NHL Draft: Islanders select Calle Odelius and Quinn Finley
Calle Odelius, the No. 65 overall pick by the New York Islanders, poses for a portrait during the Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal. Credit: Getty Images/Minas Panagiotakis
MONTREAL — The Islanders targeted strong skating ability with their early picks on Friday as the NHL Draft concluded with rounds two through seven at Bell Centre. Then they took two players they believe have developed significantly over the past year after not being drafted when first eligible.
They waited until the last pick of the second round on Friday before making their first selection, having traded the 13th overall pick to the Canadiens on Thursday for 22-year-old defenseman Alexander Romanov. That’s now three straight years without a first-round pick.
The Islanders selected Swedish defenseman Calle Odelius at No. 65, then took left wing Quinn Finley, who still has one year of high school remaining, at No. 78. Canadian junior defenseman Isaiah George followed at No. 98. Then came two Canadian junior forwards who will be 20 next season, each of whom scored 38 goals last season: Matthew Maggio (No. 142) and Daylan Kuefler (No. 174).
“The sense you get is the excitement of the scouts,” president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “After [Thursday] with the trade, we got a player that we’re putting in our lineup, so everybody’s happy. Today we got diversity. We got a couple of defensemen, one we felt very strong on. We got a goal-scorer. We got a young player who’s got a tremendous upside.”
Odelius is a 5-11, 185-pound lefthanded shot who had seven goals and 23 assists in 43 games for Djurgardens Jr. in the Swedish Junior league. He is a strong skater who, when asked to compare his game to a current NHLer, brought up former Islander Devon Toews, now with the Avalanche. Odelius said he will play in Sweden this season.
“I talked with them but I didn’t have a feeling for the Islanders,” he said. “But I’m so happy that I ended up on the Islanders. I know some thing about the Islanders, like Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal.”
Odelius said his lone experience in New York was “four or five hours” during a layover, though he didn’t leave the airport.
Finley, who grew up in Wisconsin, had 12 goals and 17 assists in 39 games for Madison (USHL) last season. The 6-foot, 168-pounder has committed to the University of Wisconsin because he wants to develop his game, particularly his offense, under coach Tony Granato, a former NHL player and coach.
“I think he can truly turn me into a pro hockey player,” Finley said. “Just learning from him and learning all the things that he can teach me to get ready for the NHL.”
George, like Odelius, shoots lefthanded. He said when he spoke to the Islanders, he sensed that they value strong skating ability.
“I felt like they saw me in a similar way I saw myself,” said George, who had six goals and 17 assists in 67 games last season for London (OHL). “I really want to become a two-way defenseman. I think my defensive game is definitely my strong point at this stage in my hockey career.”
Lamoriello said Kuefler’s size at 6-2, 185 and his scoring production (38 goals, 21 assists in 65 games for Kamloops (WHL) attracted the Islanders. Maggio had 38 goals and 47 assists in 66 games for Windsor (OHL).
Lamoriello said the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on hockey may have played a role in both going undrafted.
Isles' 2022 NHL Draft picks
2nd round (No. 65): Calle Odelius
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-0
Weight: 188
Date of birth: May 30, 2004
2021-22: Djurgardens Jr (Swedish Junior League). 43 games, 7 goals, 23 assists, 24 penalty minutes
Scouting report: A fluid skater who plays a two-way game and is a strong playmaker. He listed former Islander Devon Toews as a model for his game. He will spend at least another season in Sweden.
3rd round (No. 78): Quinn Finley
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-0
Weight: 166
Date of birth: Aug. 8, 2004
2021-22: Madison (USHL). 39 games, 12 goals, 17 assists, 16 penalty minutes
Scouting report: A speedy skater who lost time last season to a collarbone injury. He’ll finish high school then play for former NHLer Tony Granato at the University of Wisconsin as he tries to add offense and develop his all-around game.
4th round (No. 98) Isaiah George
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-0
Weight: 196
Date of birth: Feb. 15, 2004
2021-22: London (OHL). 67 games, six goals, 17 assists, 32 penalty minutes
Scouting report: George’s strength is his skating, which he uses both to carry the puck out of the defensive zone and to close gaps on attacking players. He’s also adept with his stickwork.
5th round (No. 142) Matthew Maggio
Position: Right wing
Shoots: Right
Height: 5-10
Weight: 186
Date of birth: Nov. 25, 2002
2021-22: Windsor (OHL). 66 games, 38 goals, 47 assists, 22 penalty minutes
Scouting report: The second time was a charm for Maggio as he was back in the draft pool after not getting picked as an 18-year-old. He is strong on the puck, protecting it from defenders.
6th round (No. 174) Daylan Kuefler
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Date of birth: Feb. 10, 2002
2021-22: Kamloops (WHL). 65 games, 38 goals, 21 assists, 97 penalty minutes
Scouting report: Kuefler also went undrafted as an 18-year-old and plays a physical game. His father was a junior hockey teammate of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan and Daylan Kuefler lived with the Doan family while training in Arizona.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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