With the event quickly approaching... some last pick-related thoughts...
Fairly realistic 1st and 2nd round players my gut tells me the Isles are likely very interested in for this draft (in no particular order):
Helenius, Connelly, Yakemchuk, Beaudoin, Emery, Vanacker, Luchanko, Parascak, Pulkkinen, Freij, Hemming, O’Reilly, Kleber, Poirier, Pettersson, Miettinen, Howe, Fischer, Spellacy, Montgomery, Wallenius, Eriksson, Skahan, Ralph, Osborn, Pitner, Zether, and Bednarik.
Predictive thought 1:
If the Islanders should use their first rounder on someone widely not considered a first rounder, my bet is that it is used on either Pulkkinen, Vanacker, or O’Reilly.
Predictive thought 2:
If Helenius is on the board when Chicago is up to bat at 18, I predict that we move back down to 18 and return their 2nd to them so as to select Helenius.
Players I can see the scouting staff being interested for their 4th and 5th picks:
Ruohonen, Traff, both Marrellis, Fernstrom, V. Lindberg, Romani, Nabokov, Patterson, Boilard, Yegorov, Pridham, Gidlof, Wetsch, Burrows, Misskey, McMorrow, V Vaisanen, Zetterberg, Zeller, Ellinas, Hynninen, Jokinen, Pikkarainen, Berglund, Vuollet, Park, Soini, Pilgrim, Eliasson, Puolanne, Mrsic, Muhonen, Loponen, Burnevik, and Melovsky.
They’ll use their last pick on someone no-one really knows, who is likely an overager. My stab at who they might consider there:
Hedqvist, Sjodin, Kiukas, Lassila, Rautiainen, Young, Koskipirtti, Fransson, Huovila, J. Svensson, Varga, Loke Johansson, Ahonen, J Vaisanen, Vuontisvaara, Nordmark, Kumpula, Tuhkala, Kirsch, Nykyri, Naukkarinen
PS) Bolded names are for those who I feel the scouting staff likely loves.
