With the NHL Draft Lottery finalizing the draft order last week, talk surrounding the NHL draft is starting to ramp up, and it’s going to be an interesting one for the New York Islanders. Though they won’t be getting a franchise altering prospect like San Jose will in Macklin Celebrini, the Islanders can definitely make a good boost to their prospect pool. Or—They can trade their 5th consecutive first round pick for an immediate impact player on the roster.
The Case For Keeping the Pick
The case for keeping the 18th overall pick is a simple one, the Islanders in recent years have traded all of their first round picks and top prospects, they traded first round picks for current roster pieces like JG Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Alexander Romanov, and Bo Horvat. They also traded their top prospect in Aatu Raty in that Horvat trade. The Islanders have a better pipeline than the media gives them credit for, but they need a first round pick to headline that pipeline, and there are many good prospects in this draft they can get at 18. USHL’s Michael Hage is a good two way center with a good shot, Mora IK’s Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is a responsible defensive player who projects to be a Power Play weapon. Getting a prospect like that would be an immediate boost to their prospect pool even if they don’t impact the NHL roster immediately, and that’s something the Islanders need if they’re taking a slightly different direction, and with Patrick Roy impact personnel decisions, I’d bet Patrick Roy would wanna pick out a guy who’d fit his system, considering he used to coach in the QMJHL.
The Case Against Keeping the Pick
The case against keeping the 18th overall pick is that the Islanders though many may disagree, they are not as far from being a stanley cup contender as many think, but they have many hurdles to overcome to get to that point. Nikolai Ehlers has been labeled as a primary trade target. He isn’t going to extend in Winnipeg, he has a $6 Million cap hit next season and the Islanders may look to make that deal. Though it May not cost them their first round pick, there will be many suitors and it may end up taking that cost. Ehlers would be a dynamic fit on the first line alongside Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat.
Romanov-Esque Trade in the Cards?
If not Ehlers, could we see the Islanders pull off a trade similar to what they did at the 2022 NHL Draft when they traded the 13th overall pick for Alex Romanov? They could do the same with Minnesota’s Marco Rossi. Rossi is coming off his first full NHL season where he recorded 40 points and 20 goals, the Islanders could use a player like Rossi. Young and with a lot of upside. Not to mention still cheap. Thats the kind of deal I could see the Islanders being willing to part with their first round pick, unless they structure it completely different and potentially trade Brock Nelson to his hometown Wild for Rossi and other assets, another move I wouldn’t be upset to see.
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