SNY POINT BLANK TV: RYAN STROME
Draft prospect is visiting Long Island this weekend
Before boarding a plane to visit the Islanders, the super-skilled Niagara IceDogs center spoke to Point Blank about the scouting combine, working out with John Tavares, his plan to add strength, his upcoming meeting and more.
84 Responses to SNY POINT BLANK TV: RYAN STROME
Draft prospect is visiting Long Island this weekend
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Strummer's Army says:
You can tell from the interview he is a nice guy who you’d like to have around the locker room. Apparently very talented but I did hear a tad inconsistent. Concerns are don’t really need another center and don’t need one that passes more then he shoots with Josh and Frans already doing that. With Nelson and Czikas on the way, Ullstrom etc Isles pretty stacked.
Dougie Hamilton and/or Nathan Beaulieu seem like much bigger needs who fit the bill really well. Isles should focus hard on big mean d-men w/skill in this draft since thankfully there are a decent amount. At forward Kelsey is fantastic! Big center who is skilled and an excellent fighter they can get later in the draft. He is high end version of Konopka for the future.
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alan says:
If the Isles trade down from the #5 pick, I could see them taking Strome. I agree with Strummer, the center ice position is Stacked. It’s Dougie or Larsson, whoever falls to them or if Huberdeau gets to #5, he’ll be their guy.
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Rich 55 says:
So great to hear articulate athletes.
Chris your getting to be a natural on TV!
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pete says:
strome will go in the 6 spot to ottawa. Isles get left over of: RNH, Huberdeau, Landeskog, Larsson and Couterier. They’ll end up with Couterier and he’ll be moved to wing (or we’ll ship bailey off to make room for sean at center since Bailey is now damaged goods thanks to garth and co.) Hamilton will be 7th pick. The GMs have already told me their plans. The draft is just a formality now.
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JTizzle says:
#4 just curious why do you think they would take a center in Couterier and not Strome who is a center?
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Don't Mind the Haters says:
Great interview with our future 1st round pick!!!
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Al L says:
I don’t buy this inconsistency rap. This kid has special skills and I wouldn’t be disappointed if Snow trades down a couple of spots while picking up a kid in the 15-20 range along the way. Perhaps Bailey and our early second rounder could allow us to stay at #5. A highly skilled large two way defenseman however is still a must. If Larsson is available at #5 all bets are off!
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Doug Heffernan says:
this is why i love the draft theres about 10 guys where regardless of who they are you will be pumped
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Doug says:
Trade the pick and get Carter from Philly!!
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jisles says:
Ryan Strome is more coveted by GMs than people may think. If Garth thinks he is the guy, he will just take him at 5. I doubt he will trade back because Ottawa would take him. I’ve said it before though: Let’s move up! Trade whatever picks it takes to bring a cornerstone defenceman(Larsson) to NYI for the next decade and beyond. I know that may not be possible, but hope Garth is trying. If we stay at 5, however, we’re also looking at still having #34 pick, which could be a steal; lots of great talent in the top 60.
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Ethan K says:
This is one of the coolest interviews to date, no doubt. Still think Larsson or Hamilton have to be the biggest need for this team, and if they pick Strome, Huberdeau or Couturier, then I think Bailey is gonna have to be moved.
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Bob E says:
very creative to have them work out with John Tavares. Im sure johnny t will input who we take. Im sure he has seen these kids play too.
You take the most talented foward or Larsson if he falls to us. Just drafting someone b/c they big dman is not the answer.
the jump from juniors to NHL is hardest and takes longest for DMAN.
Also Look at what you can find in 2nd and 3rd round. I dont think hamilton will better than Hamonic.
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Michael Pastore says:
Larsson Hamilton Huberdeau or Couturier not Strome. Too many reports that say he is inconsistant he is a great move or bust. We must get this pick right this better be our last chance getting a lottery pick. If Strome is as they say bust or superstar I do notwant to take that chance. My guess is we will have the choice of Hamilton or Strome and Snow better Take Hamilton.
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Trevor Hollinger says:
Isles need at least two D, big right top four D, 3rd pairing big crease clearing D. But Isles also need a few key forwards. No one has yet taken 2nd line centre, and while Isles have a gluttony on left shooting forwards – the Isles are pretty thin when it comes to right shooting forwards…Pap and Comeau aside, we have KO, MM, and KK, plus Rahk for the possible future. Personally, I would draft Mika Z as he seems a safer bet, even if the ceiling his higher wtih Strome, should he pan out….Mika Z, or Strome if he panned out, would put us one big physical right forward away from being among league best at forward. while not all prospects will pan out, Isles have extra lottery tickets to cash in as insurance.
