Draft: Reviewing the picks and the job Garth Snow did

Well, the fun of draft day is over once again. We look towards prospect camp and training camp in late Summer and hope all of our prospects can pan out. While most fans seem to be very pleased with this draft, we thought we'd give the Islanders grades on each prospect and a grade on the job the Islanders did as a whole. So let's begin.

Ryan Strome, C, 1st round, 5th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: 7

AT: Couldn't have been happier with this pick. It was either Couturier, Strome or Hamilton in my eyes and we got one of them. A background with Tavares and Moulson, electric playmaker, blazing (although not quite Grabner like) speed, incredible hockey vision, incredible work ethic, and most importantly he seems to love the thought of playing on Long Island. While offense wasn't a huge problem last season, Strome will help the Islanders take the next step in getting to and succeeding in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

CH: There's nothing to be upset about regarding this pick. I know a lot of people wanted Dougie Hamilton here, but the potential for a top-end forward at #5 was too good to pass up. This was a clear winner with either Couturier or Strome. They went with Ryan Strome, who has a much higher boom potential. He works out with John Tavares and Matt Moulson, so he already knew a little bit about the organization. He's a righty shot, which will complement Tavares great - either on his wing or on the 2nd line, which means that the coaching still will be able to mix and match where they'd like. Not only that, but he's absolutely ecstatic to be an Islander. Great pick.

Alex's grade: A+
Carey's grade: A

Scott Mayfield, D, 2nd round, 34th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: 33

AT: Big, mean defenseman who played for Youngstown of the USHL last year. Mayfield was originally slated to go in the late first round but with the draft being such a crapshoot, he fell. I was ecstatic with this pick as I originally hoped the Islanders would trade up to the late first in order to nab him. He fills the exact role that the Islanders are missing.

CH: Perfect pick at this spot. This was a BPA pick, and an organizational need pick. Mayfield is a bit of a project, in the sense that it will be a good 4-5 years before we see him on the team. That said, his potential from a defensive standpoint is great. He's a huge body who plays physical coming from a great league in the USHL to a great program in Denver. If all things go well, he will be a HUGE boom for this team. Even if they don't, he could still easily make the NHL at that size.

Alex's grade: A
Carey's grade: A

Johan Sundstrom, C/RW, 2nd round, 50th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: 95

AT: An interesting pick by Garth. A center/RW who will inevitably be placed in a checking role, Sundstrom will be able to really show himself off with an upgraded role this coming season in the SEL. I'm not really sure if he was the best choice for the Isles as we are loaded down with centers, but it's always good to have depth. He will certainly be fighting for a spot when his time comes.

CH: A little bit of a reach here, but there are positives to look at as he is a top-100 prospect. Sundstrom played in the SEL last year at 17 years old, which is outstanding. He was great while playing with players in his age group, so he should be primed for a big WJC-20 in December. The most interesting thing about this pick is that he is a center, which gives the Isles an influx of centers in the organization. While he does have limited offensive upside, he does have the potential to fight for a spot on the bottom-6.

Alex's grade: B-
Carey's grade: C+

Andrei Pedan, D, 3rd round, 63rd overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: 82

AT: Another pick I absolutely love. Another big, strong D-man who we so desperately need. And he is big. Mayfield big. He and Mayfield could prove to be absolute bruisers on the Isles blueline in the future. Can not wait to see these two develop. He'll go back to Guelph in the OHL and work on his skills.

CH: Exactly what the Islanders need. If either he or Mayfield work out, the Islanders will be in great shape for years to come. He really picked his game up in the OHL playoffs last year, so if he can capitalize on that at the WJC for Russia and into the season for Guelph, the Isles may have a big sleeper on their hands. For a third round pick, there is much to like here.

Alex's grade: A
Carey's grade: B+

Robbie Russo, D, 4th round, 95th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: 50

AT: He slipped quite a bit, but that happens in the later rounds. A smaller, puck moving defenseman, very similar to Matt Donovan who plays in the AHL right now. He'll never see top 4 minutes, but he could end up being a nice puck rushing D-man in the future.

CH: I had this guy pegged at 50, so to get him at 95 was good value. He's going to Notre Dame, so he'll play with Anders Lee there. He had a great WC-18 for the Americans. He has decent offensive upside, and he needs to work on his defensive game - but he has four more years to do that. I like this pick here, even if it's a little different from what the "theme" of the draft was.

Alex's grade: B
Carey's grade: B+

John Persson, RW, 5th round, 125th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: NR

AT: Big, strong winger who likes to fight. Matt Martin-esque in style in that he's tough, but he can produce offensively. Don't really know how his game will translate to the NHL, so we'll just have to see.

CH: This was very interesting. I don't know that he was on anyone's radar, so maybe they could have waited on him. That said, the Isles took an overager in Tony DeHart last year (opted not to sign him) and it didn't work out. Persson had a very good second season for Red Deer, may see time with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this year. Very low risk, most likely medium reward type of pick, but he'll get a year to show what he can do. A top-50 pick in Seth Ambroz was still on the board here, so tough to call this pick great or terrible.

Alex's grade: B-
Carey's grade: C

Brendan Kichton, D, 5th round, 127th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: NR

AT: Played very well with Spokane in the regular season as well as in the playoffs. Another puck moving D-man (similar to De Haan), but is on the smaller side. Not sure if he'll ever make it to the Islanders or the NHL.

CH: Smaller defenseman who put up huge offensive numbers for Spokane last year. The Islanders drafted a similar type in Jared Spurgeon in 2008, who made the Minnesota Wild this past year. Very high reward here, as he is also an overager, so this year will determine a lot for him as well.

Alex's grade: C
Carey's grade: C

Mitchell Theoret, C, 7th round, 185th overall
Islanders Central Draft Ranking: NR

AT: Seems to have an offensive upside but it's yet to be seen after being limited in his role with Niagara. Very hard to rate this one right now. Did play with Strome, so hopefully he can help him turn into something great.

