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

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 23: (l-r) Lou and Chris Lamoriello of the New York Islanders attend the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 23, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Trade down

Probability: Very High

So the previous slide should make the case for this option very clear.

The New York Islanders don’t need their first round pick at the draft. So it makes perfect sense to maximize their draft day return by trading down in the draft.

Why wouldn’t the Carolina Hurricanes want to move up from 28 to 23 in the first round? They have multiple second-round picks (36th, 37th, and 59th). The Isles could pick up that 28th overall and the 37th overall from Hurricanes.

Again, the first-round pick isn’t of consequence for the Islanders. They can get an equally talented player with the 28th overall pick as they would with the 23rd overall pick.

Back in 2015, the Islanders traded an early second round pick (33rd overall) and a mid-third round pick (72nd overall). Those picks turned into Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Cirelli. Cirelli just scored 39 points this season, his first in the NHL.

There are good players to be had later in the draft. So if the goal for the Islanders is to maximize their draft day haul, then trading down is an easy way to achieve that goal.

I’ve got the New York Islanders probability of trading down at “Very High”. It’s a great strategy for the Isles.