Take a pass on Hamilton. This is a weak draft for D, and Hamilton does not compare with D drafted high the last three years.
Left wing—————–Right Wing
Nino———————-Kabanov
Grabner——————-Okposo
Moulson/Lee……………?????
Cizikas——————-Martin
Centres: Tavares, Right Centre Mika Z, Nielson, Bailey: Nelson Ullstrom. -
Garver says:
Without a credential and with almost nobody talking or writing about the Islanders, this blog gets one of the 5 most likely Isle draftees on the phone for 10 minutes and finds out for us that he’s coming to Long Island tonight. That’s why this blog is priceless. Thanks to you and SNY for your commitment to the Isles and the fans.
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Petey Pete says:
CB, I’d love it if you had an SNY intern or dedicated reader transcribe these fantastic interviews for those of us at work or without speakers.
I can usually dig through the comments anyways and get an idea of what was said. Otherwise, good job getting all these prime interviews and keep up the good fight!
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Tim F says:
seriously – because some dumb publication or wedsite run by kids said once that Strome is hit-or-miss that’s enuf for fans to say the Islanders should pick him? Please stop.
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Justin says:
Ryan Strome is an amazing talent, a right-handed center who can skate, pass and score. As you can tell by this interview, he’s also a great kid. Not easy getting on the phone as a teenager and doing what he did for SNY today. Very impressive and I would be very happy if he’s an Islander on 6/24
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Billy the Kid says:
No offense because I liked the interview but the best part was the clips of his goals. What talent. Him, Couturier or Hamilton and I will be satisfied.
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Also, in my OWN opinion: if the fifth spot comes up and Larsson and Hamilton are both on the board and Snow takes Hamilton, we will have another Nilsson-over-Parise situation on our hands.
Yes, Hamilton is what the Islanders need RIGHT NOW, (just like a highly-talented sniper like Nilsson for Yashin was what we “needed” in 2003)….but you don’t get cute with a potential all-world talent like Adam Larsson. Hope Snow doesn’t out-think himself like our last GM did.
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Onesinceforty says:
I guess this is why I hit the site between 5 and 10 times a day!
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streit02 says:
I think Josh Bailey has a ton of influence on the Isles choice. I like Josh a lot and wont give up on him but the thought of having Couturier as a 2nd line center is really intriguing to me. The kid is big and has obvious offensive skill along with a solid 2 way game. He’ll only get stronger and wont have to score 90 pts a season to be effective for us in the 2 slot. Would be a great 1-2 punch with Frans as 3rd and potentially having Czikas being the fourth we’d be stacked down the middle. If the Isles feel Bailey is their guy I would think they would look for someone they think can convert to wing or they will pick a natural winger or Dman over a natural center who is left over from the “top 5″ if your including couturier over Hamilton in that top 5. Regardless of what happens i will be fine with the pick. Really not sold on Hamilton though. I think the talent at forward is too good to pass up in this draft. Try to move up and draft a dman with our other picks.
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Jzimm says:
I feel more and more like if we draft a center, Bailey’s been bounced. And maybe that would help us get Bartschi.
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jon from nj says:
Need some size, not this kid.
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Eric C. says:
Personally I think the Isles are going to trade the pick in a package along with Comeau (who would fit in nicely with the Flyers) for Carter. Also I believe they are going to make a push to sign Shea Weber to an offer sheet. I brushed shoulders with Garth Snow earlier today and wanted to ask him, but we just talked about the Stanley Cup.
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anthony c says:
I’ve read some mixed reviews on strome. Heard mentally he is not always there in the game, and could be a serious bust. I’d pass on him. I’m still hoping for either Couturier, Larsson or Huberdeau. If huberdeau some how falls to #5, then the isles would be insane to pass on him. He was amazing in the postseason.
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Josh says:
CB, have you heard anything of the rest of the list that is scheduled to come to LI?
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Al R. says:
I think a physical crease clearing d-man is our most glarig need but I just don’t see Hamilton as being that kind of guy. If Larsson falls we have to take him- he’s just too good of an overall prospect. Other than that I WANT us to pick Strome. He’s an exciting and entertainig right handed center who will generate interest and put butts in Coliseum seats. I wouldn’t be disappointed with Couturier, Mika Z, or Landeskog if he falls but if Strome is there at 5 he is just what this franchise needs. We can find size later but Strome’s electric skills aren’t easily found.