CH: Like Alex said, hard to rate. They say he does have some offensive upside, but more likely if he gets to the NHL it will be as an enforcer type role (had six fights last year). A teammate of Ryan Strome, the Isles saw a lot of him and I'm sure Strome was very happy to see his teammate drafted. No rating here - at this point, they were playing with house money.

Overall grade:

AT: This was a great draft for Snow. While it hurts to miss out on a franchise D-man like Larsson who would have been ours had the Devils not fixed won the draft lottery, I'm very happy with Strome and the rest of the picks, especially Mayfield. Garth restocked the D corps as was much needed and added dynamic offensive talent to the already stocked prospect pool. This was a successful draft that addressed the needs of a talent pool that was not too long ago quite empty. Good job, Garth.

CH: Very good draft here, maybe the best since 2008. They drafted 3 C, 4 D, and 1 LW, so it's an even spread across the board. Not only that, they also separated the signing deadlines for these players. Strome, Pedan, and Theoret have two years to be signed. Kichton and Persson must be signed by next June. They also have Mayfield and Russo going to college, which means they have four years to sign them. It means they will have ample time to realize what they have.

Alex's grade: A-
Carey's grade: B+

Draft: Islanders Select Mitchell Theoret With The 184th Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected forward Mitchell Theoret from the Niagara IceDogs. A teammate of Ryan Strome, Theoret is a 6'1" center who only had 20 points in 66 games last season.

CH: We're talking about a 7th round pick here, so it's no big deal whatsoever, but this pick is a little confusing. Plenty of talent left on the board the team could have taken a shot on, including Myles Bell and Jeremy Boyce-Rotevall. That said, I'm sure the Isles have their reasoning so it is what it is. Overall, this was a fantastic draft as far as potential for the New York Islanders.

We will have a complete 2011 Draft rundown coming this weekend as well as on our weekly podcast next Wednesday.

UPDATE: 11:50 PM - After reading more on Theoret, it sounds like he does have decent upside. More likely, this is more the Islanders doing their new #1 pick, Ryan Strome, a "favor," so to speak - as I'm sure Strome pumped him up at the draft table. If it makes him happy, I'm happy.

Draft: Islanders Select Robbie Russo With the 94th Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected defenseman Robbie Russo with the 94th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Russo is a smaller D'man, only 6 foot and 180 lbs.  Has a bit of an offensive upside as well putting up some decent numbers last year.

AT: Russo's known as a complete package, eerily similar to Matt Donovan who signed with the Isles last season. He's very good at everything but doesn't really excel at any one area. Could make for a solid bottom pairing guy in a few years, but right now he needs to develop. He's reliable in his own end without being flashy about it and that's what's most important for a D-man at this point. Good pick by Snow.

CH: I had this guy pegged at #50, so getting him at #95 makes me happy. He wasn't great last year, but had a very good U-18 for the Americans in Germany. He'll have plenty of time to develop both his size and his game over the next few years. He will also play with Islanders prospect Anders Lee at Notre Dame, which is a program on the rise. Overall, a good value pick at 95.

Draft: Islanders Select Andrei Pedan With the 63rd Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected defenseman Andrei Pedan with the 63rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Pedan is a Russian playing for Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League. He finished with 12 points in 51 games last year. He is another big defenseman, at 6'4" and 200 lbs. He also had a great playoffs for Guelph, averaging over a point per game.

CH: I really like this pick as well. The Islanders are addressing an organizational need on D in this draft by drafting big, physical, and mobile defenseman. Pedan fits that mold and is a good value for a 3rd round pick. He is no doubt a project, but he'll have time to develop in Guelph over the next few years. He absolutely has NHL potential, and will be interesting to see how he develops.

AT: Another great pick. For a 3rd rounder, he's perfect. Big, strong D-man (2nd for the Isles in this draft), with an offensive upside that really showed in the playoffs. Another great pick by Snow. We're doing well so far. 

Draft: Islanders select Johan Sundstrom with the 50th overall pick

The New York Islanders have selected Johan Sundstrom with with 50th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Sundstrom is a big center/winger at 6'3", 196 pounds. He played for Frolunda in the SEL last season.

AT: Was personally expecting Ryan Sproul, but I'm happy with this pick. Big, well rounded winger with great hockey sense and supposedly "tremendous" reach. Had GREAT stats in the J20 Superelit with 19 pts in 15 games in the regular season and 15 pts in 7 games in the playoffs. Loves to fight through traffic - something the Isles needed. Good, solid pick by Garth.

CH: I like this pick a lot. Might be a little bit early, but there's not much to dislike here. He was on the Swedish WJC last year, is big and has soft hands. The Islanders are really building a ton of depth at center, will be interesting to see where the team goes from here. Plenty of options, either through trade or development. Overall, a very solid pick.

Draft: Islanders Select Scott Mayfield With the 34th Overall Pick

The New York Islanders have selected Scott Mayfield with the 34th Overall Pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Mayfield is a 6'4" defenseman who played for Youngstown in the USHL last season. He will play for the University of Denver in the fall.

CH: Mayfield is a fantastic selection for the Islanders here. He is a big, hulking defenseman who punishes opponents. He also started to develop his offensive game with Youngstown last season. He has very good hockey sense as well. For the Islanders, he is a perfect pick as he fills a great organizational need and could be considered the BPA at this spot in the draft. He will have plenty of time to develop at a great program in Denver. Long term, he has the potential to be a top-4 defenseman for the Islanders. There's no doubt this player improves the amateur and organizational defensive depth substantially. A great start to Day 2.

AT: Anyone following us on Twitter would know I wanted either Mayfield or Musil. Musil went 31st and Mayfield fell to us. He's committed to Denver for the 2011-2012 academic season so he won't be on the Island for at least a year. Love this pick by Snow. Wouldn't have minded Jurco either, but I'm ecstatic with this pick. 6'4", 200 pounds, big, mean, ready to throw hits. Ideal pick.

