Here is a breakdown of their remaining selections:

Round 2 – 34th overall
Round 2 – 50th overall
(Acquired from Montreal in Wisniewski trade)
Round 3 – 63rd overall
(from 4th round 2010 draft selection dealt to Colorado)
Round 4 – 94th overall
Round 5 – 124th overall
Round 5 – 126th overall
(from two 6th round 2010 draft picks dealt to Atlanta)
Round 7 – 184th overall

The three picks in the second and third round should enable the Islanders to select three talented players. I’d imagine GM Garth Snow to pick up another talented forward and a defenseman or two, as he has done the previous years.

Day two of the Draft goes much quicker, the teams do not bring up players to the podium – they announce the name and bring the player to the media rooms to be interviewed.

You also generally see more trades occur on day two as well, as teams package together later round picks and future considerations in an attempt to move up in the second round – targeting players who have slipped out of the late first round.

I’ll do my best to keep things updated this afternoon – I’m also working on an updated Ryan Strome post.

Great pick, no movement in picks – mystery over.

More to come.

By the way, Strome has worked out with BOTH Tavares and Moulson – he’s also on Twitter, trying to figure out his name.

@strome18

For the last three years, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of covering the draft LIVE from the event. Unfortunately, due to reasons beyond my control – I could not attend this years draft in Minnesota.

My lead up to the draft, coverage of prospects as well as draft rumors – missing in action, and I apologize. This is the busiest summer I have had work wise, and my blog has suffered (as it has been) as a result.

Fret not Islanders Country, for I will be live blogging and tweeting from tomorrow nights Draft Party at Nassau Coliseum.

Don’t forget that there is an Isles Draft Party Meetup before the event at Doolins, and I’ve been asked to help out at the Islanders Social Media table. Stop by and say hello to your fellow Fans and Tweeps alike.

Will Garth Snow trade his fifth overall selection? Will he package his later round picks to move up in the the later part of the first round? Will we see other transactions?

One never knows, that’s the beauty of Draft Day and what makes it so exciting!

Later on this evening I’ll be taking a look at who should be available to the Isles at the fifth pick, and continue my tradition of “Islesbloggers Draft Wish” that I have done the last several years.

Stay tuned!

That’s not a crazy innuendo for something either, it’s just reality. This season though, it’s not just called the Draft Lottery, the NHL decided to change things up and re-name it – the NHL Draft Drawing

Each year once the season has completed and right before the playoffs – the NHL hold their annual draft lottery drawing live on television. The teams all have a specific weight (or number of balls in the machine) that will determine where they will select in the NHL Entry Draft in June.

It’s a convoluted system that I only understand because I have been watching closely for a few years now, as the Islanders have now been a lottery team the last four consecutive years. It’s easiest to explain for the bottom five place teams in the league (teams that finish 30 to 26). Those bottom five teams have the best chances at moving up and picking number one overall – and the chances drop off pretty significantly after those spots.

Take a look (emphasis added on the Islanders chances):

Odds of winning the NHL Draft Drawing
Edmonton (30th place) – 25.0 percent
Colorado 29th place – 18.8 percent
Florida 28th place – 14.2 percent
Islanders 27th place – 10.7 percent
Ottawa 26th place – 8.1 percent
Atlanta 25th place – 6.2 percent
Columbus 24th place – 4.7 percent
New Jersey 23rd place – 3.6 percent
Boston (Via Toronto) 22nd place – 2.7 percent
Minnesota 21st place – 2.1 percent
Colorado (conditional/optional from STL) 20th place – 1.5 percent
Carolina 19th place – 1.1 percent
Calgary 18th place – 0.8 percent
Dallas 17th place – 0.5 percent

Some simple rules, no team can jump up more than five spots and no team can move down more than one – so the very worst the Islanders can do tonight is the 5th overall selection, if they retain their selection – it will be the 4th overall selection, and if their 10.7% chance comes in – they will pick first overall for the second time in three years.

Here is a handy chart that I had made last year, and have since updated for this years Lottery:

Who do you think that the Islanders will draft out of the top pics? A defenseman or a forward? Let’s hear what you think.

But the rumors just did not stop.

Aaron Ness on Draft Day 2008

Earlier today, Newsday’s Katie Strang said via Twitter that there was something up with the Islanders and Ness once again.

Cryptic I know, but expect something to be happening with #Isles and Aaron Ness soon....

