New York Islanders' Mission Accomplished (Almost)

I present five random thoughts on the state of the New York Islanders.

Please share your thoughts below on these or any other matter concerning the Islanders.


1. Last Spot Secure

Well, if you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.

The Islanders picked a good year to finish dead last in the NHL, as highly-touted 18-year-old scoring forward John Tavares is now within our grasp.

The only thing we have left to hope for is that 48.2 percent chance the Islanders have of actually getting the first pick overall and drafting the stud center.

With just a little bit of luck, we will know where we stand on Apr. 14 at 8 p.m. as the 2009 NHL Draft Lottery takes place.  This is the biggest day in Islanders franchise history (from an on-the-ice standpoint) in the last 20 years.

2. Beatings Aplenty

I don't know what it is, but the Islanders have been getting their tail kicked the past two weeks. Maybe the youth and some 600 man-games lost to injury this year are finally catching up after the impressive run they had.

But, my goodness, things have taken a turn for the worse. In the long run, the losing may be a good thing, but if the Isles are going to lose, I would much rather see them compete and lose than simply be blown off the ice.

3. Stars Aligning?

Tavares knows about the Islanders' plan for a new arena. You know about the plans for the Lighthouse project. With that little bit of luck we spoke about, Tavares will be pulling the Orange and Blue over his head on Jun. 26, 2009.

That being said, by that very date we will know a lot more about what is happening with the Lighthouse project. Imagine this fans—the Islanders draft Tavares and the project moves forward. Hey, you never know.


4. Matt Gilroy

Never heard of him? I had fits coaching against him when he was in youth hockey.

Well, it turns out that a lot of coaches have had fits coaching against him over the last 10 years, so much so that he is courting up to 14 NHL franchises that want to sign the undrafted free agent forward.

Will he sign with the team he grew up watching? Keep your ear to the ground, people—you will know who this kid is, and soon.


5. Consolation Prize

Even though it's not something I want to personally think about, there is a slightly better than 50-50 chance (51.8 percent, to be exact) that it will be 6'7" stud defenseman Victor Hedman pulling the Islanders jersey over his head on Jun. 26.

While one or two scouts have had him ranked ahead of Tavares, he is still viewed as the second-best prospect in the draft. As upset as myself and probably most other Islander people may be if Tavares winds up somewhere else this draft happens to contain a very nice consolation prize.

That being said, I am tired of consolation prizes and second best. I want the top dog, the big cheese, the head honcho, No. 1, the king of the hill, to be the man to be pulling the Orange and Blue over his head on draft day.

I will say this now just to get it out of the way—the Islanders will have either the first or second pick on draft day.

It's as simple as this.

If you have the first pick, you draft Tavares.

If you have the second pick and Tavares is off the board, you pick Hedman.

No trading down, no fancy multiplying draft picks into three third-rounders. I don't care if the Maple Leafs offer the sun, the moon, and the Dallas Stars.

END OF STORY.

Keep your fingers crossed on Apr. 14, people.