It’s not really be possible to analyze the draft in a particularly serious way this soon after it happened. All we have to go on now is the rankings that various media organizations have done. Obviously, if that were all that you need to have a successful draft, there would be no reason to pay for scouts or a management staff; they could just fly some season ticket holder up to Ottawa and let him put a copy of the Hockey News draft edition on his expense report. It could be that Filatov makes the Isles look silly. Let’s look back after a few years and see if we’d trade Bailey and all the other players we got by trading down for Filatov. For now, I’m more than willing to give the moves a shot.

Isn’t that the best time to try and develop your prospect base. Would you rather have more or less picks in a deep draft?

Let’s also not forget how badly we need new youth. Pretty much all of our quality prospects will be playing with the Islanders rather than Sound Tigers this coming season. It’s a youth movement, after all. What good is it drafting a Filatov if we don’t have a solid team to surround him?

You’re right, our picks won’t make an immediate impact. All the other teams in the NHL cellar improved through the draft. Which is good.

I’m hoping for a last place finish and Tavares, who looks to be way better than anyone in this year’s draft. Tavares, Okposo, Comeau, Bergenheim, Bailey, Toews, Petrov (eventually), etc.? Now that’s a team.