Islander fan and key contributor to these threads; Danny Lawless wanted to break down the Isles' weekend at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. I said if you want to dig through the dark corners of the internet to come up with info on some of these kids, go for it. Here is what he came up with.

Islanders 2015 Draft Recap

2015 turned out to be somewhat of a coup for Garth Snow and the Islanders. After entering the draft without a pick until 72nd overall, Garth ended up leaving with one of the best hauls of the day. Garth & Co. didn’t take long to get the action started. Snow was able to turn once-highly-regarded defensive prospect Griffin Reinhart into, essentially, two first round picks.

16th Overall – Mathew Barzal – Center, Seattle Thunderbirds - WHL
Widely regarded as a top-10 talent, many seemed shocked that Barzal was seemingly free-falling down through the first round. When Boston was on the clock with three consecutive picks, just about everyone assumed that Barzal had to be one of those three. When Boston failed to select Barzal, Garth Snow jumped on the opportunity to select an immense talent that fell to 16th overall. Snow was able to flip Cam Talbot Griffin Reinhart to Edmonton for the 16th and 33rd overall picks.

What the scouts say:
Matthew Barzal is an offensive forward with very good skating abilities. Has tremendous puck-handling and is poised with the puck, while looking for the perfect pass-option using his strong vision. Owns an excellent wrist shot with a remarkable release. Barzal reads the plays well, looking for interceptions and is not afraid to block shots, playing a reliable two-way game. A complete player with strong hockey sense.
-Elitprospects.com
John Williams - Central Scouting: "He's the best skater I've seen in the WHL in terms of his east-west game while creating time and space with his feet. He has great vision and puck skills."

Adam Kimelman of NHL.com (Apr.20th): "Injuries limited the 5-11, 175-pound forward to 44 games but he had 57 points. A dynamic offensive performer when healthy, he has shown an ability to raise his play when surrounded by better players."

Mike Morreale of NHL.com (Apr.20th): "A fantastic east-to-west skater with the capability of creating time and space for linemates. The 5-11, 175-pound right-shot forward was the top center for the Thunderbirds. He has great vision, puck skills and playmaking ability. He had 45 assists and 57 points in 44 regular-season games, and scored four goals in six WHL playoff games."

- Future Considerations (Aug-14)

“With 7 goals and 23 points in 22 games, Barzal was following up on a nice performance in the Ivan Hlinka tournament (7 points in 5 games, gold medal), with a strong start to the WHL season. Unfortunately some injuries have slowed him down though. The first overall pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam draft, Barzal is an outstanding skater, with top notch speed, great acceleration and outstanding pivots and edge work. He also has incredibly soft hands, great stick handling, and incredible hockey sense and intelligence. These skills alone would make him a dynamic offensive threat, but when you add in his great shot and excellent vision and play-making ability he is the total package as an offensive player. He does need to use that shot more, and would score more goals if he was a little more selfish. He has shown the willingness to play in the dirty areas of the ice, and shows flashes of adding a power game to his offensive finesse and skill after adding some weight this off-season.If he continues to grow and add that game, the sky is the limit for him both in the WHL and eventually the NHL.“
- Ben Kerr – Last Word on Sports

My take: Barzal could very well establish himself as a very good two-way second line center in the NHL. If he does not reach this ceiling, he still may remain a very valuable 3rd line energy player that can kill penalties and chip in a respectable number of points.




28th Overall – Anthony Beauvillier – LW, Shawinigan Cataractes - QMJHL
While Islander fans were still enjoying Snow’s big move that landed them a shiny new toy, Snow made another quality move, trading with Tampa to move up to the end of the first round and make a selection with the NYR pick (…again). Snow flipped the 33rd and 72nd (FLA) overall picks to Stevie Y and the Bolts, in return for the 28th overall selection. Snow selected the diminutive LW from Shawinigan of the QMJHL, Anthony Beauvillier. Beauvillier won’t wow size-obsessed Islander fans with his stature, standing at only 5’10’’ 181lbs, but he will seemingly impress everyone with his insatiable work ethic. In his draft year, Beauvillier finished 8th overall in the QMJHL with 94pts in 67GP, including 42 goals. He was 12th overall in PPG (points per game).

What the scouts say:
McKeen's Hockey:
Beauvillier uses strong puck-handling skills and a strong, low centre of gravity stride to beat his opponents, either coming off the left wing or down the middle.

Elite Prospects:
A dynamic scoring center with good hockey sense. Not very large in stature, but makes up for it in speed, skill, and cunning. A talented puck-handler with good hands: is equally efficient a passer as he is a goal scorer. All-in-all, an offensively minded center that can outplay the opposition in a number of different ways. Needs to work on discipline and getting stronger

Corey Pronman
✔@coreypronman
NYI select Beauvillier (my rank: 21) small but very productive season. Skates and handles puck well, good shot, and plays at both ends.

