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The New York Islanders tried to trade one or both of their draft picks yesterday — though not for Philipp Grubauer, whom they apparently would not offer a first-rounder for — but didn’t find a taker.
Their reward? Two prospects who they didn’t expect to have available at 11th and 12th overall. Sniper Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Noah Dobson add to the prospect pipelines quite nicely, thank you.
The other news of the day was apparently John Tavares will let the Islanders know today if he plans to entertain conversations and flirtations from other teams as part of the free agent discussion window.
Islanders Reading
Lou is happy:
"I don't think we could be more delighted... both are exceptional players."
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 23, 2018
Hear from #Isles President and GM, Lou Lamoriello, after the first round of the #NHLDraft: pic.twitter.com/27ZQ4kLUDA
- Wahlstrom and Dobson. A good haul, “the best pure goal scorer in this draft,” almost like Garth Snow’s parting gift. [LHH | Newsday | Daily News | MSG | Athletic | Post]
- As the Isles wait for Tavares, Wahlstrom and Dobson react to joining a franchise that is doing things. [NHL]
- Dobson had a unique path to the status of top prospect. [Sportsnet]
- Thanks in part to that viral video from when he was nine, Wahlstrom is used to being in the spotlight. [The Athletic]
- Dan and Mike try to digest what it’s like to have a competent team management. [Islanders Anxiety]
- Scenes from the Islanders’ draft party. [Newsday]
- Here was our draft day preview and thread up until the Isles picked. [LHH]
- Ryan Pulock figures the Islanders are headed in a good direction. Probably because he’ll be treated like a regular next season. [Newsday]
- Apparently today John Tavares will tell the Isles whether he is going to go through the drill of having other teams flatter him next week. [NHL]
- Dan updates the Encyclopedia accordingly. [LHH]
- Josh Bailey recalls his draft day. It was a year before Tavares saved the franchise. [Isles]
- Seven facts about Barry Trotz. [NHL]
- Trotz understands the business side of why the Capitals said no, but...I mean he knew what he was worth. [Yahoo | Sporting News]
- Lou says he has “no idea” what Tavares will do, which he is contractually obligated to say. [Sporting News]
John Ledecky sighting!
First rounders. ☝️ @WahlstromOliver @_ND53 #Isles #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/1rxYdThhAI
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 23, 2018
Digging back into history.
From Greg Logan, former Isles beatwriter at Newsday:
#BillGuerin stood up for vets view about #ScottGordon system, got killed for it by coach but never wavered. Vet D #BrendanWitt backed him up. F #RichardPark was beyond smart & supported Guerin & Witt.
— Greg Logan (@GregLogan1) June 23, 2018
And back to the present, on Grubauer:
Just to clear things up: the New Islanders never offered either of their first-round picks for Phillip Grubauer. The Capitals certainly asked for one, and would have done the deal even without Orpik involved, but Lou Lamoriello was never willing to move a 1st for Grubauer
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 23, 2018