Could Snow be looking offer sheet?

Call this some speculation on my part but why in a draft where many second rounders were considered first round talents did Garth Snow decline his option to take Toronto's pick at sixty on Saturday?

He traded up for Chicago's pick later to go with his other third round selections so obviously he wanted depth from this draft class.

Sure the Islander general manager may have decided to put another second rounder in the prospect bank for the 2009 draft which also includes his own pick and the one he will likely have from Boston when Nokelainen hits his games played incentive next season.

That's at least three and a great start looking ahead.

And of course Toronto could be a lottery team next year and that second rounder instead of being a pick at the end of the second round Saturday could be a pick at the beginning of the second round next summer.

The Isles gm also did have more picks than any other club in this draft.

Having written all that with the talent pool that deep Saturday why not use the pick this year when next summer that pick may be worth a lot less?

Only thing that makes sense beyond what I have written is he's getting ready to drop an offer sheet and will use that second rounder as part of the compensation depending on the contract.

Makes sense to me based on some of the pending restricted free agents without huge contracts and would require a second as part of the draft pick compensation.

I guess we will see but something to consider.

Sunday Islander/NHL notables

Islanders website: Report New York drafted five of the International Scouting Services' top 30 prospects which have analysis of Josh Bailey, Kirill Petrov, Corey Trivino, David Towes & Aaron Ness.

Moose Jaw Time Herald:
Reports Travis Hamonic is the first Moose Jaw Warrio to be picked by the four-time Stanley Cup champion Islanders since Masi Marijmaki.

Pioneer Press: John Shipley has Garth Snow, Don Lucia's comments about the situation regarding Kyle Okposo from December with Aaron Ness's comments as it applies to his future if he should decide to leave the Gophers sooner than later.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Not to come off like an Islander homer here but Don Lucia took a shot at the Islanders the day Okposo announced he would not be returning to school after the WJC. Snow defended Okposo as is he supposed to and now we hope things work out better with Aaron Ness for both sides. Obviously if the Isles did have a major problem with the Gophers program they would not be selecting from their prospect pool which speaks to what Garth Snow thinks of Mr Lucia's program.

Lets just hope Don Lucia uses Aaron Ness where he should be playing but by this prospects own words in the article he is already looking ahead to the NHL and if the Islanders want to sign him he has the right to leave according to the rules.

Edmonton Journal: Jim Matheson has a few words about the reaction from Tyler Ennis who was drafted by Buffalo in round one about his friend Jared Spurgeon being drafted by New York in the sixth round and how they have been playing hockey together since childhood. Tyler Spurgeon plays on the Oilers farm team.

Point Blank: Mr Botta gave his take on the draft picks, the clubs strategy along with telling the fans he spoke to Garth Snow Saturday as he had some advice for the Isles on how the media should have been done surrounding the picks.

In a quick recap of the weekends trades involving players:
Florida traded C Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for D Keith Ballard, D Nick Boynton and Ottawa’s second-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft (49th overall, previously acquired).

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Olli would have been here forever at 2m per year with five cup rings by now if we kept him. Second team he unofficially had to be traded from or requested out of as he now plays for his fourth club and when his contract ends will be moving on to a fifth when he refuses to sign in Phoenix. What did Florida win again in that Islander trade besides a rebuild that never ends? I guess all those defenseman could mean Redden is not signing with Jacques Martin?

Columbus traded Colorado’s first-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft (19th overall, previously acquired) and the Blue Jackets’ third-round pick in 2008 (67th overall) to Philadelphia for C R.J. Umberger and the Flyers’ fourth-round pick in 2008 (118th overall).

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Flyers free up cash for Jeff Carter and Eminger, Ken Hitchcock gets a former player for a pick that another club gave them. Not a bad deal for Howson to get R.J Hamburglar.

Calgary traded LW Alex Tanguay and its fifth-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft (138th overall) to Montreal for the Canadiens’ first-round pick in 2008 (25th overall) and second-round pick in 2009.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Alex Tanguay, moves to a new conference with a lot of mileage on him. I would rather have had the picks in this quality draft if I were Montreal.

From the I'm too lazy to post the link department, the comedy club at the
NY Post that forgot day two of the NHL draft:

Larry Brooks did his usual Cablevision Rangers are the league's American Flagship Franchise dance (after John Dellapina) and that Cablevision out of Msg control would leave New York without a hockey team as he did the impossible and actually took James Dolan's side over Gary Bettman.