March 16, 2011 12:44 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@KatieStrangNYI

Katie Strang

We all knew how a previous situation played out with the Golden Gophers and Kyle Okposo being lured to the Islanders – this was aired out in the media all over the place, with Garth Snow and Gopher’s head coach Don Lucia verbally sparring. After Ness was drafted and committed to Minnesota – Islanders fans raised an eye brow, and ear marked that page out of curiosity.

Aaron Ness skates for Minnesota Golden Gophers

Flash forward to today – and the rumors and speculation turned out to be correct. The Islanders announced around Noon today, that they had agreed to terms with Ness on his entry level contract and would be reporting to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders AHL affiliate.

Per the press release and Islanders website:

The New York Islanders announced Wednesday that they have signed defenseman Aaron Ness to a three-year, entry-level contract. Ness will report to the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and play out the remainder of the 2010-11 season on an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO). The entry-level contract will commence in the upcoming 2011-12 season.

Ness, the Islanders second-round selection (40th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, signs after completing three seasons of collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota. The 5’10”, 177-pound defenseman appeared in 35 games this season with the Golden Gophers, recording 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) and 41 penalty minutes. The 20-year-old blue-liner concludes his collegiate career with 111 games played and 43 points (six goals, 37 assists).

So, Bridgeport will get to see how Ness could help their defensive and offensive woes – the Islanders get to take a look at another one of their defensive prospects, all the while not even burning the first year of his contract in the process. Lastly, Ness will now be under the watchful eye of the Islanders and Bridgeport coaching staff which will help in his development.

Seems like a win, win, and WIN situation to me.

WINNING!!

Jason Clark is a 6’2″ 182lb forward with a left handed shot. Last season he played for Shattuck-St Mary’s HS in Minnesota and has trained with fellow Minnesotan Kyle Okposo. In 54 games this season, Clark had 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points.

Clark has committed to play for the University of Wisconsin next season.

Clark, according to Kyle Woodlief, of Red Line Report:

“He’s got the size and the tools – good hands and scoring touch – that NHL teams are looking for,” “He just hasn’t put it all together. He needs more intensity and drive.”

“He’s very effective when he plays a physical game”

Woodlief also notes that Clark is more of a shooter, then a playmaker.

It’s a similar situation to Kirill Petrov in that should Kabanov pan out, it’s a great pick – but it differs in that he is already playing in North America (Moncton Wildcats) and the Islanders do not have to wait for a KHL contract to expire. It’s also a safer pick in the third round then it would’ve been earlier in the draft.

However, all reports on Kabanov indicate he is a bit of a wild child and could become quite a distraction if he isn’t reeled in.

In 22 games with the Wildcats, Kabanov had 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points.

For a great read on Kirill Kabanov, head on over to Puck Daddy – where you can also see one of the photos I had taken featured front and center.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Today at the draft we have a rapid fire round of selections, from round two to round seven. There are no photo ops, no long winded introductions, just pick after pick, after well – pick.

The Islanders have no selections here in the second round (for now) and we are currently at pick number 55 – so they may not elect to move up.

Picks remaining:

• Round 3 – 65th overall and 82nd overall
• Round 4 – 95th overall
• Round 5 – 125th overall
• Round 6 – 155th overall and 160th overall (acquired via trade with NY Rangers for Jyri Niemi)
• Round 7 – 185th overall

Should be an interesting morning.

Some info on Nelson, according to Hockey’s Future:

2009-10: Played for Warroad High School in Minnesota. In 31 games for Warroad, Nelson scored 53 goals and added 42 assists for 95 points. He finished with a +55 rating on the season. Nelson was a finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award as Minnesota’s top high school hockey player. Nelson is the nephew of former NHL player and 1980 Team USA member Dave Christian.

Nelson is committed to play for the University of North Dakota next year.

Here is a photo of Brock Nelson on the phone with Kyle Okposo, a fellow Minnesota resident.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Islanders select Nino Niederreiter with the 5th overall selection

By being selected fifth overall, Niederreiter has been drafted highest of any Swiss player ever. The closest was Michel Riesen at 14th overall in 1997.

The addition of Niederreiter to an already stocked farm system means that the Islanders are that much closer to competing at a level they hope they can. The last few years have given them some top tier talent and enabled them an entire crop of home grown players. That’s a great feeling.

