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

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: (l-r) Doug Wilson of the San Jose Sharks and Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders chat 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 out

Probability: Medium

Again, the New York Islanders do not need their first-round pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. What the New York Islanders need is support in their top six.

Their one issue last season was creating offense. They certainly scored enough to get 103 points, but if they had a decent top six, one that didn’t include Tom Kuhnhackl they could have easily won the Metropolitan Division.

First-round picks aren’t typically traded for players so close to the draft. But it’s still entirely possible for the New York Islanders to make it happen.

The Islanders can toss their 23rd overall pick in a package for a player that they can slot into their top six. We heard of a rumor on Thursday that the New York Islanders might be working on something with the Arizona Coyotes for winger Alex Galchenyuk.

He’s a left shot so he doesn’t necessarily fit what the New York Islanders are looking for. The Isles need players who can play on the right. But Galchenyuk is a 50 point player in the NHL and he’s great on the power play.

I set the probability at “Medium”. The New York Islanders need to use whatever asset they can to secure a top-six player. The value on a late round first-round pick for Friday’s draft might be lower, but there’s still some value they can extract from it.