“Anthony is a player who can play in multiple spots in your forward group, perhaps 11 of the 12, with No. 1 centre excluded. He’s smart, adaptable and reads plays everywhere on the ice in all situations extremely well. He is quick in his head, hands and feet and he competes. Can complement so many different players and that is very valuable.”
- TSN’s Head Scout – Craig Button

“He definitely leads by example. There’s an infectious attitude in the way he plays. He’s similar to Robby Fabbri last year where he’s really relentless on the puck, relentless on the play. He doesn’t quit.”
- Dan Marr – Head of NHL Central Scouting

Beauvillier’s 1.48 points per game ranks him between the first two drafted QMJHLprospects in 2014 in their draft year’s. Beauvillier uses strong puck-handling skills and a strong, low centre of gravity stride to beat his opponents, either coming off the left wing or down the middle.
- Scott Wheeler – McKeen’s Hockey

My take: Beauvillier may have been a tad of a stretch at 28, but it was still a fantastic pick. Today’s NHL no longer requires players to be 6’3’’ hulking beasts (read: Johnson, Tyler). Beauvillier seems to be one of those “all-go, no-quit” types of players while simultaneously having a tremendous amount of skill. Had it not been for his smaller stature Beauvillier could have been a mid-first round pick. His ceiling could be a top-line winger, but a more realistic expectation should be top-6 winger. He will likely have to make the team in a scoring role, however his immense work-ethic may allow him to provide some value as a 3rd line energy player.

82nd Overall – Mitch Vande Sompel – Defense, Oshawa Generals - OHL
With the 82nd overall pick, the Islanders selected Michael Dal Colle’s Oshawa teammate Mitch Vande Sompel. A forward-turned-defenseman, MVS had an excellent statistical year in the OHL potting 12g and 63pts in 58GP for the Generals. He weighs in at an underwhelming 5’10’’ 185lbs but will have plenty of time to bulk up.

What the scouts say:

The second-year defender already logs key minutes in all situations while being deployed in their first defence pairing .. a calculated puckrusher whose entries are clean and effective .. actively joins in the attack and spearheads the rush due to his deft footwork and ability to explode out of the zone .. his skating is elite as he possesses great lateral quickness and is extremely crisp on his edges .. also an outstanding backwards skater who uses his stick almost like an anchor to give him even more power and leverage .. his speed is generated through a series of rapid-fire crossovers .. very agile and quick off the mark in spite of a shorter stride .. powered by a well-balanced and strong lower body however he is not very built up top .. consequently, he can struggle at times along the boards defensively .. his lack of upper-body strength hurts his game, however due to his skating he is able to close gaps quickly which allows him to get on a puckcarrier swiftly .. understands his play inside his own zone .. can quickly side-step an opposing forward and make a quick outlet pass .. an efficient puckmover who doesn’t over-handle the puck .. locates options and has a good sense for when to jump into the rush .. boasts strong offensive capabilities including a clever and sneaky snap shot .. patrols the line effectively and makes quality plays .. Vande Sompel brings a solid set of all-around tools, but needs to stay healthy this season while also gaining strength and proving his durability.
- McKeen’s Hockey

My take: Vande Sompel figures to be an elite skating defenseman with a ton of offensive ability. Size is a concern as he is somewhat small, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he cannot be effective. His ceiling probably comes in at a very good second pairing defenseman that can log first unit PP minutes. Should he not reach this ceiling, he could still be a useful bottom pairing defenseman that can make a good first pass and advance the puck up the ice.

112th Overall – Parker Wotherspoon – Defense, Tri-City Americans - WHL
The brother of Calgary Flames defensive prospect Tyler Wotherspoon, Parker is also a product of the rough-and-tumble WHL. In his 2nd full season with the Tri-City Americans, Wotherspoon netted 9 goals and 42pts in 72GP. Parker weighs in at 6’1’’ 171lbs.

