Good afternoon Islesnation!
Tom Liodice of The Tiger Track and I are sitting at the airport in Ottawa (really early for our flight I might add) and eager to get back home. We have a connection in Montreal before we reach home base in New York, so it’s going to be a long afternoon.
The Islanders today released a press release on the XM Satellite show comments proclaiming them the draft winners. The press release is complete with links to listen to sound clips. Check it out:
On Saturday afternoon, XM Radio claimed the Islanders as one the 2008 NHL Entry Draft’s big winners. By trading down and stocking up on draft picks to grab Josh Bailey, the Islanders were able to draft second-day steals like Aaron Ness, Jyri Niemi, Kirill Petrov and David Toews amongst others.
To listen to a portion of the clip, click here.
XM Radio was most impressed by the way Islanders GM Garth Snow traded down to acquire extra picks while still drafting the player they targeted from the beginning. The show went onto say that this enabled the team to take a chance on Petrov, who was the second ranked European skater in the draft, but fell because of his contract status in Russia.
Said one of the show’s hosts: “What goes un-noticed is by moving back down twice and picking up three extra picks in the first three rounds [the Islanders] were then able to take a complete flyer on [Petrov], who was a top-10 talent at No. 73.”
To listen to a portion of the clip, click here.
So Ladies and Gents, there is your proof that not everyone out there feels that the Islanders did a horrible thing trading down and getting a bunch of great picks in the second round of the draft.
Michael,
Respectfully it all proves is the Islanders are just as interested in getting out their message they did well as the folks who claim they did poorly.
It’s all window dressing on both sides. When they play in three-five years (sometimes less) then we get our answer.
The current staff should stand by their decisions for what they did this in Ottawa hile the fans should get past Bill Torrey, Don Maloney, Mike Milbury, Neil Smith’s drafts and wait to see what happens.
Get home, safe. Excellent work this weekend.