Mr Brooks also claimed the Rangers lead American teams in revenue generated but of course fails to mention the same overhead it cost to generate that revenue had his favorite team 25m in the red according to his own New York Post before the lockout as it keeps raising ticket prices.

This was the low-end number folks with reports claiming they a league high forty million at the time.
********************************************************
Old link no longer works:
Courtesy of Islanders-SoundTigers mailing list:

http://www.nypost.com/business/28740.htm
CABLEVISION CUTS ITS LOSSES

By PAUL THARP
September 17, 2004 -- The owners of the perennially money-losing
Rangers hockey team are going to plug up a big red-ink hole with the
National Hockey League shutdown of the season.

The Rangers haven't made the playoffs in seven years or any profits
in years.

In fact, industry sources say the team loses between $25 million and
$30 million a year with its highly paid players and steep overhead in
Madison Square Garden arena.

With the team now on ice, owner Cablevision, controlled by media
mogul Chuck Dolan, won't have to write that many big checks for
hockey players.

It'll lose revenue, of course, from the 41 home games at the Garden,
but analysts say the typical $45 per seat for Ranger games is hardly
a drop in the bucket in Cablevision's fortunes.
**************************************************
For those who will respond and correctly point out this is not 2004 and we have a new cba according to this article a month ago Msg's sports teams lost 19m for the first quarter of 2008:

Newsday no longer has this link available:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spberger0511x,0,7646249.column

Money continues to burn hole in Garden's pockets

Ken Berger
9:13 PM EDT, May 10, 2008

So James Dolan must be thrilled with the early returns on his investment in Walsh. Attaboy, Donnie, you got your guy. The Knicks always get their guy. The problem has been that they keep getting the wrong ones.

When you add up the money given to these coaches and GMs -- not to mention the $11.5-million settlement to Anucha Browne Sanders and the hundreds of millions in bad player contracts doled out by Thomas and his predecessors -- it is not hard to fathom why MSG Sports (aka Cablevision's toy department) is bleeding red ink. According to the quarterly earnings statement furnished this week by the Garden's parent company, MSG and its sports teams lost a staggering $19.7 million in the first quarter.
**********************************************************
NYI Fan Central Comments:

Wonder if the Ranger lawsuits are included in that number between the one they settled on and the one they already lost to Gary Bettman?

Flagship American franchises for leagues are not completely ignored in their own town come playoff time nor do they go without any back pages during the regular season/playoffs or lose out by a three to one ratio for out of town basketball
games in their own market when they play head to head against another sport.

Flagship American franchise for a sport do not finish 24th and 36th for a Stanley Cup Final involving real American hockey marquee markets that consistently draw impressive ratings along with Buffalo and Minnesota.

Cablevision on ice had their stage without Knicks, Nets, Islanders or Tiger Woods after they eliminated New Jersey and had problems even competing with poker repeats in New York and did marginal at best nationally even with nothing but Crosby as the opposition. The media barely gave it any additional coverage.

Even the Islanders got Newsday back pages last season. Rangers did not see a full back page all winter again for an actual game, even Brian Leetch retirement night did not generate a full backpage over big market baseball rumors and the Giants super bowl.

As for Mr Brooks, wake me when Gary Bettman pulls the same stunts James Dolan has on New York City, Jets, Giants, Yankees, Mets, Islanders, and Devils and the general public with how many clubs he pulled off the air over the years?

You could sell a lot more actual tickets for James Dolan's expulsion hearing than the attendance Cablevison for Ranger home games when that day arrives.

Cheer up Mr Brooks, New York will still have a hockey team for you to cover if Dolan is removed and refuses to let the Rangers play in his basketball arena, keeping the naming rights, uniform and territorial rights.

That would be America's Flagship Hockey Dynasty and arguably hockey's greatest
all-time dynasty.

The New York Islanders.

Winners & Losers? Ask me in 3-5 years

I guess it's all part of the experience and natural to start declaring winners and losers of a draft the next day or a few days after and no doubt we will start seeing articles along those lines with the few released already and sure I will post them for you.

Islanders website is posting XM radio highlights and that did not even list the person commenting while at Hockey News via TSN they listed the Isles as losers for their first round which I posted Saturday.

