DRAFT CONCLUSION STATEMENT
Long Island, New York-
"I'd like to say we're very happy with where our team stands right now, but I'm not. I can't look in the mirror and say we were able to improve our NHL roster as wished this weekend. It's no disrespect to some of the fine players we've added. This is just the kind of thing that happens when Garth Snow still has keys to the office. We're really going to miss Scott and Devon back on that blueline," stated beleaguered Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello. "But hey, I made twice as many trades here than in my first 18 months as the Islanders GM. Furthermore, we brought Barry in to make the best out of whatever difficult situation he faces around here and I have no doubt he'll work his magic this time around as well, despite what he wrote in his text messages throughout the weekend."
"Truth is, the bulk of our moves were prompted by cap realities. A lot of these contracts are running out next summer, so plenty of these guys now have something to prove while we maneuver with cap compliance. We also got to change not only the look of our AHL team with respect to the amount of guys banging on the NHL door, but also the level of primarily offensive talent these young men possess. Hasn't been much of that around here and a few of these guys bring elements that you just don't find in every system. In a best case scenario, a few of these boys will be writing NHL stories sooner rather than later," Lamoriello continued.
"As for the draft turnout, I mean heck, everyone here is going to be happy with their turnout. I swear I must have seen several teams make upwards of 15 picks or so. Did we miss out on some kids we like? You bet, but we came in with five later round picks and made calculated use of them. No need to invest too much in what the expectations are, but I can say that one is an intentional home run pick, one we're confident will be a lower line NHL player, two will eventually help out in the grit category, and one is going to be very special, even if he looks quite a bit like Corey Trivino. Don't worry, Isles fans. I'll let you guys guess which ones are which."
"To conclude, what I'd like to tell our loyal fans is: You're gonna love five more years of JG Pageau."
The Islanders wrap up the draft weekend heading into free agency with the following organizational system (newcomers highlighted in blue).
ROSTER AHEAD OF 2020-21 SEASON:
45/50 contracts
Lee - Barzal - Eberle
Beauvillier - Nelson - Bailey
Cogliano - Pageau -
Lindholm
Martin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck
Johnston
Pelech - Pulock
Leddy - Dobson
Moore - Boychuk
Greene
Varlamov
Sorokin
Prospects signed to ELCs or on their 2nd contract:
RW Oliver Wahlstrom, LW Kiefer Bellows, RW Simon Holmstrom,
C/RW Jeremy Bracco, RW/LW Givani Smith, W Kenny Agostino, C Oskar Steen, LW Jakub Lauko, C Bobo Carpenter, C/RW Tanner Fritz,
C Kalle Kossila, C Cole Bardreau, LW Arnaud Durandeau,
C Curtis Douglas
D Bode Wilde, D Samuel Bolduc, RFA D Sebastian Aho, RFA D Grant Hutton,
D Ben Gleason, RFA D Mitch Vande Sompel, RFA D Parker Wotherspoon
G Jakub Skarek
Prospects on AHL contracts:
RW Cole Coskey, C Felix Bibeau, F Kyle MacLean
Top unsigned prospects:
D Robin Salo, C Reece Newkirk, D
Julius Honka, W
Jacob Peterson, C
Justin Schutz, LW
Elmer Soderblom, C Jake Pivonka, D
Gustav Berglund, D Christian Krygier, D
Cole Krygier
2020 NHL Draft picks:
3 - 77) Forward
Sean Farrell of the Chicago Steel
4 - 108) Forward
Yevgeniy Oksentyuk of the Flint Firebirds
5 - 139) Forward
Ryder Rolston of the Waterloo Black Hawks
6 - 170) Defenseman
Ilya Solovyov of the Saginaw Spirit
7 - 201) Forward
Landon Slaggert of the USNTDP
2021 NHL Draft picks:
1st,
2nd (EDM), 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th