NY Islanders secure victory in NHL draft lottery.
Icy Turn of Events in the NHL Draft
prepare yourself for a shocker, folks!
The New York Islanders, initially slated to pick 10th in the upcoming NHL Draft, have turned the tables and will be the first overall pick on June 27th in Los Angeles. With just a 3.5% chance of winning, the Islanders have managed to crash the party, leaves the San Jose Sharks, who were hoping for a back-to-back first overall pick, in a state of surprise.
Ken Morrow, the Islanders Director of Amateur Scouting, couldn't held back his excitement, "The hockey gods are with us. We're about to have a very exciting and well-prepared scouting staff for this historic pick. I'm at a loss for words to express how happy I am."
This will be the Islanders' fifth time picking first overall in franchise history and their first time since 2009, when they chose John Tavares. Another team that will have a surprise pick is the Utah Grizzlies, who will now pick fourth, instead of 14th.
The San Jose Sharks, who had the best odds going into the lottery, will pick second, and the Chicago Blackhawks, who had the second-best odds, will pick third. The Montreal Canadiens, who also hold the Calgary Flames' pick, will pick 16th and 17th.
For the first time in 30 years, the draft lottery draw took place live on the NHL Network studios in New Jersey and surprised viewers worldwide. The previous method had the picks being revealed in reverse order in a closed setting with limited observers.
Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the Erie Otters, tops the list of North American prospects, according to NHL Central Scouting. Schaefer, despite suffering a shoulder injury in December at the World Junior Hockey Championship, which kept him sidelined for three months, maintains his top ranking.
His dynamic playstyle and impressive skills make him a potential star in the NHL, according to Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting's Vice President. He has the ability to impact games and become the fifth defenseman drafted first overall since 2000, joining the ranks of players like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar.
The top-ranked international skaters are forwards Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, teammates at Djurgarden in Sweden's second division. Frondell scored 11 goals and 25 points in 25 games last season, a performance that ties for the second-most points by a 17-year-old or younger player in the second division, with William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs achieving a better point total in 2013-2014.
- Due to an icy turn of events in the NHL Draft, the New York Islanders, initially scheduled to pick 10th, will be the first overall pick on June 27th in Los Angeles.
- Ken Morrow, the Islanders' Director of Amateur Scouting, expressed his excitement for the upcoming pick, stating, "The hockey gods are with us."
- Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the Erie Otters, topping the list of North American prospects, has maintained his top ranking despite suffering a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for three months.
- The top-ranked international skaters are forwards Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund, teammates at Djurgarden in Sweden's second division, with Frondell scoring the second-most points by a 17-year-old or younger player in the second division, tying with William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2013-2014 performance.
