The New York Islanders have announced that they will hang on to this year’s draft pick, meaning they will have to give the Sabres their 1st rounder in 2015. New York had the option of giving Buffalo a pick in either this year’s draft or in 2015. The Sabres acquired the pick in the Thomas Vanek trade for Matt Moulson, and now that pick will be used in the 1st round of 2015.

With a rebuild in the process, there are still numerous draft picks involved for players that were traded away.

Buffalo has built up a number of top picks for the next two drafts, and are listed below:

2014
1st round: 1 pick (own)
2nd round: 2 picks (own, MIN-Pominville trade)

2015
1st round: 3 picks (own, NYI-Vanek trade, Miller/Ott trade)
2nd round: 2 picks(own, NYI-Vanek trade)

The Islanders have also signed former Sabre Jaroslav Halak to a four-year deal worth $18M.

This has the Sabres loaded up for picks, especially in next year's draft. If Buffalo can't rebuild with picks like these, I'm not sure what else they can do. Granted, not every pick will turn out to be a jackpot, but odds are that the Sabres will land some great talent.

Either way, if you're rooting for a top pick and hoping the Sabres tank one more year, I think we're all hoping the Islanders do the same. Buffalo has a chance of landing two very high picks in the 2015 draft.

What are your thoughts on this and are you glad the Isles retained their pick? Or would you rather have seen Buffalo get the 1st rounder this year?

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