NHL Draft Day 1: The Islanders might pick...

5 months ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey

Maybe they’ll find yet another Nelson. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images


...a guy. I mean, they might* actually hold on to their first-round pick and use it, a rarity under Lou. (*but probably not) After a really awkward and tepid (at least if the three minutes I watched were any indication, and they probably were) NHL Awards event in Vegas, tonight the NHL Draft kicks off with the first round.
Going into the day, the Islanders still(!) held their first-round pick, 20th overall after dropping down a couple slots to get an extra second-round pick from the Hawks.
I know there is massive, massive demand from freeloaders to have extensive pre-draft coverage here but...no. Go google it. Or have AI tell you who the Isles might pick. Or go browse the 76 sites that profile/plagiarize every possible draft candidate out there. I do not give a flying Avery about any of these kids until Lou or his designee reads out their name and they become Islanders property, so we’ll talk about them then.
Hundreds of kids will be announced over the next two days; a handful will be Islanders’ property. Three or four might even one day be signed by the team. One or two might even make lasting contributions (but always, always, we’ll be saying in 2032 how “they could’ve drafted this guy instead though”).
Islanders Reads

Jame MacLennan recalls being drafted by a franchise he watched battle the Oilers throughout the ‘80s. [Isles]
Memories from John Tonelli being drafted by the Isles and coaxed away from the WHA. [Isles]
Isaiah George is ready to try the pros. [Isles]

Elsewhere

Here’s the full list of NHL award winners. Whatever. [Sportsnet]
Here’s a final mock draft, if you must. [NHL]
It’s been 10 years at the helm of the Bruins, and Don Sweeney still hears about the 2015 Barzal draft. [NHL]
The Capitals traded a second-round pick in 2025 to the Flames for Andrew Mangiapane. [Sportsnet]
Washington will be aggressive! After all, they have an individual record to chase. [NHL]
Ryan Suter is being bought out yet again. (I just want my boss to buy me out once, just once...) [Sportsnet]
Ol’ Barry Trotz has gotten Juuse Saros to agree to an eight-year extension. [TSN]
The Canucks reached a three-year extension with Tyler Myers, $3M AAV. [TSN]
Kyle Burroughs is on the move again. [NHL]
Ken Holland was gifted two of the best players on the planet, and it took him five years to build a Cup finals roster. Yes, let’s apologize for him on his way out, you low-expectation having mother-Avery. [Sportsnet] Holland’s not coming back as GM, BTW. [NHL]
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