New York Islanders Four Options For First Round Pick at 2019 NHL Draft

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: (l-r) Lou Lamoriello and Garth Snow of the New York Islanders look at the draft board prior to 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) /

Trade up

Probability: Very Low

If there’s a prospect that Lou Lamoriello absolutely loves, he could trade up the draft table to get him. Teams often do it.

At last years draft the New York Rangers jumped from 26th overall to 22nd overall by sending their 26th overall pick and a second-round pick (the 48th overall pick) to the Ottawa Senators. With the pick, the Rangers were able to draft defenseman K’Andre Miller.

If the cost to move up four spots is a first and a mid-second round pick the Islanders probably won’t be able to make that kind of jump.

Lou has the 23rd overall pick and Calgary’s second-round pick. But Calgary’s second-round pick is number 57. That’s no longer a mid-round pick, that’s a late round pick. The Islanders can still use it to move up if they want to, but they won’t get to jump up four spots.

So that’s why I set the Islanders probability of trading up at the 2019 draft at “Very Low”. I just don’t see Lou giving up two picks for the privilege of picking a few spots higher in the draft.

The New York Islanders aren’t in a rebuild mode. Their prospect pool is full of promising young talent. Losing a second-round pick in order to take a player doesn’t make sense for where Lou and the Islanders are at.