Draft: Islanders Select Ryan Strome With 5th Overall Pick

Tonight at the NHL Draft, the New York Islanders selected Niagara IceDogs center Ryan Strome with the 5th overall pick. Strome is a 6'0" 175 pound center, who shoots right, and had 31 goals and 106 points for Niagara in the Ontario Hockey League last season. 

Strome joins Nino Niederreiter, Brock Nelson, John Tavares, Calvin de Haan, Josh Bailey, and Kyle Okposo as first round picks made by the Islanders since 2006.

New York Islanders

CH: I predicted this pick, and I absolutely love it. Strome is a very talented center who has outstanding skills, speed, and shot. He is more of a playmaker than center, and should slide in as the second line center for years to come unless the Islanders move him to right wing. If they move him to the wing, he will be a perfect complement to John Tavares, as not only to their styles complement each other well, but they shoot on opposite sides meaning set-ups will come fairly easy for these two.

Strome knows John Tavares and Matt Moulson from their training in the Mississauga/Oakdale area in Ontario. General Manager Garth Snow said that Tavares gave Strome a great scouting report, which helped his cause. Strome seemed genuinely excited to be picked by the Islanders in his interview with James Duthie, which leads me to believe that Tavares and Moulson told him great things about the organization.

As far as the future goes, Strome is not physically ready for the NHL. I believe the Islanders learned their lesson with Josh Bailey, so I would be absolutely shocked to see Strome in the NHL next season. It's possible that we may not even see him until 2013-14. That said, his potential is outstanding because of his skillset, so it will absolutely be worth the wait. The only downside on Strome is his physicality, but he will have time to grow into his body to make a seamless transition to the NHL.

Next year, Strome will be a leader on the IceDogs and should be an absolute lock for the Canadian World Junior Championship U-20 team. He does have things to work on, but given the amount of character this player has, I'm confident he will improve on the assets that he's lacking a little in.

The Islanders now have one of the top-5 prospect pools in the NHL, and that's not being a homer. Corey Pronman from Hockey Prospectus even suggested the Islanders may have the best prospect line in the NHL. This was an outstanding pick by the New York Islanders as the rebuild is finally ready to take the next step.

AT: I wanted one of Strome, Couturier or Hamilton. I got one. Extremely pleased with this pick. Strome will either be the 2nd line center (imagine the speed of him + Grabner) behind Tavares or will slot in on right wing to feed JT and Matt Moulson. He fits right into organizational need of a playmaker and a sniper and will definitely go back to an already stacked Niagara team. I see little reason that he could or should make the NHL next year. He needs to add some weight and refine his skills a bit and ensure us that this year was not a fluke. With everything we've seen, I can definitely say it was not.

Strome joins an abundance of centers in the Isles organization. Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen, Nelson, Cizikas, Lee, Ullstrom and Strome create a huge influx of organizational depth that should last for years. One of which (most likely Ullstrom or Nelson) can always be expendable as well.

The Islanders will have four more picks in the top 100 tomorrow, including two second round picks (34 and 50), one third round pick (63), and one fourth round pick (94).

Draft: Final Predictions; Live Blog Tonight Starts at 5 PM

The day has finally come. The NHL draft is upon us and at the current moment, the Islanders are set to pick 5th overall. No one name has come into complete solidification yet so we away anxiously who the Islanders will pick, or if they move their pick for an already NHL-caliber player.

AT: As we've discussed on the blog and on podcasts, I don't expect nor do I hope the Islanders will trade the pick for anyone other than a true NHL player. I believe they will draft one of Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Strome or Sean Couturier. Personally, I'm expecting the top 5 to go something like this:

1. Oilers - Nugent-Hopkins
2. Avalanche - Larsson
3. Panthers - Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Devils - Gabriel Landeskog
5. Islanders - Dougie Hamilton

We shall see. It's been a fun ride up to the draft and now we're finally there. For those going, look for me in an '07-08 Away jersey with "Tessler" and the number 17 on the back. I'll be with Carey liveblogging the event. Hope to see you all there!

CH: There's been plenty of rumor and plenty of conjecture for the past two months about if the Islanders will trade up, trade down, trade the pick for a player, or just pick. Don't forget the Islanders have becomes masters at smokescreens and deceiving the media and fans on who they are picking. It happened in 2009 with John Tavares, and it happened in 2010 when everyone thought they were going to take Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley. I believe that it's happening again, and the Isles don't have as much interest in Dougie Hamilton as perceived. No question if Hamilton is the pick, it will be a worthy one and would fill a great organizational need. But I do think they will pick a center to be the complement to John Tavares for years to come. I believe the top 5 will shake out like this:

1. Oilers - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Avalanche - Adam Larsson
3. Panthers - Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Devils - Gabriel Landeskog
5. Islanders - Ryan Strome

It should be a fun night at the Coliseum. Were both looking forward to it. Hope to see you there!

Draft: Countdown #1 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Position: Center
Height: 6'0
Weight: 165 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: April 12th, 1993
Nationality: Canadian
2010-2011 Team: Red Deer Rebels
League: Western Hockey League
Stats: 69 GP - 31 G - 75 A - 106 P - 51 PIM
Playoffs: 9 GP - 4 G - 7 A - 11 P - 6 PIM

CH: Nugent-Hopkins is definitely the best player in the draft, and should go first overall tonight to the Edmonton Oilers. That said, he has always been a legitimate top-5 pick, but really stepped his game up this year with 106 points in 69 games for the Red Deer Rebels. His skating is outstanding, as are his offensive instincts and hockey sense. His only real knock is that he will never be a real physical forward. Nugent-Hopkins is best served to spend another year in Red Deer getting stronger, so that he will make an easier transition into the NHL in 2012-13. If he is not with the Oilers next season, he will be the first 1st overall pick since Erik Johnson in 2006 to not jump immediately into the NHL. Even if he does have to wait, the sky is the limit for the kid. He is the only forward in the draft that I believe will become a sure-fire first line player in the NHL. To be alongside Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner, and Magnus Paarjavi - the Oilers have a great future ahead of them.

