NHL Draft 2011: Why the Islanders Should Go Offense

The NHL Draft is less than two hours away and the popular pick for the New York Islanders is to take Niagara Ice Dogs defenseman Dougie Hamilton with the fifth overall pick. For a long time the Isles have needed help on the blue line. With this being said and agreed upon, this is not the draft to do so.

As stated before, the Islanders are currently sitting at 5th overall in the draft. The best defenseman and arguably best overall talent in the draft, Adam Larsson, is expected to be off the board at No. 5. This leaves the Isles with Niagara's Dougie Hamilton or Kitchener Rangers' Ryan Murphy.

Both picks are very much touted by the scouts and analysts, but I feel for the Isles it's Larsson or bust this year. For people that are following prospects for next years draft know that it is STACKED with defenseman.

There are people with projections that have as many as five defensemen in the overall top 10 skaters with many more coming after that. With this being said, Garth Snow has a decision to make. Trade up to try and make a play for Larsson, or take the best available offensive player (Gare Joyce of ESPN saying this pick is Ryan Strome). 

The Islanders have two things in regards to defensive core that many other teams don't. Time and money. The Isles have prospects like Calvin de Haan, Mark Katic and Matt Donovan, who need more time in the minors/junior hockey, and a prospect who has already shown he can hang and produce in the NHL in Travis Hamonic.

Yes, the Islanders have many offensive prospects as well, but if there isn't a player available that fills your current need as much as a future player you shouldn't force it. The Isles need to take the best offensive player, whether it be a Couturier, Strome, or Zibanejad.

A pick that has been started to be talked about more and more is a surprise pick in Sven Bartschi. The thinking behind this is that he is obviously a top 15 talent overall, and a top 10 offensive talent, but also that he plays his junior hockey with current Isles prospect Nino Niederreiter.

The chemistry already built playing for the Portland Winterhawks is thought to transfer very well to the Islanders. Of course there is also the prospect of a trade of the No. 5 pick, but to who and for what is anyone's guess.

Either way, the Isles have one of the more difficult picks to think about tonight in Minneapolis and we'll have to watch tonight to see what the Islanders and Garth Snow decide to do with it.

For more 2011 NHL draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NHL mock drafts, NHL draft rumors, NHL draft results and draft grades.