Most of it is a little silly at this time and means absolulutely nothing until a few years pass (in most cases) and then we really discover who won or lost.

I would be less than honest not to admit the draw of not selecting a Filatov was
disappointing Friday but can mean absolutely nothing as soon as everyone starts playing hockey games this fall.

You can also make a great argument the Islanders passed on players who have greater franchise player potential than the one they selected ninth overall.

You can also make a great argument it was not worth a few extra second rounders in a great draft to take themselves out of a mix for players with franchise potential.

Having written all that you can also go the other way and write if you want management to finally stick to a plan and build with prospects what did you expect them to do with the youth movement they have in place with left wing Bergenheim, left wing Comeau, left wing Tambellini and left wing Joensuu among others?

I know Howie Rose and even Billy Jaffe keep repeating the Islanders finally have to have a youth movement and pick a direction. I'm not trying to awake anyone from their slmuber here but it's been happening for a while now if you have not noticed between Campoli, Gervais and many of the forwards I just listed.

What left wing did you want to kick off the team from our youth movement for Filatov to play left wing here next season or the year after? Tambellini because of his games played now must clear waivers to go back to the AHL.

I asked this a few times over the weekend and the reaction most gave was get rid of Tambellini or silence which makes those folks just as guilt as Mike Milbury for dumping youth too soon and not sticking to a plan. They already have three right wings if Okposo is here with Figren expected to play in Europe.

Does anyone want to dump Tambellini before we find out after three years of time and money invested in him? If he goes to another club and puts up fifty points and can score what would everyone write then?

Meanwhile there is a spot for Bailey at a center who takes Vasicek's spot next to Okposo this fall if he can earn it at the moment. That could change by July 1st and may not happen regardless.

As as a counterpoint about pick from above in a draft like this last one you cannot have enough quality picks in the first two rounds.

Regarding Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski I do not think they should care one bit what Mike Milbury, Neil Smith or Bill Torrey did at the draft table. At this point if you do that you should compare Snow with Bill Torrey drafting Dave Chykowski and Scott Sissons because that's how old some of this has become.

It's completely worthless in 2008.

I know that's how fans measure this. I suggest folks get past it because anyone who drafts with that philosophy does not belong in the gm chair or a scouting department for any professional sports team. In that case Isles should just do an on-line poll, and let the fans make the picks from the articles we read so virtually no one complains.

Regarding this draft I do not know how this draft class will work out for the Islanders. Some of these players have some great potential, a few were not listed in central scouting and we all know Petrov's contract vs potential which sounds nice but until he plays here is just words.

Winners or losers? On paper they lost day one, on paper they had a very good day two.

On paper means nothing, if that were the case teams would not play games.

On paper coming out of the lockout Carolina was picked fourteenth and won the cup. On paper Boston was picked dead last in the conference and made the playoffs.

Winners or losers for real? Ask me in three-five years unless someone jumps into the NHL and dominates next season. Were still figuring out if Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim can be impact players and they were drafted in 2002 and 2003, so were Jeremy Colliton and Frans Nielsen.

Late Saturday Islanders Update

Updated 11:15pm:
Newsday: Mr Logan's article has Garth Snow's comments along with Ryan Jankowski as to why they targeted Joshua Bailey as opposed to Nikita Filatov along with how the prospect pool was built up with the thirteen selections.

Newsday: Mr Logan's profiles of the tweleve selections the Islanders took on Saturday.

Newsday : Mr Logan's late blog on the draft centers around Kirill Petrov with the 73rd overall pick, what reaction was when Snow selected him along with reviews and comments on the other Islander selections as well as more insight into the trades including Toronto gm Cliff Fletcher's take.

Mr Logan writes he will be posting another blog in a few days explaining what the club saw in top pick Josh Bailey and on Sunday he will write his analysis of Snow’s trade-down strategy along with thumbnail sketches of Saturday's selections.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Part of that could be above article as it's edited to include draft picks, excellent work top to bottom and more than fair to point out consequences if Bailey does not exceed Filatov or the other selctions Isles passed on.

Islanders no doubt will keep updating along with ITV updates. Larry Brooks of the Post went to Ottawa and did an Islander centric article but seemingly knows little on prospects based on his reporting so expect the usual Sunday bash the Isles-fest if any content at all.

