Islanders have 20th pick in first round of NHL Draft, but will Lou Lamoriello finally keep it?

LAS VEGAS — The Islanders haven’t picked in the first round since 2019. That may change on Friday as the NHL opens its two-day draft at the Sphere.

But whether it’s more prudent for president/general manager Lou Lamoriello, who is perpetually in win-now mode, to keep the 20th overall selection or trade a fifth straight first-round pick to try to bolster his veteran core is not easily answered.

The Islanders’ lightly-regarded prospect pool could use some high-end talent. But the team needs to improve at the NHL level, too, having not gotten past the first round since 2021, missing the postseason in 2022 and then being eliminated the past two seasons by the Hurricanes.

And the only thing certain in this draft — rounds two through seven will be conducted on Saturday morning — is that the Sharks will take Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick.

“There’s no question decisions have to be made every year,” Lamoriello said on May 3.
“Certainly, you reflect on what’s transpired over the last couple of years. There has been a major change already [hiring Patrick Roy as coach in January]. We’ll make whatever changes have to be made. There’s nothing sacred.”

The Islanders did not make Lamoriello available for questions immediately prior to the draft.

The uncertainty after Celebrini will make Friday’s first-round an intriguing process as some teams are likely to have wildly disparate draft boards. That means there’s a decent chance a prospect the Islanders did not expect to be available at No. 20 could still be undrafted.

“Everybody’s probably got a little different list,” Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said. “But in the last number of years, you may have a different order in the top five, top 10. But 32 teams have probably got eight of the guys there.

“[This year], I think it could be all over the place right now. Some really good players. When you have a situation like that, it lends itself to having some fallers, as we’d call them. There may be somebody that you’ve got higher than somebody else does. I think there’s going to be players available.”

Lamoriello’s ultimate decision to keep the 20th pick, trade down for more assets, use it to move back higher in the order or trade the pick for an NHL player could come based on how the draft develops and whether any of the players the Islanders have high on their board are still available.

But Lamoriello’s trade with Chicago on May 24, swapping his original 18th overall pick along with pick No. 50 in the second round to acquire the 20th pick and Nos. 54 and 61, likely signals there are no players in that expected first-round range the Islanders feel they absolutely must have.

“The history of the draft is there’s always risers and guys who fall,” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said. “This draft in particular feels like after six or seven, you get to a really wide range. And that’s going to be team preference. It could be a million different things of what the order goes through and why. But that also really gets into that second round. When you get into the top 45, we really like the players that are there.”

The Islanders also have single picks in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds having traded away their third- and seventh-round selections.

The Sabres could be a team to watch during the draft.

Adams acknowledged during his press availability on Thursday subtracting top-six wing Jeff Skinner from his roster has been discussed. Skinner, 32, has three seasons remaining on an eight-year, $72 million deal that carries a full no-move clause. Adams also acknowledged Skinner’s camp does not seem willing to waive the no-move clause, making a buyout more likely.

Would Skinner, who has 357 goals and 313 assists in 1,006 games with the Hurricanes and Sabres, including 24 goals and 22 assists as he struggled through 74 games last season, be attractive to Lamoriello as an unrestricted free agent who might only command a one- or two-year deal?

The first NHL buyout period runs through Sunday and the free agent market opens on Monday. The Islanders have a little less than $6 million in salary cap space under the $88 million ceiling.

Notes & quotes: Islanders captain Anders Lee, who was announced as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner on May 28 for best exemplifying leadership qualities on and off the ice, was formally presented with the honor at the NHL Awards Show at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Thursday night.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.