The New York Islanders suffered through the 2007-08 season falling to last place in the Atlantic Division. Yes we all know that. After a while you have to look to the next season for some sort of comfort. Luckily the draft let’s every fan sit and wonder about potential of every single pick. By the beginning of the season we will be hoping for miracles from kids who have yet to take their first hit on the ice during a real NHL game. Of course, then all your dreams Wayne Gretzky, but for those four months it fun to imagine, isn’t it?

 

This time, after looking at the roster and not finding a whole lot of encouragement, I really have to dream about the picks. Center Joshua Bailey is expected to bring the speed and the vision to a front line that needs to score more. His 29 goals and 67 assists in the Ontario League should be a welcome addition to the meager scoring talents at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

 

The Islanders actually traded down to get him, saying he was who they wanted all along. I don not know whether or not to believe that. Generally in all sports when anybody trades down, whether it is the Knicks or the Giants, it is because nobody was available who could help them. The experts are still saying that the Islanders picked this guy way too high though…great.

 

The team picked up another center in the second round with the 36 pick in Corey Trivino and got a Mr. Hockey from Minnesota in defenseman Aaron Ness. Ness is taking his 5 foot 10 frame to the University of Minnesota next season. The rest of the picks include defenseman Travis Hamonic, center Shattuck-St. Mary’s, defenseman Jyri Niemi, right wing Kirill Petrov, and a host other players whose names I will not remember in two months.

The following piece was not written by Patrick Hickey Jr.

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