The Oklahoman:Robert Przybylo reports Islanders draft pick Matt Donovan was just sitting on the couch and watching everything and that the Islanders are a good fit for him, but the truth is any team is. He would have been excited no matter where he ended up as he will be attending the clubs July minicamp.

Gophers website: Has a profile on Minnesota defender Aaron Ness, last season’s Minnesota state high school Player of the Year and an incoming recruit at the University of Minnesota.

National Post: Reports New York had a league high thirteen selections Saturday.

THN.com: Ryan Kennedy reports Kirill Petrov seems a lock to stay in Russia for several years and New York also provided the first big surprise of the afternoon by tabbing Matt Donovan out of Cedar Rapids in the USHL in the fourth round because he was not listed at all by central scouting.


Espn.com: Scott Burnside had Garth Snow's comments on drafting based upon lineage that he does not read much into it, with regard to David Toews, the younger brother of Chicago star Jonathan Toews because he is a professional athlete and his brothers weren't very good athletes. Mr Burnside adds David Toews is expected to play at his older brother's alma mater, the University of North Dakota, this season and although he put up big numbers at Shattuck (181 points in two years) he isn't expected to be the offensive force his brother was and is.

Espn.com: Gare Joyce writes on the Islanders selecting Josuha Bailey that the Islanders always zig when everyone else is zagging, that Bailey is more in the 12-20 range than top 10, heads were scratched after Isles traded down twice to get him.

St Louis Post Dispatch: Jeff Gordon reports from central scouting that Cory Trivino has the ability to see the ice well and to move the puck, needs to get stronger , but isn’t always winning the puck. He’s got a goal-scoring touch and he’s good on face-offs with good skating ability, not necessarily high-end skating, but good.

Islanders website: Linked to Mike G. Morreale's pre draft article with Kirill Petrov's comments that he really wants to play in the NHL and only in the NHL, with his agents comments he is prepared to do whatever it takes to make his client's wishes come true despite a three year agreement remaining with his Russian club.

Saskatoon Phoenix: Cory Wolfe has a pre-draft update on Jyri Niemi (pronounced nee-EM-ee) with his agents updating us on his minor surgery on his left hip when he returned to Finland in April, that he resumed skating this month and is currently helping out at a hockey school and is expected to be in top form by July.


Edmonton Journal: Reported back on June 1st that Jared Spurgeon who the club selected at 156th might be a late round draft pick in June because he's diminutive but there's a good chance the defenceman will be one of the 44 players invited to Canada's world junior summer camp in Ottawa on July 25. Al Murray, Hockey Canada chief scout said Spurgeon partnered with Jared Cowen, a likely top-six pick in the 2009 draft, on the Spokane blue line and did a lot of covering up for Cowen.

Elite Prospect.com: Profiles Islanders fourth round prospect David Ullström.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has Islander selection Matt Martin's comments going into Friday's draft that his agent felt there was a good chance he would be selected, he spoke to ten-twelve clubs and hopefully it would work out as he hoped for the best.

Usa Today.com: Kyle Woodlief in his pre-draft review of goaltenders felt that Islander selection Kevin Poulin at 148th started the season as a sure-fire first-rounder based on his great physical gifts and performance last year but he was a perplexing mystery to scouts all season alternating between the occasional utterly dominant vs many nights when it appeared he couldn't stop a beach ball. He has great size (6-2/208) and superb athleticism with flexibility. His movements are fast and crisp and he's big enough to cover the top corners in the butterfly. But he's shown a propensity to lose his angles, has a very shaky catching hand and his mental toughness has become a real question mark.

NHL.com: Adam Kimelman had a full profile of Islanders selection Jyri Niemi back on June 18th with his comments.

NHL.com: Mike Morreale has a full feature of Islander draft selection Travis Hamonic back on June 16th with NHL's Director of Central Scouting, E.J. McGuire's comments along with B.J. MacDonald.

Updated Sunday 10am:
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tigers blog has his analysis of the Islanders 2008 draft and how long it could take some of these players to even make it to Bridgeport.

Still working on something for Justin DiBenedetto from the Sarnia Sting, some
hat-trick games and a lot of past updates.

Quick notes:
Change on sidebar

Tony from Islesnation.com link here was changed to a feeder so everyone can get the latest from his outstanding blog which had some great updates on the draft. Mr Stabile updates will appear next to his latest radio show here at NYI Fan Central where they did a live show from the Coliseum yesterday which is archived on the sidebar here.