AT: Very strong skater, absolutely incredible stick handling skills, playmaking abilities of Zeus himself and hockey sense that has been consistently related to that of The Great One's. RNH has, in my mind, solidified himself as the number one pick. If I was the Islanders picking at 1 I'd go for Larsson most likely, but RNH completes an incredible set of youth in the Oilers organization. He seems to be pretty NHL ready in terms of his play, although he's a very small kid. Worst case scenario could have him playing 9 games in the NHL before going back to juniors, although as Carey said the number one pick not playing immediately in the NHL is a rarity. RNH should be a 60 point player this year and afterwards, anything is possible. Should be exciting to watch him develop just as it was with Hall this year.

CH: As far as the Islanders go, it's obviously hard to see Nugent-Hopkins dropping anywhere past #2 in the draft. The only way the Isles will wind up drafting him is if they trade up with Colorado or Edmonton, which seems very unlikely at this point. All in all, the Isles have a chance at #5 to pick an impact player for years to come - it just won't be Nugent-Hopkins. 

AT: Not gonna happen. Most signs point to the Oilers going for RNH, or at the very worst going for Larsson. They'll stay put unless they get a total sweetheart deal.

Most likely to be drafted: 1-2

Draft: Final Composite Rankings 1-100

As some of you know, we have been working on our draft rankings, which is really just a combination of 9 sources into 1. It's more of a guide than anything else, seeing as we don't have the time to watch all of these guys play. We used a combination of professional and fan rankings just to get a gauge of both.

Here were the sources used: Future Considerations, Central Scouting Bureau, The Hockey News, TSN, ISS, The Scouting Report, NHL Draft Site, The Hockey Writers, HF Boards.

For those wondering - In the 2010 NHL Draft, 24 of our top 30 were drafted in the first round, and 80% of our top 100 were drafted in the first 100 picks.

Here are the final rankings from 1-100:

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - C 
2. Adam Larsson - D
3. Jonathan Huberdeau - C
4. Gabriel Landeskog - LW
5. Sean Couturier - C
6. Dougie Hamilton - D
7. Ryan Strome - C
8. Ryan Murphy - D
9. Mika Zibanejad - C
10. Duncan Siemens - D
11. Nathan Beaulieu - D
12. Joel Armia - RW
13. Sven Bartschi - LW
14. Mark McNeill - C
15. Jonas Brodin - D
16. Jamie Oleksiak - D
17. Mark Scheifele - C
18. Matt Puempel - LW
19. Zach Phillips - C
20. Nicklas Jensen - RW
21. Oscar Klefbom - D
22. Vladislav Namestnikov - C
23. Rocco Grimaldi - C
24. Tyler Biggs - RW
25. Brandon Saad - LW
26. Ty Rattie - RW
27. Joe Morrow - D
28. Jonathan (J.T.) Miller - C
29. Boone Jenner - C
30. Alexander Khoklachev - C
31. Tomas Jurco - RW
32. Dmitri Jaskin - RW
33. Scott Mayfield - D
34. Connor Murphy - D
35. David Musil - D
36. Rickard Rakell - RW
37. Stefan Noesen - RW
38. Phillip Danault - LW
39. Mario Lucia - LW
40. Daniel Catenacci - C
41. Brett Ritchie - RW
42. John Gibson - G
43. Victor Rask - C
44. Shane Prince - C
45. Adam Clendening - D
46. Matthew Nieto - C
47. Lucas Lessio - LW
48. Seth Ambroz - RW
49. Joel Edmundson - D
50. Robbie Russo -D
51. Christopher Gibson - G
52. Stuart Percy - D
53. Nick Shore - C
54. Vincent Trocheck - C
55. Miikka Salomaki - C
56. Ryan Sproul - D
57. Colin Jacobs - C
58. Rasmus Bergtsson - D
59. Nikita Kucherov - LW
60. Myles Bell - D
61. Michael St. Croix - C
62. Markus Granlund - C
63. Samu Perhonen - G
64. Gregory Hofmann - C
65. Tyler Wotherspoon - D
66. Adam Lowry - LW
67. Joachim Nermark - C
68. Joseph Labate - C
69. Reid Boucher - C
70. Xavier Ouellet - D
71. Max Friberg - LW
72. Travis Ewanyk - LW
73. Logan Shaw - RW
74. Reese Scarlett - D
75. William Karlsson - C
76. Jeremy Boyce Rotevall - LW
77. Scott Oke - LW
78. Marcel Noebels - LW
79. Ryan Tesink - C
80. Mike Reilly - D
81. Andrei Pedan - D
82. Mike McKee - D
83. Phillipe Hudon - C
84. David Honzik - G
85. Kale Kessy - LW
86. Tobias Rieder - C
87. Magnus Hellberg - G
88. Shane McColgan - C
89. Michael Mersch - LW
90. Dillon Simpson - D
91. Sean Kuraly - C
92. Andy Welinski - D
93. Michael Paliotta - D
94. Marek Tvrdon - RW
95. Johan Sundstrom - C
96. Nick Cousins - C
97. Max Shalunov - RW
98. Steven Fogarty - C
99. Michael Morrison - G
100. Jordan Binnington - G

Draft: Countdown #2 - Adam Larsson

2. Adam Larsson

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 216 lbs
Shoots: R
DOB: November 12th, 1992
Nationality: Swedish
2010-2011 Team: Skellefteå
League: Swedish Elite League
Stats: 37 GP - 1 G - 8 A - 9 P - 41 PIM
Playoffs: 17 GP - 0 G - 4 A - 4 P - 12 PIM

AT: Larsson is without a doubt my favorite player in this draft. He is definitely the best defenseman in this draft seeing as how he seems to be the complete package. Yahoo Sports has explored the possibility of him being Sweden's greatest defender ever, even surpassing the legendary Nick Lidstrom. Already with a body that is ready for the NHL, Larsson can step in right away, though I have heard he may spend one more year in Sweden to fulfill his contract. His hockey sense is off the charts, his outlet passing is superb, he can run the PP and his offensive upside has huge potential. His skating is decent and he is known as a very strong shutdown D-man. Larsson definitely seems to be a lock for a top 1-2 D-man on any team that drafts him.