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Rob76 says:
I do not want to take a defenseman at number five unless Larsson falls there. Dmen take forever to develop and we can not sign skilled offensive players in free agency, so it is smartest to use a top 5 pick on someone who can score goals. The Pick has to be one of Strome Couturier or Huberdeau
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IslesNc says:
Trade up by dealing the nos. 5, 35, 50 draft picks, next year’s no. 2, Nabakov, and the Ice Girls in order to get Landeskog and Oleksiak.
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ditto number 29…only way we take d is if its larsson. otherwise pick the best of huberdeau > landeskog > couturier > strome
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I agree, defencemen take time to develop, but these Sweeds are incredible. After only two seasons, Hedman was looking like a beast in the playoffs this year.
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TMVH says:
I say if a center is drafted, give Bailey a one year deal. This will give this year’s draftee another year Juniors, and a decision can be made next year on Bailey. If Bailey has a bad year, send him packing and fill the role with this pick. If Bailey plays well and earns a good contract, we now have a great prospect that can be traded for an immediate need at that point. After all, we hope to not be in a position next year where we’re drafting this high.
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I’d personally rather have bartschi over strome.
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Y2G says:
Anyone but Hamilton. All I hear is how “good” and “all around” he is, if I’m a GM with the 5th pick (for hopefully the last time in the lottery for a number of years) I want great not good. It’s either Larsson, Couterier, Strome, Murphy or trade down for Siemens or Mika Z. Not drinking the cool aid on Huberdeau, his team is absolutely stacked so he’d be the biggest gamble.
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Lean Cugine says:
TOO small.
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The Simtuation says:
can’t say it enough, strome is too much of a risk, id rather any of the other top 6 guys
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Madchef says:
Dont think Im mistaken but any pick drafted this year will have any basis on Bailey being around this year or next. Think we will get a good player no matter what, stil think that Coutrier or Hamilton will be there for taking and would be happy with either. I think what the isles do after July 1st will be more important than the acutal draft
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Seems like a mature kid. I don’t buy the inconsistent rap, he is what, all of 17? He has talent for sure. I would hope the scouting staff does its due diligence and takes the most talented player.
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Dan C. says:
@#21 I agree with you completely. Larsson or a forward. As #5 implies, it seems like there is a consensus top 5 (RNH, Larsson, Landeskog, Huberdeau and Couturier) so the Isles ought to really have an easy time figuring out what to do…
However, every 1st round pick Snow has made other than JT has been over-thought (trading down for Bailey in ’08, trading up for de Haan in ’09 and not taking the player rated ISS #3 (Cam Fowler in ’10) even though he’s exactly what the organization lacks, so why should this one be any different? I’m getting the sinking feeling that, much like in ’08, the Isles will latch onto some player well beyond the ISS Top 5 and either trade down or just pick said player outright. And once again, it will take about as long as Columbus Day of next season to see that this move was a mistake.
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David in Lynbrook says:
I don’t know why so many people feel they need to rip on a teenage kid they’re rarely seen every time CB posts an interview.
The big story here is that Strome is on his way to LI tonight. No one has had that story but CB. Thanks for breaking it.
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Harry7273 says:
39 is right. Whoever they take in this draft has nothing to do with Bailey. Strome and the others won’t be in the NHL next season. There will be plenty of time to sort out the positions. Take the BPA.
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#36! Too small? Are you referring to Strome? He is 6′ 180 at age 17. This kid isn’t a puck and crease clearing D man. He is a playmaking/scoring center. Within 3 years this kid should thicken and round out to 195 or perhaps abit more. Size will not be a problem. Years ago there was a 6′ 183 lb RW on our roster at a time when clutching,grabbing and mugging didn’t send a player to the sin bin. Oh yeah! His name was Mike Bossy!!!
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41 – theres no top 5. Couturier is not part of that group. There’s maybe a top 3 or 4 with Larson and Huberdeau, but Couturier is not a clear cut 5 in most eyes. you’ve got bad information.
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Bruce says:
Please do me a favor, CB. You know you’d love to do this with some of the crazy comments you get on here. Just do it this one time.
Save all the posts from fans bashing Strome as not big enough or too inconsistent and then publish all of them in a few years. Please.
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Isles have young forwards in stock, they do need more defenseman to fill out the young roster, would not be upset with either Strome or Hamilton, if they could land Larsson that would be great but no way Devils let that happen…LETS GO ISLES..LETS GO NIFA AND THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NASSAU TOO!