Another excellent show on Hockey Night on LI here Saturday as Alex, Steve recapped the draft with Tom Mascioli of Islesinfo.com here.

All the blog box members worked as hard as possible this weekend with Mike Schuerlein from Islesblogger.com & Tom Liodice from Tiger Tracks here who did a fantastic job for everyone this weekend up in Ottawa and also appeared on Hockey Night on LI which is archived for everyone.

My personal thanks to the New York Islanders ownership & media relations staff on their outstanding efforts this weekend to keep us all updated on the draft who went above and beyond with too many names to list but start with Mr Witt, Bernstein, Lockhart, Hill and of course thanks as always to Mr Botta for his first class efforts over the years.

Sorry if I missed anyone in writing this about the media relations staff.

Once again my thanks to everyone for the amazing turnouts at NYI Fan Central for the live interactive chats both days and the quality contributions from everyone.

Both live blogs and the links to information/Tsn reviews posted by everyone are available to everyone for review in the chat.

Day Two Recap and profiles

NHL.com: Dan Rosen had an early article on how the Isles settled on Joshau Bailey.

Islanders TV: Has video interviews and press conferences with most of the selections along with Ted Nolan and Sound Tigers coach Jack Capuano as more video is complied so keep checking.

Islanders draft blog: Recaps the Islander selections as they were made with comments from the various scouts. The Islanders acquired an extra fourth–round pick after trading the 68th overall pick to Chicago for the 72nd overall and 102nd overall picks.

Among the highlights:

Pro Scout Tim MacLean, comments on the selection of center Corey Trivino with the first second-round pick (36th overall). With Stouffville of the OPJRA, Trivino finished first on the team in assists with 50 and second in points with 69. Trivino was second on Team Canada at the World Under-18 Tournament with four goals, helping them lead to a Gold Medal.
*************************************************************
Eric Cairns, Pro Scout comments on the 40th overall selection, Aaron Ness. A Minnesota native, Ness helped lead Roseau to a perfect 25-0 regular season. His 72 points (28-44-72) in 31 games led all defensemen and placed him 10th overall for Minnesota high school hockey scoring.
**************************************************************
Mr Cairns also comments on the selection of defensive defenseman Travis Hamonic with the 53rd overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. A member of the WHL's Moose Jaw, Hamonic won gold with Team Canada at the Under-18 IIHF World Championships in 2008 and helped lead Team Manitoba to a silver medal at the 2007 Canada Winter Games. In 2007-08. Hamonic was 5-17-22, along with 101 PIM in 61 games.
***************************************************************
Denny Scanlon, Pro Scout comments on the selection of scoring center David Toews in the third round with the sixty sixth pick. Brother of Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews, David was 44-56-100 in 51 games with highly-regarded Shattuck-St. Mary's.
****************************************************************
Vellu-Pekka Kautonen, Chief European Scout comments on third round selections Jyri Niemi and Kirill Petrov with 72nd and 73rd selections. Niemi, a native of Finland finished first among WHL rookie defensemen with 14 goals and third with 34 points.

Petrov, the second ranked European skater at the Draft, played in 41 games
with Kazan of the Russian Super League and was 4-6-10. *********************************************************
Pro Scout, Toby O'Brien comments on USHL defenseman Matt Donovan selected with 96th overall pick. Donovan was first among defensemen on Cedar Rapids with 12 goals, 19 assists and 31 points.
******************************************************************
Pro Scout Anders Kallur, comments on David Ullstrom who the Islanders selected with with the 102nd overall pick. In 40 games with HV 71 of the Swedish Junior league, Ullstrom was 27-27-54.
******************************************************************
Goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj comments on goaltender Kevin Poulin with 126th overall pick. A netminder for the QMJHL's Victoriaville, Poulin finished the 2007-08 season with a 3.69 GAA and .887 SV%.
*******************************************************************
Pro Scout Tim MacLean, comments on forward selected Matthew Martin with the 148th overall pick. As a right wing for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL in 2007-08, Martin compiled 155 penalty minutes in 66 games. He also picked up 25 goals and 13 assists.
********************************************************************
Ryan Jankowski, Assistant GM/Director of Amateur Scouting comments on WHL defenseman Jared Spurgeon 156th overall who finished the 2007-08 season first among Spokane defensemen in goals (12), assists (31) and points (43).
*********************************************************************
Tim MacLean, Pro Scout comments on on OHL left wing Justin DiBenedetto with the 175th overall pick. DiBenedetto finished second on Sarnia in scoring with 93 points, behind only Steven Stamkos.
*********************************************************************
Updated 2:52pm
Newsday: No updates as of yet from Mr Logan, blog or otherwise.

