Barring any midnight transactions or changes this morning, the Islanders will be adding to their Ryan Strome haul of yesterday [updated Strome post here with more videos and such] with a couple of picks bright and early today. They have seven picks total for Day 2 of the NHL Draft, but the ones to really keep your eye on are the 34th overall (their original slot) and the 50th overall (part of the prize for sending James Wisniewski to Montreal).
In the echo chamber, Scouts and pundits say this draft's mid-first to late-second round range is wide open, so I can't imagine the Islanders packaging those two picks if they couldn't do it to get into the first round yesterday. Look for two players you can dream nice things about today, plus whoever else they grab in rounds 3 to 7. Among the interesting ones still on the board are: Alexander Khokhlachev, Brandon Saad, Scott Mayfield, David Musil, Rickard Rakell [whoops, Anaheim at 30], Tomas Jurco, Dmitrij Jaskin, Ty Rattie, Boone Jenner.
| Pick | Round | Overall | Selection |
| 1 | 1st | 5 | Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL) |
| 2 | 2nd | 34 | Scott Mayfield, D, Youngstown (USHL) |
| 3 | 2nd | 50 |
Johan Sundström, C/W, Frolunda (SEL) |
| 4 | 3rd | 63 |
Adrey Pedan, D, Guelph (OHL) |
| 5 | 4th | 94 | Robbie Russo, D, US (Notre Dame) |
| 6 | 5th | 124 | John Persson, RW, Red Deer (WHL) |
| 7 | 5th | 126 | Brenden Kichton, D, Spokane (WHL) |
| 8 | 7th | 184 | Mitchell Theoret, C, Niagara (OHL) |
Thanks for everyone who hung around talk the draft and the Isles in last night's open thread. Please consider this post the open thread for the brave, the strong, the durable who show up to watch Day 2 of the NHL Draft (on NHL Network for U.S. viewers).
By the way, HNIC's Jeff Marek was always pretty high on Strome. Here's his immediate reaction:
@JeffMarek: NYI selects Ryan Strome. Bravo Islanders, you just hit a home run.
And here's Strome's workout buddy John Tavares on Strome, as relayed by Newsday reporters:
@KatieStrangNYI: JT on Strome: "He's a special player. The way he sees the ice is exceptional. I was thrilled bc I knew there was a great opportunity"
Okay, I think that's all for now. I had a really long (but very fun) night. Hope you did, too.
Happy NHL Draft Day 2.