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Kevin says:
Strome or Hamilton! Hamilton will be the big strong #1 shutdown dman with a solid offensive game, while Strome would give us that legit playmaker in our top 6. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, a cup winning team needs 2 #1 centers. all of them in the modern day NHL. he’s our guy, and hed be a PERFECT fit with Nino.
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Steve says:
Great job, Chris. You are a natural and one of the best in the business. Please keep it coming, we really appreciate your tireless work.
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SCLI says:
If the Isles have a player in mind. Someone they really are high on. And they will in a week or 10 days if they don’t already. And that player is projected to go before our # 5 pick. I do not believe it will be a problem for Snow to move up and get his guy. As nearly everyone here has said. A good player will be available at # 5. And many here are content to take whomever falls into our laps at #5. I’m sure other GM’s feel exactly the same way and would love to add a pick or two while still having a top 5 pick. So swapping 1st rounders, throwing in a 2nd round pick and maybe a 3rd or a 4th should allow us to move up two or three spots. Also from what I’m reading. Edmonton is all ears when it comes to offers for the #1 pick. With the right package (we have the assets) we could get that pick. If Snow and Company feel RNH, Larsson, Landeskog or Huberdeau are the real deal and we have to move up to get em? Then I think we will because we can. I expect Snow to wheel and deal on Draft Day. 1) Best case scenario we move up, make headlines and get the cant miss prospect that Snow covets. or 2)Also a Good move, is to move down 2 or 3 spots. Grab a kid like Strome, Baertschi, COUTURIER or Zibanejad, maybe even Hamilton, plus more draft picks that we can turn into a later 1st rd pick and a grab big strong “D” man like Scott Mayfield or Oleksiak Jamieson. I think Snow is in the drivers seat and can do basically anything he wants come draft day. We are in a Win Win situation. 3)Worst case, we play it safe and take the guy that falls into our lap at #5. Sure it will most likely be a good talent but I think we can do much better than stand pat this coming draft day. Much Much better.
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Dan C. says:
@45 Harry-
Couturier had long been regarded as the class of this draft up until a few months ago (along with Larsson). He was the only U18 player on the Canadian junior team and was compared with the Staals and Lecavalier. He ended up #5 on the ISS. There is a tendency for the players who established themselves as early frontrunners to end up being underrated (perhaps scouts see TOO much of them). It happened with Tavares and I suspect it is happening to Larsson and Couturier now. -
@SCLI
When has that sort of draft day maneuvering ever worked out well for the Islanders?
What assets do the Isles have that the Oilers would want for the 1st overall pick? The Oilers need defense and goaltending. The Isles have about 3 good NHL d-men (one of which hasn’t played in a year) and need a legit starting goalie as bad as the Oilers do.
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Streit02, I agree with you.
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bryan says:
I am no scout and I’m definitely no expert in anything but the talent I see in the highlights of all these kids seem to look like the kid strome has the highest ceiling. At number 5 id rather take the kid that has a shot at being something amazing (strome) then the guy that is guaranteed to be a solid d man(Hamilton). You get d men in ufa or late first early second round, especially the crease clearing type which is what we need. If we have to many good centers move one to wing or we have resources to make our butch goring trade that will eventually need to be made.
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mark p says:
1) If Larson is there at #5…..must take him
2) Need to really decide on Bailey….Is he your #2? Franz is a 2/3 ……If Bailey is not the guy…..then trade him now…..maybe with a #2 to get into the middle of the first round?
3)Draft a Center at #5 that can skate and be dynamic offensively….1-2 punch at center wins.
This is RNH, Huberdou maybe Strome…..not Courtier.
4)Hopefully Bailey+trade get you into middle of round…..now take a 6-3 Defensemen that will take 2 years to develop
5) Sign a stop gap Veteren for 1 year, assuming the #5 pick stays in Junior. Handzus? Arnott? Drury?
The question really is: What is Bailey’s trade Value? -
LES says:
@52 nabokov enough said
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91NYfan91 says:
He seems like a good kid and likes to set the wingers up for goals. He could be a very good player but I rather the Isles draft a defenseman. The more and more I hear about Dougie Hamilton the more I want the Isles to draft him. A 6’4 shutdown defender with offensive talent looks like a good fit to me.
