New York Islanders on track for top 10 draft pick

As the curtain draws to a close on the New York Islanders’ 2024-25 season, a silver lining, if we could call it that, emerges as the Isles are likely to get a top-10 draft pick.

According to Tankathon, the Islanders will get the 10th overall pick, just slightly below the New York Rangers who are poised to get the 11th pick.

The Islanders have one more game remaining. If they win that game, the Isles could end up with the 11th or 12th pick, depending on what the Rangers or Detroit Red Wings do in their final games.

Additionally, the 10th overall pick comes with a 3.5% of landing the first-overall selection. Getting the top pick is highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened in the NHL.

Is the 10th overall pick a consolation for the season the New York Islanders had this year? Well, unless the Isles can land a generational talent with that pick, it’s not quite a consolation prize. It is, however, an opportunity to improve the team organically.

Simon Holmstrom, the Isles’ first-rounder from 2019, came into his own this season, scoring 20 goals. Last year’s first-rounder, Cole Eiserman, looks like a top-six forward at this point.

That is why a top-10 pick could allow the Islanders to restock the prospect cupboard, potentially adding a strong player to complement up-and-coming players like Calum Ritchie, Cole Eiserman, Isaiah George, and Marc Gatcomb.

The New York Islanders should not trade their first-round pick this season

Unless the New York Islanders receive an offer they can’t refuse, the team, by no means, should trade their first-rounder.

Now, when I say an “offer the Isles can’t refuse,” I’m talking about landing a top-pairing defenseman or a bona fide top-six scorer. Otherwise, it makes more sense to hold on to the pick.

As for who the Islanders should pick, that’s a question, in my estimation, of taking the best player available. The Islanders could use a high-end defensive prospect, but also a big, scoring winger.

That situation could mean targeting a winger who could slide in alongside Eiserman or Ritchie, or perhaps think a little bit longer term and focus on someone who could help out the blue liner sooner rather than later.

As for trading down, that’s not something the Isles typically do. While it wouldn’t be a bad idea based on the picks received in return, I would say the time has come for the Islanders to focus on restocking the prospect pool.

With the New York Islanders likely on the verge of a retool, there is a clear need to add as much young talent as possible. That begins with this year’s NHL draft.