The Islanders Winning The Draft Lottery Makes Their Next GM's Path To Success Much Clearer
J.G. Pageau, Noah Dobson and Anders Lee (Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)
After not renewing the contract of GM Lou Lamoriello late last month, the New York Islanders entered a period of transition.
But after winning the NHL's draft lottery Monday night and capturing the first overall pick in this summer's NHL draft, the Islanders likely won't have to suffer for as long as some less-fortunate franchises will. And consequently, whoever replaces Lamoriello in the GM role will get a very attractive position.
The Islanders' GM job always has a higher profile than many GM jobs around the league. Being in the greater New York City area puts the Isles in the spotlight. The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner also mentioned it's an appealing position for former GMs to get back in the role or a stepping stone for people who haven't been GM before.
A report in the Athletic has identified a couple of candidates who could be front-runners for the role – former Montreal Canadiens GM and current L.A. Kings executive Marc Bergevin is one of them, as is former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland.
But make no mistake – the Islanders winning the draft lottery puts more shine on the team's bumper than picking ninth or 10th overall. It makes the future much clearer for the Islanders.
Many hockey observers – including The Hockey News draft experts Ryan Kennedy and Tony Ferrari – project the Islanders to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer this summer. Bringing in a foundational blueliner gives the Isles exactly what they need – a bedrock asset with star potential the organization hasn't had much of since they made center John Tavares the first-overall selection in 2009.
New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?
New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall? The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders' favor.
With Schaefer in tow, the Islanders can press fast-forward on their retool, and what GM candidate wouldn't want to be part of that process? They can select a new prospect who should lead the 'D' corps with or without No. 1 D-man Noah Dobson for the next decade-and-a-half, and they'll have the financial resources to add to the group in free agency and trades this summer.
The Islanders have $28.3 million in cap space this summer, with about 14 players on their active roster under contract and seven RFAs to re-sign, including Dobson. With the opportunity to select Schaefer on the table, and with center Mat Barzal being at the beginning of his prime years, the Islanders can build a younger core that learns from their aging veterans, gets competitive experience and takes over once those veterans move on.
While the Islanders needed lottery luck to have this positive spin put on their team-building situation, who cares how they got it? All that matters is that they got it and didn't have to tank in the process.
Matthew Schaefer Should Be No. 1, But Will He Be In The NHL Next Season?
Matthew Schaefer Should Be No. 1, But Will He Be In The NHL Next Season? The New York Islanders earned the right to select Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the popular front-runner to go No. 1 in the draft
when they won the NHL draft lottery Monday night.
In many ways, NHL GMs are no different than the rest of us – we've all got relatively short patience spans. If we have to suffer standing in a long lineup outside a chic club, we'll suffer to try to get in. But if there's a way that we can jump the line and get into that club right away, we'd be fools not to take it. That's the situation the Islanders are in. They just had the hockey gods smile upon them, and they can go about their business knowing a valuable asset fell into their lap.
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