I am absolutely praying that Garth is able to nab him. He would be a perfect fit and fill the gaping hole at D better than Hamilton would. I do not believe he will be available at 5 but I would completely endorse Garth trading up to 2-3 to get him if Florida or Colorado decides they want to go with offense. Both teams seem to be pretty offensively starved. With Florida taking Gudbranson last year and Colorado trading for Erik Johnson, It's hard to see either of them going D. I can even see the Oilers going with Larsson at 1 seeing as how there's never been any concrete proof they're definitely going with RNH. He has become a total crapshoot (as with the rest of this draft) and could be drafted at a myriad of spots. Let's hope and pray he falls to the Islanders.

CH: I concur with everything Alex has said. Larsson is the top defenseman in this draft by far. While he did have somewhat of an average year, his potential and skill set are fantastic. As far as the Islanders are concerned, it's very simple. The chances that he makes it past New Jersey are low, but not impossible. If he is there at 5, it's the biggest no-brainer the Islanders have had at the draft in recent history. Even a bigger no-brainer than taking John Tavares at #1, because his competition was close to him in ability. If Larsson manages to slip down to 5, he will be far and away the best talent on the board. Sadly, as we talked about on the podcast, we both expect Colorado to take the skilled defenseman. In that case, they will be getting a great player to complement Erik Johnson. Still, the thought of Larsson falling down to 5 is a dream, and if realized the Islanders will walk away with the steal of the draft.

Most likely to be drafted: 1-3

Draft: Countdown #3 - Jonathan Huberdeau

3. Jonathan Huberdeau

Position: Center/Left Wing
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 172 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: June 4, 1993
Nationality: Canadian
2010-2011 Team: Saint John Sea Dogs
League: QMJHL
Stats: 67 GP - 43 G - 62 A - 105 P - 88 PIM
Playoffs: 19 GP - 16 G - 14 A - 30 P - 16 PIM
MemCup - 4 GP - 3 G - 3 A - 6 P - 4 PIM

CH: Huberdeau is a very intriguing prospect. He has considerably risen from the start of the year and settled in at #3. This is a player that pretty much has it - he was so clutch for the Sea Dogs all year, as they went on their way to win the Memorial Cup. He has a ton of skill, both with his shot, his vision, and his creativity. He has outstanding hockey sense as well. He is a little slow, but much like John Tavares, he will have plenty of time to work on it. Huberdeau is raw, in the sense that there is no way he will be ready for the NHL next year. He always weighs approximately 175 pounds, which is just not big enough yet. Another year in the Q dominating his competition, while getting a bit bigger and stronger will do him wonders. While he probably will not end up a true first liner, he will settle in on any contender's second line and will certainly have an impact in the NHL.

As far as the Islanders are concerned, they can hope and pray he falls to #5, but I don't see it happening. If he does end up falling that far, they will have to evaluate the situation but he should be the pick at that point. Like most of the other guys we've talked about lately, Huberdeau was brought onto Long Island last week for a visit with the team. He is on the Islanders radar, but I'm not so sure he will make it past the Florida Panthers at #3.

AT: Huberdeau's rise has been absolutely ridiculous. Once projected being a mid-late first rounder, Huberdeau now seems to be a lock for anywhere between the 2 and 4 slots. He is one of the most creative, intelligent playmakers in the draft next to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a shot that will make you cry as a goaltender. He only did two bench presses at the combine which is pretty weak, but at the same time it also impressed scouts. If he is as strong and efficient as he is now, imagine what he'll be like when he fills out? Huberdeau will be a perennial NHL star, possibly on a team's first line. He also showed clutch performance when he was really needed and led his team to the Memorial Cup.

There's no way he falls to the Islanders. His stock is just too hot right now to fall to 5, so unless the Isles trade up, it won't happen. Would love to see him as our second line center, but Couturier or Strome will most likely be available when the Isles draft if the Isles go for the center route.

Most likely to be drafted: 2-4

Draft: Countdown #4 - Sean Couturier

TSN.ca

4. Sean Couturier

Position: Center
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 198 lbs
Shoots: L
DOB: December 7th, 1992
Nationality: American/Canadian (born in USA, plays for Canadian national team)
2010-2011 Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs
League: QMJHL
Stats: 58 GP - 36 G - 60 A - 96 P - 36 PIM
Playoffs: 10 GP - 6 G - 5 A - 11 P - 14 PIM
WJC 20 - 7 GP - 2 G - 1 A - 3 P - 0 PIM

AT: Couturier would be an equally fantastic choice for me along with Dougie Hamilton. A very strong, two way center with incredible puck handling skills, Couturier would be a fantastic addition to the top 6 of any team. Couturier is also renowned for his supreme hockey sense, which originally had him pegged as the first overall pick up until Ryan Nugent-Hopkins meteoric rise to the top. Couturier's game has been nitpicked to death and it has led to his stock dropping in some mock drafts to as low at 7 or 8. While his skating definitely needs to improve, at 5 I find a player like him, even with his skating flaws, to be a fantastic selection. His playmaking ability is supreme and as he grows into his body, his ability to really control his way past the neutral zone and set up plays will continue to increase.

