The Islanders have a nice forward-defense alternating pattern going on here through their first four picks at the 2011 NHL Draft. After taking an offensive forward in Ryan Strome at #5, they went with big defenseman project Scott Mayfield at #34, then back to forward for the "all-around" center/wing Johan Sundstrom of Sweden.
With their lone 3rd-round pick, the Islanders selected 6'4" Guelph (OHL) defenseman Andrey Pedan. Billed as a hard-hitting defenseman, some scouts think Pedan also has some offensive upside.
Here was Kirk Luedeke (Bruins2011DraftWatch) on Pedan after watching him in the OHL and at the recent U-18:
Pedan is more of a project, a big kid at about 6-5 who can skate and shoot, but played a very conservative game for Guelph of the OHL this season. He's been more active offensively on the bigger ice surfaces of the U18s and is the kind of raw prospect with impressive physical tools who could be worth a look in the third round.
More info will be added to this post as it's collected. Meanwhile, our second-round open discussion thread continues here.