NY Islanders: The 5 best players selected with the 49th pick since 2000

1. Shea Weber

This is pretty much the best case scenario. Shea Weber, the 49th overall pick in 2003, has had a hugely impressive career. He's played over 1000 NHL games, and scored 224 goals and 365 assists for 589 points, as a defenseman. He never won a Norris, but finished top four in Norris voting five times. He was named a first-team all star twice, and made the second team twice more. There's a decent chance he ends up in the Hall of Fame someday.

When Lou Lamoriello announces the Islanders' selection on Thursday (the first round is Wednesday, but the rest of the draft will be Thursday), it's smart to be cautious. The player he picks will probably turn out to be a fringe NHLer who nobody but die-hard Islanders fans will remember.

But maybe, just maybe, he'll be the next Shea Weber.