I would have no problem with the Islanders taking Couturier at 5. In fact, I'd be ecstatic. He would be a fantastic addition to the second line and create a vicious 1-2 punch down the center in the top 6. If his playmaking abilities continue to increase in capability, I can see him turning Grabner into a 50 goal scorer, if not higher. I love Frans Nielsen, but he should be the third line center, not the second line center. The thought of a line of Grabner-Couturier-Niederreiter/Okposo gives me chills. As for his skating on an already generally slow Islanders team, I remember a certain player's skating that was so nitpicked some almost asked Garth to draft another player. That player's name is John Tavares, who has made huge strides in his skating ability. Couturier will do the same.

CH: If the Islanders decide they want to go with a forward and guys like Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau, and Landeskog are gone, Couturier is the guy. While he is not a great skater yet, it can be developed like Alex touched on. Everyone talks about the fact that Couturier fell, but to me it's a non-issue. Plenty of reports have come out that Couturier's play did not drop and he did not have a bad attitude. He is the only draft eligible player to have played for Team Canada at the World Juniors this past year at all. I love the idea of adding this guy to the top-9, in between Tavares and Nielsen. In the past he's been compared to somewhat of a hybrid between Eric and Jordan Staal. Tell me someone who wouldn't sign up for that.

When push comes to shove, I don't see the Islanders taking him if he's even around at 5. We've touched on the fact the Islanders like to take players who have risen up the charts, not fallen - even if there is no rhyme or reason for why he did. Maybe they make an exception for Couturier - I would love for them to do that. If they do take him, it would be an absolute coup and is a possible choice to go down as the steal of the top 10 (along with Ryan Murphy - if we're talking potential).

Most likely to be drafted: 3-8

Draft: Countdown #5 - Gabriel Landeskog

Bridget DS

5. Gabriel Landeskog

Position: Left Wing
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 205
Shoots: Left
DOB: November 23, 1992
Nationality: Swedish
2010-2011 Team: Kitchener Rangers
League: OHL
Stats: 53 GP - 36 G - 30 A - 66 P - 61 PIM
Playoffs: 7 GP - 6 G - 4 A - 10 P - 4 PIM
WJC-20: 1 GP - 1 G - 1 A - 2 P - 0 PIM

CH: At this point in the countdown, any Islander fan would have to be satisfied with one of these players' name being called by Garth Snow. Landeskog is a tough, gritty left wing who came over from Sweden for the 2009-10 season to play with Kitchener. After a disappointing first season, he had a dominant playoff run with 23 points in 18 games and carried that over into the 2010-11 season with 66 points in 60 games. He was selected to the World Junior U-20 tournament by Sweden, but only played one game before missing the rest of the tournament due to injury. He has hung around the top-5 pretty much all season, so it should be no surprise he finished #5 on the ISS countdown. Landeskog is said to have outstanding leadership ability on and off the ice. His english is impeccable, which is extremely impressive for a player who has only been in North America for two seasons.

It's possible Landeskog will be around at #5, but not terribly likely. That said, in 2010 the Islanders drafted a similar style player in Nino Niederreiter. I'm not sure this is the route they will choose to go in, but it would be hard to skip on Landeskog if he does fall to 5. In that scenario, I see a trade down to #6 as extremely likely. Ottawa has been rumored to be interested in him, and many reporters have thrown out the idea that they may trade up for him. If he is chosen by the Islanders, having Landeskog, Niederreiter, and a guy like Kyle Okposo in the organization will make for outstanding complements to centers such as John Tavares and Frans Nielsen. Either way, the Islanders cannot go wrong if Landeskog ends up being their guy.

AT: I love what Landeskog brings to the table. Not afraid to stick up for his teammates, incredible leadership skills, goalscoring ability and strength that will only get better. My only question is whether this goalscoring ability will carry over to the NHL. He does seem to translate to a Swedish version of Jarome Iginla, a powerful forward who can still do the things necessary to get the puck in the net. He might not have the pure scoring ability of Steven Stamkos, but he has the desire to get the puck into the net. His ability with English, as Carey mentioned, is also insane for how little he's known it fluently. That to me shows a lot more than what may come off. It shows a very intelligent person who is willing to work hard to achieve things he wants to.

I know you're supposed to go for BPA, but I just see Landeskog being very redundant in the Isles organization. They already have a Okposo and Niederreiter as mentioned as well as Blake Comeau who throws hits left and right along with his improving goal scoring ability. I just don't see a reason the Isles would go for Landeskog at this point, but anything can happen.

Most likely to be drafted: 2-6

Draft: Countdown #6 - Dougie Hamilton

6. Dougie Hamilton

Position: Defenceman
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 187
Shoots: R
DOB: June 17th, 1993
Nationality: Canadian
2010-2011 Team: Niagara IceDogs
League: OHL
Stats: 67 GP - 12 G - 46 A - 58 P - 77 PIM
Playoffs: 14 GP - 4 G - 12 A - 16 P - 16 PIM

AT: At this point, Hamilton is my number one choice for the Islanders. Coming from two athlete parents, Hamilton has the genes to make it work in the NHL. Originally known for shying away from the physical aspect of the game, the 6'4" (and still growing) Hamilton stepped up the usage of his body this year with Niagara. Has a huge offensive upside and could be a solid PP QB for whatever team decides to take him. Another thing I love about Hamilton is the fact that he was renowned for his intelligence - and it seemed to translate to his game. He makes smart decisions with the puck and relentlessly goes after loose pucks. He's not really known for delivering huge, open ice, bone crushing hits - certainly not yet - but he will work along the boards to pin a forward down.

Defense can be learned and improved upon. Hamilton has shown he has the desire to change the parts of his game that he lacks in. He would be a great addition to the Islanders blue line and I truly believe he is the perfect fit for the Islanders unless Larsson magically falls to them at 5. I'm really hoping the Isles take a chance on Hamilton - and more importantly, that if he's drafted, every time he scores the Coliseum will play "Teach Me How To Dougie".