Here is my view of the Draft Floor

Summer is here, the Stanley Cup has been raised high and teams have settled in for a much deserved summer break. That only means one thing, it’s Entry Draft time!

For the third year in a row, I have made the journey to cover the NHL draft live from the event. At the time of this writing, I am halfway across the great American Frontier on my way to Los Angeles, California. I imagine the scene here in the US will differ slightly from what I experienced in Ottawa and Montreal—being they reside in hockey’s hotbed, also known as Canada. However, I am sure the scene here in Los Angeles will be a party full of hardcore fans none-the-less.

People in my life, friends, and family—all think I am crazy for spending as much time and money covering the game of hockey. To me it’s not crazy, it’s a privilege as I get to experience the game I love on a level not many are fortunate enough to experience.

Attending the draft is a special experience, as someone who has played the game of hockey my entire life, I can appreciate the time and effort these young men, and more importantly—their parents, dedicate to the sport. It’s a wild perspective to sit in and bear witness on draft day.

What makes the planning, expense, vacation time, and especially the writing all worthwhile, is watching these young players realize their dreams of becoming professional hockey players has become reality. It’s a magical feeling watching lives change, in a positive way, right before your very eyes.

Another benefit of attending the draft and covering the New York Islanders, I get to watch the young players whom are selected by the team, grow and progress through their young careers witnessing maturation into both men and world class athletes.

Perhaps, in some small way I am living the dream through these players—vicariously if you will. Beyond the obvious difference in talent, players of any level share a common bond for the love of the game. Be it the pro level, or your average Men’s league player—we all willingly play a sport that takes a toll out on our bodies and continue to play for as long as we can.

This is why I go through the lengths that I do to cover the sport, I may only be a blogger who isn’t a writer by day—but I do it for the love of the game and nothing else.

Just checking in here LIVE from Los Angeles, California – well from my hotel room at least. I’ve been doing some last minute research here and there to be prepared for the first round of the draft later on this afternoon. I wanted to put up a sticky post for you all following at home today with the draft selections. I will update it should any changes occur (and I am sure they will):

• Round 1 – 5th overall
• Round 2 – 35th overall and 58th overall (acquired via San Jose in trade with Ottawa for Andy Sutton)
• Round 3 – 65th overall and 82nd overall
• Round 4 – 95th overall
• Round 5 – 125th overall
• Round 6 – 155th overall and 160th overall (acquired via trade with NY Rangers for Jyri Niemi)
• Round 7 – 185th overall

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and over at Bleacher Report all weekend as I will be writing all over the place on the draft!

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up if they have not already heard, but the New York Islanders are looking for a few more bloggers for the Blog Box this season! They will be hosting auditions during the Draft Party at the Coliseum tomorrow. If you have an established blog and want to enjoy the same access to the team as some of the other Islanders blogs, I suggest you get over there tomorrow and give this a shot.

Here are some details:

The New York Islanders, for the last three years, have granted unprecedented access to Islanders bloggers, allowing them to cover the team.

Talk about cool, right?

Well this season, the Islanders are looking to create an even better Blog Box and are looking to add three established bloggers. If you would like to be one of the newest Isles bloggers, auditions will be held at the 2010 Islanders Draft Party on Friday, June 25 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The selected bloggers will then be interviewed by the Islanders communications staff and the winners will be notified.

We are looking for you, so come on out to the 2010 Draft Party and show us what you can do!

Contact Katrina Doell at Katrina.Doell@NewYorkIslanders.com for more information.

After submitting the following information, you will be contacted by Islanders Communications staff with further instructions on attending the Draft Party.

The Blog Box is sponsored by Farmingdale State College

For more information, head on over to the Islanders website to fill out the form in order to try out.

I’ve been meaning to put up an announcement for quite some time now (as well as content) – but for the third year in a row I am headed to the NHL Entry Draft!

As you may already know, this years draft is located in Los Angeles, California – so it’s quite the haul compared to Ottawa and Montreal years prior.

Another difference, I am the lone Blog Boxer headed out, so it should be interesting.

In the coming days I have some exciting lead up content planned for both my site and over at Bleacher Report, where I am the Featured Islanders columnist.

I cannot wait to see who the Islanders pick up in the five slot in this years draft!

Stay tuned to my site, my Twitter feed, Bleacher Report and of course the Islanders website and Twitter feeds for constant NHL Draft updates throughout the draft!!