The New York Islanders were heading into weekend with several options: improve the organization though draft picks, possibly trading away picks to either clear cap space or the most desired amongst the fan base, to use those picks as part of a package to bring in a player who can help the team now with scoring. Then I found this out:
With that information I expected the Isles to draft, but still kept the idea of a splash in the back of my head. As the Isles got closer to picking, I threw out the mock draft because certain players in everyone’s rankings were going all over the place. By the end of the draft yesterday, the Islanders not only had some really good prospects available at each pick, they refilled the pool and it gave younger fans some excitement for the future and some bitterness for older fans who want to win now. So let’s go over the draft and give a quick grade for the weekend.
Eiserman was ranked 11th in my prospect rankings which was not far off from many others. He’s was the youngest player in this draft and he’s got a tone of offence, but that’s about it. What really makes this player special for me is that he’s going to Boston University where he’ll be under the guidance of former Devil, Islander and Bruin, Jay Pandolfo. So what are you getting out of Eiserman? From a stylistic approach meaning his potential “floor” could be a top-6 winger who develops an average 200-foot game in college, may resemble someone like a Steve Thomas (old schoolers) or possibly a Zach Parise. Grade: A
Pulkkinen ranked 50th in my prospect rankings, but quite a few had him as high as 32nd. When you look over his bio you immediately think to Chara or Mayfield, but Pulkkinen molds his game around Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman. For now my hope is that one day when the Isles draft another tall defenseman we have three players to compare instead of two because I don’t think the Isles ever had a player like Pulkkinen before. Grade A
Kamil landed just outside my rankings at number 51 and was on my wish list of players should others be taken before him. Quite simply, he’s in a mold of JG Pageau. This doesn’t mean he’s going to play bottom six minutes as Pageau also played on the first line for the Ottawa Senators. He’s got a great two-way game and was teammates with Eiserman on Team USA and will also be going to Boston University. However for the sake of development, I do not want to see him with Eiserman on the same line unless it’s absolutely necessary. Let him grow his game with others and hone in on his own skills and not rely on arguably the best scorer in the draft. Grade A-
This one is a little more of a personal preference for me and I’m combining these two together because back on the Isles Talk Draft Preview show I wanted the Islanders to draft any Russian goaltender so the Islanders can build a goalie factory to help out Sorokin during some tough seasons. They did just that with Gidlof and Gamzin. Grade: A
This is not a blemish for this draft, because Veilleux was ranked somewhere around pick 125 and this is the sixth round, but the Islanders do not have a right-handed defenseman in their prospect pool and Tory Pitner was available. Veilleux will eventually be going to Harvard so the Isles will not have to go too far when scouting in Harvard and Boston. On another positive note, he already has the size to compete in the AHL so a few seasons of college and making the move to the American League should be his goal. I hope he proves me wrong. Grade B-
My overall grade for the Islanders draft this weekend would be an A- as they had players fall into their laps like in 2018 and these picks were easy to make. I like that some like Gamzin and Pulkkinen are over-agers so they can come over when the Islanders think they’re ready. The goalie factory has started and drafting potential top-six forwards who already have a history playing with each other is never a bad idea. With the future taken care of, it’s time to look at the team itself in the coming days.
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