CH: If the Islanders drafted Hamilton at #5 this Friday, I'd be absolutely thrilled. Not only may he be the BPA there, he also fills a huge organizational need. He'd instantly become the biggest defenseman in the organization under 25 years old. As Alex touched on, his overall game needs work but there's no reason why it shouldn't all come together for him.

As far as his NHL outlook goes, he'll probably need one more year in Niagara to refine his game, but that's okay. If he is the Isles choice, with guys like Eaton and Jurcina coming off the books, Hamilton should have no problem stepping into a great situation with the Islanders in 2012-13 with the team on the rise.

Most likely to be drafted: 3-8

Draft: Countdown #7 - Mika Zibanejad

7. Mika Zibanejad

Position: Center/Right Wing
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 176 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: April 18th, 1993
Nationality: Swedish
2010-2011 Team: Djugarden
League: Swedish Elite League
Stats: 26 GP - 5 G - 4 A - 9 P - 2 PIM
Playoffs: 7 GP - 1 G - 1 A - 2 P - 2 PIM

CH: If there was ever a comparable to the rise of Nino Niederreiter, it's Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad came out of nowhere over the course of the 2010/11 season, where he finished with Djugarden of the Sweidsh Elite League. For a 17 year old, his stats were extremely productive - he finished with 9 points in 26 games. While he does lack top end speed, he is a good skater. He has a very good shot and plays a physical, two-way game, which would be perfect for a complement to John Tavares. That said, he is not ready for the NHL, and I believe is committed to Djugarden for the 2011/12 season. But he is not far away. Once he puts on more strength and weight, he should be able to jump right in.

AT: The rise he's seen is very insane. Once projected to go in the late 1st/early 2nd, he's not solidified himself as a top 10 pick, possibly top 5. The play he's put on this year in the SEL has been outstanding. He's renowned for his two way play, physical ability and work along the boards. Kind of a mix between Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. Absolutely needs another year in the SEL so that he can work on his skills and get more playing time, but I see him being ready in a year's time. 

CH: While it could be regarded that Zibanejad is a safe pick due to his all-around game, he does have considerable skill as well. As far as the Islanders go, I do believe that Zibanejad is on their radar. It was rumored the team was planning to bring him to Long Island, but that was not confirmed. In my opinion, he would be a solid value pick at #5. He could easily have a role with the Islanders over time as a bridge between the top line of Tavares and the third line of Frans Nielsen (if he is re-signed). The fact that he has risen considerably over the course of the season is going to be a huge selling point for the Islanders, as they like to take risers in the first round. It's been rumored that Zibanejad may go as high as #3 to Florida, but that seems unlikely. If he is there at #5, he would be a very good choice for the New York Islanders.

AT: His all around game would make him a very solid addition to the Islanders core. With the team not being sure of where Josh Bailey will be (if he even stays at center and the rotation game continues), I can see the Isles going for either him or Strome. However, if Couturier is available, he is the center I'd prefer.

Most likely to be drafted: 3-10

Draft: Countdown #9 - Ryan Strome

9. Ryan Strome

Position: Center
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 170 lbs
Shoots: R
DOB: July 11th, 1993
Nationality: Canadian
2010-2011 Team: Niagara IceDogs
League: Ontario Hockey League
Stats: 65 GP - 33 G - 73 A - 106 P - 82 PIM
Playoffs: 14 GP - 6 G - 6 A - 12 P - 19 PIM

CH: Strome is one of my favorite prospects in the top 10 of the draft this year. To start, he is a righty shot, which will complement Tavares well on the second line. It means there would be more flexibility to put other guys on the wings depending on their preference. It also would allow them to play the same PP line on opposite sides. Strome is a very creative player who has been on the rise for quite some time now. After 14 points and 27 points respectively in his first two years playing for Barrie and Niagara in the OHL, he burst on the scene with 106 points this year and just under a PPG in the playoffs.

Strome, who just turned 18, would absolutely need another year of seasoning in the OHL. Niagara was a good team this year and they should be again next year. This situation reminds me a bit of the Josh Bailey situation in 2008. Bailey was an up-and-coming riser for the Windsor Spitfires who was rushed into the NHL. Obviously, we all know he has struggled in the NHL since then. Strome, who is only 5'11" and 170 pounds has room and time to grow. He'll need to fill out more before he reaches the NHL level full time, but his skill and talent are undeniable. He should be a top 6 player for a very long time.

As far as the Islanders go, he is certainly on their radar. Strome was brought onto Long Island over the weekend for a visit with the team. He did an interview with Chris Botta where you can listen to here. He seems like a high character guy who would fit right into the current locker room, especially because he is friendly with John Tavares. If the Islanders decide they want to go with a center, he certainly is a viable option at 5. If they think he'll be around at 7-8, it's possible he'll be around there too, but not much after that. Still, if developed correctly (and he will be if the Isles take him after the Bailey fiasco), the Islanders will end up very happy with Ryan Strome in their organization.

AT: Strome is one who I would be completely happy with being taken at 5. A dynamic talent and very skilled playmaker, Strome would create a magnificent 1-2 punch down the center for the Isles. The wings can be filled out, but having Strome and JT down the center could and most likely would create a huge offensive outburst in a year's time after another year in juniors. As mentioned, putting him back in juniors is the wisest route after the Bailey experiment went so wrong. He had a huge jump in points (much like Huberdeau) and there's no harm for sending him back to the O for another year. One scout commented that Strome seemed tired out by the end of Niagara's run. That doesn't worry me too much. Stamina is something that gets better over time and can be increased. I would be ecstatic seeing a dynamic talent like Strome in our organization.