Georgia Advocate: Jim Mason reports New York beat out Montreal who were rumored to be taking Corey Trivino in the second round of the 2008 NHL draft.

Minnesota Star-Tribune: Michael Russo has Garth Snow comments as to why he blasted Minnesota, Don Lucia reaction to Aaron Ness's selection and the young defenders comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Islanders staff had an outstanding second day with the exception of going well off the board for Travis Hamonic. Towes, Petrov (if signed) Ness and Trivino were all outstanding picks. Too much to digest all at once on day two.

I will do some features on some of the next playersr when possible/available and update prospect center to include new players at some point next week.

More later or early tomorrow, Isles website should have more updates which are on ticker here.

Thanks again to everyone for another great day of live blogging after last nights amazing turout. Anyone can review both live chats which had lots of links to profiles/scouting reports/information as everyone did a great job contributing.

Updated 4pm:
NHL.com: Brian Compton recaps the Islanders complete draft with comments from management and prospects.

Updated 5pm:
Islanders website: Recaps the draft with Ryan Jankowski's comments and links to features on several of the draft picks.

6/21: Day two NHL draft live Interactive blog

A few things:
Islanders website has been added as a crawler to top of this blog next to NYI Fan Central blog updates page so everyone can access updates on draft picks almost as quickly as Isles post them.

I have NHL TV here but I'm not sure if they will be on air live for day two. If they are I will add the picks as announced on the floor in the blog.

Several live trackers are on sidebar for anyone who wants to follow draft as picks are posted.

Crawl at very top of blog has updated draft picks, not sure what Isles will do with optional pick at 60th but I will fill in that crawl manually with picks as quickly as possible as I live blog.

Were going to need all the folks possible who do a lot of research who can give us the steals still remaining, Ryan Jankowski talked about many second rounders who in other drafts will be first rounders. Isles have at least three second rounders and perhaps four.

Blog will go live at 9:55 this morning, need a few extra minutes.

My thanks again last night for an amazing turnout here, everyone made it a great chat, far beyond anything I expected with over four full hours.

Islander News Articles 6/21

Islanders TV: Have several interviews starting with Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski as to why they decided to trade down and select Bailey. Tim MacLean Islanders Ontario Scout, Domenic Peca who is color analyst for Windsor Spitfires also give their thoughts.

Joshua Bailey's two ITV interviews are also included.

At this time I'm going to pull all ITV content from the sidebar so the page loads quickly for everyone. The links to all ITV updates are included.


Newsday: Greg Logan reports Garth Snow's trades were greeted with boos by fans attending the Isles' draft party at Nassau Coliseum when Bailey's name was announced, there was an air of befuddlement followed by a quick exodus for not selecting a franchise talent like Nikita Fliatov or Luke Schenn.

Garth Snow's statement is repeated along with a recap of major NHL trades, which included Olli Jokinen to Phoenix.

Joshua Bailey wondered how come a club picking fifth had an incentive for bringing him in for an interview and was told they didn't know what they were going to do and said they might trade down which gave him a bit of hope, that when he got home he told his family he thought New York would be a great place to play, he did not know what to think of the rude reaction Snow's moves brought but he hopes he can impress and become a fan favorite.

NY Post: Larry Brooks comments that the Islanders knew better than everyone else with their decision, beyond that a lot of repeat quotes from Bailey and Garth Snow.

Tsn.ca: Bob Mc Kenzie gives his comments on the Islanders drafting Joshua Bailey that it's a good all-around pick, he will be a good player in but ultimately, we will look back and note that the Islanders could have had Luke Schenn, they could have had Nikita Filatov.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I could do a huge long blog but at the end of that day that's what this boils down to for now until these players make the NHL and we find out who is better. On this day Filatov, Schenn, Wilson and Bodeker are considered better than Bailey by most of the experts who do this for a living and few if anyone felt Bailey is a franchise superstar with the potential of the players the Islanders did not select. In this kind of draft where even a prospect poor club like Toronto gave up picks it's fair game to question Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski's strategy.

