Islanders Trade Up, Take Brock Nelson 30th Overall
by Mark D on Jun 25, 2010 11:51 PM EDT
in Islanders in Diapers
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PrintThe Islanders traded both second round picks (35th and 58th) to Chicago for the 30th overall. That trade means for the first time since the 99 and 00 drafts that the Islanders picked multiple first rounders in back to back years. With that pick the Islanders selected Brock Nelson. The 6'3 205 lbs Center was a dominant force in Minnesota High School hockey for the last two years. He had 149 Points in his last two seasons and as a senior was one of the finalists for the Mr. Hockey Award. Brock is currently committed to the University of North Dakota, which is surprising as most colleges prefer players to spend a year in the USHL before starting their college career.
The hockey bloodline is strong with Brock. Dave Christian, his uncle, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team and enjoyed an NHL career that spanned over 1000 games and totaled 773 points. His grandfather, Billy Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, played on Team USA’s 1960 gold-medal winning men's hockey team. As he said himself about his rich hockey bloodline. There's not too many families in the USA who can claim having gold medals from two different Team USAs. Thanks to NHL.com's prospect page for Brock's family info. Some scouting quotes after the jump.
"You can't deny his good skills and size"
From the THN Draft Preview
Nelson is charging up the draft rankings. Scouts love the speed/size/hands combination that he possesses. Brock should be a mid to late first round selection.
From Hockeyprospects.com
One of the reasons he was ranked low was because his High School didn't face top competition every night. But when you have someone of his size and skill it's worth the risk. Reports also speak highly of his character and work ethic, two things the Islanders are looking for. We probably won't see him on the Island for at least another two years, but somewhere down the road it seems like he is going to be able to make a big splash.
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It seemed that there were a number of possibilities floating around at this point (Mcfarland, Merrill, Brock Nelson, Tyler Pitlick, Justin Faulk or Petrovick) I’m a little surprised the Isles decided to use both seconds to move up the five spots given that he may have been there anyways or there were other possible options had they stayed where they were. I can only assume they were really high on Nelson and saw something in him that made them afraid to take the chance he’d be gone. Still a shame that we don’t have the extra second as some of the above may have been availlable in the mid second for us to trade up for with some of our thirds.
I'm not bummed we didn't take a D
I made my intentions clear that I wanted Fowler or Gudbrandson, but if Nino turns out to be the player Garth thinks he can be, and with Fowler slipping so far, I don’t mind at all. I think we’re fine for the forseeable future, as long as we sign one top-4 and one depth defenseman. I think we compete for a playoff spot with the following D, provided our offense steps up or adds a big time player.
Streit—FA (Michalek, Volchenkov, Martin)
Hillen—McDonald
Meyer/FA—Martinek
Reese/Gervais
Fiya Minaya.
I really think we needed forwards much more...
my first preference at #5 was Gudbranson, because he’s a special type defenseman we don’t have. However our two top prospects right now are both defenseman.
Completly agree
Like I said before I think with the 5th pick for a D it was Gudbranson or bust. What does Fowler really give that De Haan doesn’t beside size which Fowler doesn’t use much. Also with Gormely what does he give that MacDonald, Hillen, Ness, or Reese don’t do as just all-around 2 way D. Also BBB for the free agents Sutton is still possible and doesn’t Harmonic have a shot to make the team because if so I’d put him with Martinek to make a shutdown pair if we don’t get 2 good FA.
I was pretty nervous about Fowler — high risk, high reward there. I’m still nervous, but I think this was a fine move. Was into Gudbranson, so when he wasn’t left I really wondered if we’d trade down or what. Fowler’s going to be a great “what if?” question for a lot of teams to watch for the next 4 years and beyond.
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Yeah
I really liked Gudbrandson, but the fact is we don’t really need another guy like a Fowler, who I think Hillen could really turn out to be that sort of player. Our depth at D is great, in 2 year or three we could have:
Hillen, McDonald, Hamonic, Streit, Donovan, and Ness. Now, odds are all of them don’t pan out, and we still need size, but that’s as deep and young a defense corps as any team has.
Fiya Minaya.
by BringBackBobby on Jun 26, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't be too worried about size
We can add size over the next two years but skill at a good price on the blue line is harder to come by. BBB I think ur forgetting about De Haan and Katic who could make the team in the next year or 2
wow, missed DeHaan
I’m not sold on Katic, but yeah.
Fiya Minaya.
by BringBackBobby on Jun 26, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Drafting Defensemen
I see the Isles drafting a majority of defensemen with their later picks, probably using a similar strategy that they’ve employed in the past (look for the overage junior players, etc.)
I know that we need forwards but did you see the stats on Detroit’s drafting in the first round? They take all D-men. Not that I am an advocate of flat out copying their strategy but that should tell you something about the stability of their team.
This Brock kid better be a heck of a 2 way player. Wasn’t his uncle one of the coneheads?
Islander season begins today. Here's to a stronger December. Now go get Gudbranson, Snow, and give me my free tickets.
Wooooo!
I’m on an island (not that Island) where securing an Internet feed is as difficult as getting the server’s attention. Last night back at the room I see on ESPN’s Bottom Line the first four picks scrolling by … and then nothing. For what seemed like 20 minutes. I’m going crazy — “Is Garth trading down again? What’s happening?”
Then after another beverage from the bar, it scrolls across: 5. Islanders – Nino … NINO! Pretty cool. This Brock Nelson move is pretty cool, too. Nice day.
Back to a bar to catch US-Ghana … Go USA!
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
Why we didn't draft D...
I think we might have taken Grubds, but other then that it actually makes sense.
Hockey’s future has De Haan and Harmonic rated #1 and #3 in our system overall. Then ignoring Andrew MacDonald at #5, you have Ness at #10, then Donovan, Kohn and Kessel all floating around the end of the top 20.
Ness and Kohn are former 2nd rounders, Donovan’s a former 4th and Kessel’s a former 6.
Even if De Haan and Harmonic make the team next year, that still leaves a pretty healthy number of Dmen prospects. Better to pickup another Winger in which we are really lacking, even if we have some guys who are close.
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
I disagree
We have a number of D prospects, but only Hammer and Kessel are over 200 pounds. I like Nelson, but we should have drafted Merrill with this pick. He will fill out to well over 200 pounds and is, I think, 6’3"…and is VERY blue chip.
this may have been the problem with Merrill
Merrill was projected by some to be a first-round pick, but discipline problems with the U.S. under-18 program likely scared some teams away. He and two other players were suspended for two weeks last season after an off-ice incident in which they violated team rules.
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