Most likely to be drafted: 4-9

Draft: Countdown #10 - Oscar Klefbom

10. Oscar Klefbom

Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 201 lbs
Shoots: L
DOB: July 20th, 1993
Nationality: Swedish
2010-2011 Team: Farjestad
League: Swedish Elite League
Stats: 23 GP - 1 G - 1 A - 2 PIM

AT: The second highest ranked Swedish D-man in this draft, Klefbom may be who teams look to if they were set on Adam Larsson and he's taken. At 6'3" and over 200 lbs, Klefbom has the body to make it into the NHL right away, although that may not necessarily be the best plan of action. He was the captain of the silver medal winning Swedish U18 team in Germany, showing he has leadership skills as well. Known as a passionate leader and a kid who plays with complete willingness to get physical, Klefbom could have some teams drooling over the prospect of such a hard worker. He seems to make very smart decisions with the puck and is very capable in clearing the puck. At not even 18, he has the room to grow and absolutely will. When he's already as strong as he is playing in the SEL, the possibilities for Klefbom in the NHL are endless.

Klefbom is a solid 2 way defenseman with an above average shot. He might not be the next Lidstrom, but he could prove to be a staple in any team's top 4 for years to come. He has the skills to make it in the NHL quickly and possibly out of camp for some teams, and he has the body to last him 15+ years on a team's blueline. He might be the ultimate package for a team needing a big, raw defenseman in their D-corps. I could see the Islanders taking a gamble on him, but not if they stay at 5.

CH: This player is a huge wild card for me. He could go as high as 5. But while it's way more likely he goes in the top half of the draft, he could fall into the mid-teens or even early 20s. This is exactly the type of player I would love to see the Islanders try to trade back into the first round to get if it's reasonable. I agree with Alex that the Isles shouldn't take him at 5, but if he's around at like 17-18, I would like to see the Islanders make a play. He's going to be a good defenseman for a long time in this league, so if the Islanders add a top-end forward and a defenseman like Klefbom, it would be a huge coup.

Most likely to be drafted: 5-10

Draft: Countdown #11 - Sven Bartschi

11. Sven Bartschi

via Portland Winterhawks

Position: Left Wing
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 174 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: October 5, 1992
Nationality: Swiss
2010-2011 Team: Portland Winterhawks
League: WHL
Stats: 66 GP - 34G - 51A - 85P - 74 PIM
Playoffs: 20 GP - 10G - 16A - 26P - 16 PIM
WJC-20: 6 GP - 1G - 1A - 2P - 4 PIM

CH: Here we have the first player I think the Islanders may take a chance on at #5. Bartschi has been a projected top-15 pick all year, but his play with Portland has really taken him to a new level.  He finished 15th in scoring in the WHL this season, and finished 5th in scoring in the WHL playoffs as well.
Bartschi, who is Swiss, is a teammate of 2010 Islanders first-round pick Nino Niederreiter (also Swiss). The two countrymen combined to lead Portland to the WHL finals before losing to Kootenay. Bartschi is loaded with talent, and like most Swiss born players, plays a North American style game.

AT: While I don't believe they played on a line very often, seeing Bartschi picked because of his connection with Niederreiter is completely imaginable. They're obviously good friends and could create amazing chemistry on a line together.

CH: There is no doubt that this player has the tools to be a top-end top-6 forward in the NHL some day. While he is very lean (only 5'10" 174), he is a very strong skater (though not blazing fast). His ability to play in the WHL effectively shows that he is able to adapt to new environments as well. On the flip side, while he did struggle in the WJC,  the fact he stepped his game up in the playoffs is a huge sign that he is a big-game player as well.

AT: His playoffs stats were off the charts (as were Niederreiter's). If he can step it up in big games as he's shown, I can definitely see him going at 7-10. He will only bulk up and get faster. I definitely see Bartschi as being a perennial top 6 winger for his career. As Carey noted, his ability to adapt to new environments is HUGE.

CH: As far as the Islanders are concerned, I would not be surprised in the least to see the team either take him at 5 or move back to the 7-8 range to take him. Bartschi and Nino Niederreiter clearly have a rapport and play opposite wings. Bartschi is very skilled and could fit into the Islanders plans long-term. While his stature could be an issue, you cannot pass on a player solely because a player is under 6 feet tall.

AT: And as I mentioned, he still has time to grow. A sniper like him, if available, is hard to pass up.

We are certainly getting to the point where each player that is profiled could be one the Islanders end up going with at five. That's how open this draft is going to be.

Most likely to be drafted: 5-12

Draft: Countdown #12 - Duncan Siemens

12. Duncan Siemens

Dan Sallows

Position: Defenceman
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 194 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 11th, 1993
Nationality: Canadian
2010-2011 Team: Saskatoon Blades
League: WHL
Stats: 72 GP - 5G - 38A - 43P - 121 PIM
Playoffs: 10 GP - 1G - 3A - 15 PIM

AT: As just a 17 year old (and a young kid in this draft), Siemens has the room the grow. Even if he were to stay put height wise, he still stands as a very intimidating D-man. With Scott Stevens as his idol growing up, Siemens seems to have taken his mold. He's a great, puck moving D-man with a body that he does not relent in throwing around. He is a wholesome D-man who a lot of teams will be drooling over. At such a young age, it could be 2 years or so before he sees the NHL. While he certainly has the body of a rookie D in the NHL, he might want to sharpen up some of his skills back in the WHL.

Siemens is certainly intriguing. A strong D-man who shows extreme capability on both sides of the puck may just be the kind of player the Isles may need. Just.. not at 5. If the Isles trade down for some reason, I'd be all for him at an area around 10-12.

CH: I agree with Alex that if the Islanders decide to trade down, this could be the guy they target. I don't think he's ready for the NHL, but he has the size and skill to be a quality top 4 guy for years to come. As far as the Islanders, it depends where they rank him. If he is ranked above Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Murphy, he could be their guy.

Like Joel Armia, this is another player who I could envision in the top 10. Realistically, he is most likely to go between 8-12, but there is certainly a possibility a team falls in love with him and takes him higher. It's also possible he slips a little bit. It's just another example of how much of a crapshoot this draft is. Either way, Siemens is a very solid prospect and the team that drafts him will be very happy.

Most likely to be drafted: 8-12