ccording to @SEllisHockey's draft board, the #Isles just got three of the top 10 players with picks 1, 16 and 17.

1 Schafer
9 Eklund
10 Aitcheson 👀

Winners
New York Islanders
Pick No. 1: Matthew Schaefer
My ranking: No. 1

Pick No. 16: Victor Eklund
My ranking: No. 8

Pick No. 17: Kashawn Aitcheson
My ranking: No. 13[img]

Looks like the isles did really well in this draft, need to see it after a few years but man it looks promising [/img]

16. New York Islanders: Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

October 3, 2006 | 5′ 11″ | 170 pounds

Tier: Top of the lineup player

Player comparable: Travis Konecny

Analysis: Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks winger William Eklund, was excellent this season versus men in the Allsvenskan as well as for Sweden’s World Junior team. Victor is an excellent skater. He has good speed, but his edge work is what separates his skating ability and how elusive he is in tight. He’s a very skilled forward who makes creative plays and can do so in the tough areas. Eklund is undersized, but he plays like a big man. He’s a tenacious competitor who hunts down pucks and is great at creating chances around the net. He projects as a top-line winger.

Pick grade: A

Thoughts on the pick: Eklund’s fall stops here. Teams were worried about his frame, but he’s such a good skater, with great skill and tenacity and has some similarities to Seth Jarvis at the same age. This is a great swing by the Islanders.

17. New York Islanders: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie Colts (OHL)

September 21, 2006 | 6′ 1″ | 198 pounds

Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Player comparable: Jacob Trouba

Analysis: Aitcheson was one of the better defensemen in the OHL this season. He has been a major minutes player for Barrie as he was for Canada’s U18 team last spring. He’s a hyper-competitive defender who doesn’t back down from physical play and likes to agitate. He has the bite NHL teams will love, even if he does go over the line at times. He’s a good skater with strong enough hands and hockey sense to make plays at higher levels and a solid point shot, too. Aitcheson won’t run a power play, lacking the natural sense at times with the puck, but he projects to have secondary NHL offense and has put up significant offense this year. Even if his puck play is just decent, with his athletic tools and being a menace to play against, he can be a great top-four defenseman.

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Pick grade: A-

Thoughts on the pick: Two picks in a row for the Islanders, and I’m a big fan of both. He’s a tenacious, highly physical defenseman with decent size and has offense in his game. He’s a unique profile, and getting a potential top-four D with snarl at 17 is great

Ending today’s cameo return by sharing notes from NHL scouts. First, on #Isles Eklund & Aitcheson:

“Crazy luck for your team. Eklund lasting until 16 is stupid. (Aitcheson) is a stud. When media does the re-drafts in a year or two, both those kids will be top 10.”

And I asked 3 pro scouts who follow Montreal closely about Emil Heineman. Highlights:
“Roy will be happy”
“Excellent speed”
“The anti-Engvall. Goes to hard areas.”
“Probably NYI’s best forechecker now”
“Responsible in Dzone”
“Sneaky shot. Will get PP time.”
“Big upgrade to their bottom-six

So how are we feeling about the team today? I don’t know anything about the kids that were drafted but it seems like we had a very good first round.
Do you guys think Darche will make any more moves today?

So how are we feeling about the team today? I don’t know anything about the kids that were drafted but it seems like we had a very good first round.
Do you guys think Darche will make any more moves today?
- Isleshockeyman

See posts above

Everyone says next year's draft is really deep, so it seems like a good year to have two first-round picks in the bank already and two aging warriors on expiring contracts -- that any playoff team would want -- to deal at the deadline (Pageau and Lee) if they choose to go that route.

See posts above
- Upstate_isles

I read some of them but I’m not back reading that much. Too damn lazy.

I read some of them but I’m not back reading that much. Too damn lazy.
- Isleshockeyman

They are litterally the 3 on this page I
There are 2000 posts on here, looks like there isn't a blogger for this team

Everyone says next year's draft is really deep, so it seems like a good year to have two first-round picks in the bank already and two aging warriors on expiring contracts -- that any playoff team would want -- to deal at the deadline (Pageau and Lee) if they choose to go that route.
- UIF

Man imagine winning the lottery again and getting mckenna? He is unreal but that's a pipedream. Im all for restocking and let's see if darche brings in a forward or replacement d woth dobsons cap space. Issac Howard would be a nice addition for nothing

Andrew Gross
@AGrossNewsday
·
5h
Noah Dobson said on Zoom he started with the goal of staying with Isles and on Long Island. But sides could never find common ground in negotiations and eventually there was a mutual decision to seek a trade.
"It's special to be an Islander."
Getting married Monday. Busy time.
- UIF

Apparently not special enough...

I read some of them but I’m not back reading that much. Too damn lazy.
- Isleshockeyman

It's on the Final Exam, so it's your responsibility.

Apparently not special enough...
- JohnScammo

He can suck my balls

He can suck my balls
- Upstate_isles

His girlfriend got my vote for the hottest Islander wife/girlfriend. Not sure whom that honor goes to now....

His girlfriend got my vote for the hottest Islander wife/girlfriend. Not sure whom that honor goes to now....
- JohnScammo

I never saw her but now I will look

No Schaegens but wow you have to be stoked with the Islanders picks last night
Aitcheson looks like he’s gonna be Romy 2.0.

He can suck my balls
- Upstate_isles

No Schaegens but wow you have to be stoked with the Islanders picks last night
Aitcheson looks like he’s gonna be Romy 2.0.
- nyisles7

100%, to see them parlay Brock Nelson and Dobson into legitimate blue chips is a long time coming. It’s not even July 1st yet…..Darche is gonna do what he can to build a winner.

100%, to see them parlay Brock Nelson and Dobson into legitimate blue chips is a long time coming. It’s not even July 1st yet…..Darche is gonna do what he can to build a winner.
- kindlyrick

I never saw her but now I will look
- Upstate_isles

- nyisles7

- JohnScammo

Stefen Rosner

Curious to see what happens with Isaac Howard today, the #GoBolts  31st overall pick in 2022.

The Michigan State forward could not come to terms with TBL and, unless TBL is fine with the 2nd round compensation pick if he signs elsewhere — they could move him today for more.


I can see Darche landing this kid. He knows him, and he has the assets.

Stefen Rosner

Curious to see what happens with Isaac Howard today, the #GoBolts  31st overall pick in 2022.

The Michigan State forward could not come to terms with TBL and, unless TBL is fine with the 2nd round compensation pick if he signs elsewhere — they could move him today for more.


I can see Darche landing this kid. He knows him, and he has the assets.
- kindlyrick

Is that you? Or Upstate?

Is that you? Or Upstate?
- JohnScammo

Haha while I can’t say I know much about the kid, I do know that you don’t win the hoby baker if you suck. For a second and maybe a third rounder to land a former first rounder is a do imho.

The new draft set up is a bit weird. They used to have GM and whoever else on stage to hand the jersey and take a photo. I felt like I saw too much of Gary Bettman (who doesn’t look well).