Im sure Garth Snow and the scouts will make the right decision, we shall see. -
there is no telling which way snow and wang will go. when you have a wacky owner who fires the scouting director and has only a skeleton crew of scouts all to save money and replaces the scouting director with himself, you can only hope the pick whoever it is, isnt totally out of whack.
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Dan C, It worked out well in 2008 when we traded down and picked Calvin DeHaan and stockpiled picks to acquire talent including Ness, Krill Petrov, Poulin, Donovan ETC. Before that we had MM running the show. Snow has rebuild our system to respectability. This year he has a chance to really make a statement. Ness is a “D” as is Donovan. Both have value. Hillen could also be used as trade bait. We have two 2nd rd picks and two 5th rd picks. Edmonton is going no where this year. They would do well to stockpile picks and a player or two and move down to the 5th pick. Besides. There was a lot more to my post than just making a run at #1 overall. Snow has other options.
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bergie says:
56 – Your “snow and the scouts will make the right decision.” Based on what – the Isles being the only team in the NHL without a Director of Amateur Scouting? They got the Tavares pick right? Not sure what the confidence is all about. Maybe it’s because of a bunch of kids you think are going to awesome before they play a game in the NHL.
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58: this is what I mean. Aaron Ness…REALLY?!
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Palffy 16 says:
Wake up folks, Nielsen and Bailey aren’t #2 Centers. Trade #5 and Bailey to the flyers for Carter and make him our #2 C….OR….take Couturier/Huberdeau and have two LEGIT Centers…We need to stop smoking here and pretending Bailey is something special. He’s junk. One more season and Okposo is in that same category. Let’s stop being happy with “potential”.
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Give me any from the big group of kids projected to go around 5-8 (Couturier, Strome, Dougie, Mika, Murphy) and I’ll be happy. Don’t reach for Bartschi because Wang is getting a crush on the Swiss. Spare us that at least. Bartschi’s good but not worthy of pick 5.
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Dan C Correction 2008 we traded down for Bailey and acquired additional picks. Sorry for the mix up. DeHaan was 2009 I believe
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Blizzard says: Best player available…simple. If Strome is it so be it.
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SCLI: Trading down did not work out in ’08. Bailey is going backwards and a lot of the assets they acquired were wasted in needlessly trading up for de Haan in ’09. In both cases they inexplicably locked their sights onto a player that no one else had rated nearly as highly and nothing either player has done has justified the Isles’ gamble. They would be better off with Luke Schenn over Bailey and they would be better off with Dmitri Kulikov over de Haan. This team drafts like they think they know better than the conventional wisdom (like they are the Detroit Red Wings or something), yet a yahoo draftbot based on the ISS rankings would have drafted better than they have, and this is as true now as it was with Milbury.
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Joe says:
45- YOU’ve got bad information, buddy. Couturier is firmly top 5.
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jamal says:
strome, couturier, or bartschi would be a nice fit down the road. we have more depth on D than we think. Hamilton will be a good player but as of now we have so many defensemen so i would pass on drafting a defenseman this year and take a high skill forward. you can never have enough talented goal scorers
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Frans Dish says:
We need more of a sure bet that this pick is going to have some star power. With that said it has to be Sean Couturier over Hamilton. Regardless of what happens with Bailey, Tavares, Couturier, and always reliable Frans we would be so dirty down the middle. Use both 2nd picks to draft big d-men which will be available.
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@57 The Isles have the rights to nabokov but there is nothing to indicate that he will ever play for the Isles. And if he feels he’s too good for the Isles, then he certainly wouldn’t play for the Oilers, which generally the last place anyone wants to play.
@Palffy 16: I kind of agree with trading this pick for Jeff Carter, mainly because nothing this team had done indicates that they’ll spend it wisely. I also agree that Bailey is not a big asset at this point. But I have to disagree about Okposo. Last season was a washout, but he is a legit top six forward.
@Frans Dish, you can never have too many centers. I think of the Nordiques, who drafted Sakic, Sundin and Lindros over the course of 3-4 years. That worked out well for them (the move notwithstanding).
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Dave says:
As much as this seems like a great kid with lots of potential, I believe the Islanders need to keep focus on Landeskog/Larsson/Couturier/Huberdeau (in that order) when either of those guy falls to us at #5.
Having only seen youtube footage on these guys, Couturier seems like the player you would want on your team as a future #2 center.
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BIGSAVE77 says:
I would love the trade up scenario SCLI projects and grab Ryan Nugent Hopkins or Larsson. I don’t mind moving back a couple of spots so long as we use the extra picks to move back into the first round. I also think we need to give Bailey one more year before we right him off.
