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In the final round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Islanders took NCAA forward Nick Pastujov and WHL defenseman David Quenneville.
With pick No. 193, #Isles select F Nick Pastujov from the U.S. Development Team. From Bradenton, FL.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 25, 2016
Pastujov is 6', 196 pounds and is committed to play at Michigan this year with his brother Michael. He was ranked 112th among North Americans by Central Scouting after scoring 13 goals in 60 games for the USNDP last season. Although originally from Florida, Pastujov played in Michigan for the same Honeybaked Under-16 program that also served forward Collin Adams, whom the Islanders selected in the sixth round today.
By far the best find of the weekend was learning that Pastujov's parents met while they were working at the Ringing Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Finally, at No. 200, the Islanders took their only defenseman of the draft, one with a familiar name:
With the 200th pick of the 2016 #NHLDraft, the #Isles select defenseman David Quenneville.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 25, 2016
Quenneville is, yes, of that Quenneville family that extends beyond just his second cousin, Blackhawks coach Joel. His brother John was drafted by New Jersey in 2014 and his uncle (by marriage) is none other than the Islanders own Johnny Boychuk.
Sorry, Second City Hockey:
David Quenneville, Joel's second cousin, gets picked by the Islanders at No. 200. How dare you.
— Second City Hockey (@2ndCityHockey) June 25, 2016
His scoring numbers for Medicine Hat placed him 10th in the Western Hockey League among defenseman, right behind 2015 Islanders pick Parker Wotherspoon. He also had a good showing for Team Canada at the World Juniors Under-18 tournament. Although at just 5'-8", Quenneville is more Ryan Ellis than Brent Burns.
Quenneville was 14-41-55 in WHL last season and was top-scoring defenseman at World U-18s. Only 5-foot-8, but high-end scorer.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 25, 2016
I hate to say stuff like this, but as a fan of small, shifty, high-scoring defenseman, Quenneville could be a nice pick-up. We'll see in four years.