick one of Jordan Eberle or Anders Lee to sign long-term and the other one gets dealt. Jordan Eberle likely returns more and that opens up a slot for Oliver Wahlstrom, who projects as a top-six right wing, for 2019.

Jordan Eberle should yield a lot. The fact that the Oilers moved him for Ryan Strome straight up is legitimately insane. For reference, we’ll take a look at last year’s trade deadline to come up with a scenario.

The Rangers got a first round pick, two forwards, a defensive prospect, and a 2019 seventh rounder for a rental of a washed up Rick Nash. Nash had 28 points when he was traded, and finished the year with 34.

Someone like Eberle should yield at minimum a first round pick and two good prospects. The Islanders would be flat-out silly to pass up an opportunity like this. Maybe you can trade him to a team like Nashville who is looking to put themselves over the top for something like:

The Predators get a right winger that can put up 25 goals with his eyes closed and that can slot in on the first line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen rounding out a very impressive top unit for the Preds.

While the Islanders get another first round pick for draft capital, a center/right wing who can plug in for the second or third line in 2019-2020 and a former first-round pick defensive prospect in Dante Fabbro.