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Why the number 13 could be good news for the NY Islanders at the 2026 NHL Draft

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Mar 21, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Mar 21, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images | David Kirouac-Imagn Images

If you're a New York Islanders fan, you've probably noticed that the number 13 keeps showing up at some pretty important moments.

Mathew Barzal wears it. The 13th lottery ball helped the Islanders land the first overall pick and ultimately Matthew Schaefer in last year's draft. And now, heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, the Islanders find themselves holding the 13th overall pick.

But after what happened last year, don't expect Islanders fans to stop talking about it.

If the Isles hold onto pick No.13, it'll be the third time they make the pick, and the two previous times had wildly different results.

Back in 1985, the Islanders selected Derek King. The most recognizable No. 27 in Islanders history, behind Anders Lee and John Tonelli. King went on to play parts of 11 seasons on Long Island, putting up 499 points in 638 games and becoming one of the more productive players from that era between the dynasty years and the late-90s rebuild. He never became a superstar, but he carved out a really good NHL career and remains involved in the game today as head coach of the Hershey Bears.

Two years later the Islanders were back at No. 13 and selected defenseman Dean Chynoweth.

His playing career didn't have quite the same impact as King's, but Chynoweth still appeared in more than 240 games for the Islanders before eventually moving into coaching. Islanders fans may remember him more from behind the bench than on the ice, as he later returned to the organization as an assistant coach from 2009 through 2012.

Since 2013, teams with pick No. 13 have landed some good to outstanding players, including Jets' defenseman Josh Morrissey, Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, Hurricanes star Seth Jarvis, Blackhawks standout Frank Nazar, and Sabres' winger Zach Benson, who just signed a long-term contract. Overall, No. 13 has been more lucky than not for the Islanders, and the hope is that luck continues on Friday night.

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