That may mean absolutely nothing down the road, I think it's fair to write all New York Islander fans are hoping Snow is correct and public opinion is not but Garth Snow is fighting Mike Milbury's legacy of passing on franchise talents at drafts for players who were shorter term immediate fixes or other players who were eventually traded.

Fair or not that is what he also will be judged against at this time and fair or not Mr Wang will likely pay at the box office this summer for this decision. Along with that Joshua Bailey unfortunately will have this on him as well, fair or not.

Nashville Tennessean: Predators general manager David Poile explains why he was willing to give the Islanders the 40th pick to move up.

Daily News: The Daily News sports editor cannot spring for a blog for the Islanders or send Peter Botte to Ottawa for Islander centic draft coverage but for some reason the entertaimment writer at the News blogged about Islanders Illustrated.

Isles trade down twice select Joshua Bailey

Islanders website: Islander drafted Windsor Spitfires center Joshua Baily with the 9th overall pick after trading down twice with Garth Snow, Josh Bernstein, Ryan Jankowski and Jason Lockhart's comments along with NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards & Windsor Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Deep breaths folks.

Obviously Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski targeted Bailey and when their turn came with Schenn, Filatov, Boedker, Wilson decided to go in this direction.

For tonight it will not be what the fans wanted, it will not be considered a franchise player in a draft class of franchise players and it will not bring a buzz to the Coliseum (or sell tickets) and likely anger a majority of the fans claiming this gm decided to be somewhat unconventional and gamble.

I do not know enough about Jousha Bailey at this time beyond what I saw on television and what was said about him and the pick. It's not fair for me to run him down or project he could be a franchise star for New York. It's possible Filatov could be in Juniors and Bailey centering Okposo, he has the numbers for what that is worth and only projected behind Stamkos in some areas.

Bottom line, Isles traded down in a draft several teams wanted to trade up. They got a good return in a strong draft, we'll have to see what tomorrow and years ahead bring.

For the moment it will not go over well whether that's fair or not.

Newsday: Mr Logan had five blog updates on the selection of Bailey, trading down, the draft itself and comments from Bill Guerin.

Islanders website: John Hill reported on what happened at the Coliseum with Robin Figren's comments.

Islanders website: Jason Lockhart/John Hill has Joshua Bailey's comments upon joining the Islanders at the draft party via hookup.

Note-Here are the details on the draft picks which I updated in the crawl
at top of blog.

Via two trades, the Islanders earned three extra draft pick. Earlier, the Islanders acquired the ninth overall pick and the 40th overall pick in 2008 from Nashville in exchange for the seventh overall pick. Prior to that, the Islanders acquired the seventh overall pick and the 60th overall pick in 2008 and a 2009 third-round pick or the 68th overall pick from 2008 and a 2009 second-round selection from Toronto in exchange for the 2008 fifth overall pick.

The Islanders will have until tomorrow to make their decision.

Daily News: John Dellapina's Ranger centric article had Joshua Bailey's comments he's ecstatic to be drafted by the Islansders and felt when the club started trading down he thought I might have a shot to be picked by New York. Garth Snow felt he would be able to select Bailey at No.9 and had first hand knowledge because he played on the same OHL team as coach Ted Nolan's son Jordan and this was the player we targeted from the beginning, a center who makes other players around him better - the type of center we need in our system.

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has Joshua Bailey's comments he did not expected to be selected this hight as he talked about a crazy media presence where his comments were broadcast live back to fans at the Nassau Colliseum, then on to the Madison Square Garden network, the NHL Network, New York Islander TV and several papers, that he had met Ted Nolan a couple of times, but don't really know him, but he's going to go to camp with the full intention of making the hockey team.

Durham Region: Has Joshua Bailey's comments to go the NHL is an honour in itself and to go that high to such a great organization, it just meant everything.

More in Saturday's news articles in a new thread. Isles TV had several interviews and pre draft blogs. I selected Bailey's press conference.

Saturday's live draft chat begins at 9:45am. Isles have a ton of picks.

Thanks again to everyone for an incredible turnout Friday at the live blog and hope to see you Saturday.