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I am not sold on Strome yet. I think Hamilton or Couturier would be better picks if we stand pat at #5, assuming Huberdeau and Larsson are gone.
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Rich M says:
Guys,
We already know what the Isles are doing. They will not go consensus. They have never gone coventional why start now? JT was theonly pickin the last 10 years that we picked in slot. Expect a reach or a tradedown when the move is stay where we are and take BPA. Thank goodness Snow is not a laughingstock anymore.
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isles72 says:
I think florida is the team the isles can tap in order to move up if the guy they really covet is there at 3 .
we have the 2 second rounders and some decent mid level prospects to sweeten the pot for Tallon to move down to 5th.
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Mike From Westchester says:
This interview is one more example of why I do not buy Newsday anymore. Great Job CB.
Has Snow and the Islanders grown up and lifted your ban?
The one thing the Islanders did with your ban was make it personal. I mean it wasn’t like they had 200 bloggers beating down the door for team access.
They can’t even get more than a single beat writer to follow the team.
Thanks for keeping this site going Chris.
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Dan C, Well if you really believe the 2008 draft was a bad one for us then there is really no point in debating. 2008 was the starting point to this rebuild. Your bashing young players who have yet to prove themselves. You complain about Baily who was brought along to quickly and in the same breath you lambast DeHaan who is being developed correctly. Interesting. From all that I have read there is not one Hockey Expert to my knowledge that has not sung the praises of Calvin DeHaan over the past year. As for Schenn? IMHO, Maybe the most overrated player of that draft, aside from Filatov. Even many of the Leafs fans regret that pick. I wonder if you were one of the many fans calling for us to draft Filatov at #5 in 2008? So Dan, is there anything in your opinion that Snow can do to make this 2011 Entry Draft a positive one for the NY Islanders?
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One point that I neglected to address. If Edmonton needs a Defensemen so badly then moving down to #5 and adding picks is even more beneficial to them. At #5 there most likely will be at least “4″ very good defensive prospects. No need to list them. We all know who they are. BTW At the combine,Dougie Hamilton’s height was measure at 6’7″!!!!! The kid is becoming a beast!
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Edmonton has the pick of which center they feel would compliment Hall. If they feel it is Strom the playmaker, I would think that puts the Isles, maybe Ottawa in play to move up. I’m on board for getting Larsson or size at forward/center. The question is if Edmonton plays conventional and goes with RNH @ 1, Does Colorado feel good about Johnson as their #1 D-man and pick a forward (Landeskog)? At 3 Florida already has the big dman from 2009 (or was it last year?) so now it is the Devils…Build with D (AKA Larsson) or the big center (Couturier). Bottom line at #5 it could be a choice between Larsson, Couturier, Huberdeau or Hamilton. I think #74 has it right that Florida at 3 is probably the best spot to move up…so it looks like the Devils winning the lottery kind of through a monkey wrench into the mix.
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PotvinRocks says:
Great get CB, and I like the highlights that you’ve included. I’ve Strome and Moulson have been talking on Twitter about this visit this weekend.
I don’t watch Junior hockey except the World Junior. So I can’t pretend to know these players but from what I’ve read Strome should be the Isles pick if Larsson isn’t still on the board. I will be happy with either and believe that Strome and Larsson could make the team out of camp. -
#75 SCLI – i agree completely. A lot of talk of how Snow moves up and down in the draft and makes “off the board” picks. I would rather have bailey and nino over the guys who were projected to go in those slots. You cant judge every move Snow makes on the fact they rushed Bailey to the NHL. Rushing him was a mistake, drafting him was not. These same people who make the complaints are the same ones who complain we didnt draft Skinner (who was ranked about 5 spots behind where the isles were picking) and every other player for that matter who was picked later in rounds that turned out to have a good rookie season. How can you complain about the Dehaan pick when we traded Mike Comrie to get that pick? Some people will just never be happy, this team will be very good very soon.
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nyislanders93 says:
Seems like a great player and a great person and whoever gets him will likely be very happy. Based on depth at center, my preference would be with Larsson, Landeskog, or Huberdeau. Strome should have a great NHL career though.
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Ray says:
I want Larsson or Hamilton if we go D and Couturier or Landeskog if we go foward. But Strome feels like a ” Garth ” Type of pick…..not that thats bad, I think Strome has Alot of skill and a few believe he is this years Skinner
Islanders need to take Strome or Coutrier over Hamilton