What the scouts say:
A composed, two-way defender…a high-end skater…good acceleration to his stride and excellent top-end speed…uses his skating to create offence…handles the puck well and makes simple but effective outlet passes…possesses a hard shot with a quick release…defensively he is very smart and composed…excellent gap work and a great stick when defending both off the cycle and off the rush…not overly physical at all but does use his frame to protect pucks against the forecheck…nothings seems to faze this kid
- Future Considerations
Parker Wotherspoon is an outstanding skater. He has very good speed and acceleration in both directions, thanks to a long and fluid stride. Wotherspoon also has outstanding edgework, agility and pivots. This gives him the ability to cover a lot of ice, to pinch at the blue line and get back defensively and makes him very hard to beat one-on-one. His balance and lower body strength could stand to be improved, but this should happen as he matures and adds some bulk to his frame.
Parker Wotherspoon has good stickhandling ability and is calm and cool with the puck. Added with his agility he is very good at avoiding forecheckers in his own end, and beating defenders off the rush. He shows the ability to skate the puck out of danger in his own zone, and to join the rush, while still getting back defensively. He has high end hockey IQ and Wotherspoon makes good decisions on pinching in the offensive zone. Wotherspoon has good vision, and has shown some ability to quarterback the powerplay with smart passes. He could stand to bulk up and work on having a harder slap shot and wrist shot.
Wotherspoon has decent size and uses a long stick to break up plays in the defensive zone. He is more likely to use his stick to poke check the puck off an opponent than to physically out muscle them in board battles for loose pucks. This is another area where some added bulk would really help him. That said, his good edgework and explosive first step allow him to throw a big hit if one becomes available. He does have patience though and doesn’t get himself out of position looking for those hits. His positioning is very good and he reads the play well. Wotherspoon is dificult to beat one-on-one due to the good mobility and the quick stick. He forces attackers to the outside, maintains good gap control and protects the middle of the ice. He’s not afraid to drop the gloves and fight to protect a teammate, or avenge a dirty play.
Parker Wotherspoon has the potential to be a top four defenceman who can contribute in all situations, if he reaches his potential. Adding strength and improving balance are the big areas of concern. Some quality coaching to help him make better use of leverage would also be helpful. In terms of style Wortherspoon’s game is reminiscent of Kevin Bieksa of the Vancouver Canucks. As always this is not a talent comparison, but merely one made on the style of game played.
- Ben Kerr – Last Word on Sports

My take: Wotherspoon is another selection with high-end skating ability. He projects as a steady defender that will not “wow” anyone, but will get his job done efficiently night-after-night. I believe his ceiling could be set at a second pairing, all-situations defender. Almost a hybrid of Hamonic and de Haan, if you will. He figures to potentially still hold some value as a bottom-pairing defender if he does not reach his full potential.

147th Overall – Ryan Pilon – Defense, Brandon Wheat Kings - WHL
At pick number 147, Snow selected the cousin of former Islanders defenseman Rich Pilon. Ryan was a player that was expected to go as high as the 2nd round, but for whatever reason free-fell all the way to the 5th round where the Islanders traded up to jump on the opportunity. Pilon weighs in a 6’2’’ 212lbs, already inhabiting an NHL-body. Pilon is a very good two-way defenseman that can play in all three zones while also putting up a very respectable number of points from the backend.

What the scouts say:
Ryan Pilon is an interesting player, and a fascinating contrast to his Brandon Wheat Kings defense partner Ivan Provorov.
Provorov is a Russian, Pilon came from Saskatchewan. Provorov has burst onto the WHL scene as a highly-touted prospect, while Pilon has been in the WHL since he was a very young man, working diligently to improve himself. Provorov is much flashier on the ice, while Pilon is much more of a meat and potatoes, stay-at-home player.
It’s those contrasts that make both players so intriguing, and probably what has helped make them so effective as the top pairing for the Brandon Wheat Kings, the WHL’s best regular season team this past year. Pilon’s a defensive responsible player. He’s very effective at defending the rush, particularly in using his size and deceptive speed to angle players towards the side boards. He’s also a quietly strong offensive presence, with an underrated shot and very effective head-man pass that’s been a useful tool in Brandon’s transition game.
It’s difficult to judge Pilon’s judgment on how (and when) he jumps into the rush or not, because that’s typically been Provorov’s domain and Pilon’s seemingly content to stick to his role in Brandon’s attack. Another potential criticism of Pilon may be regarding his departure from the Lethbridge Hurricanes organization during the 2013-14 season, resulting in his trade to Brandon. However, given the chaos surrounding the Hurricanes during that time – and the other high-profile departures – one could argue that Pilon made the correct decision for his future development.
Ryan Pilon probably won’t go as high as Ivan Provorov in the draft. He’s not quite as proven a dynamic offensive player at the junior level as Provorov, and offense from the back-end tends to get selected earlier than defense. But Ryan Pilon has been a strong defensive player in the Western Hockey League since he was 16, and he’s shown flashes of offensive prowess here and there. He’ll be a strong addition to any team’s group of defensive prospects.
- The Hockey Writers

My take: Pilon already possesses an NHL-ready frame. He isn’t a flashy player and some of his offensive production is likely a product of being partnered with WHL-superstar and 7th overall Flyers draft pick Ivan Provorov. However, Pilon figures to be able to reach a ceiling of a steady 2nd pairing defenseman that can play in all situations.

172nd Overall – Andong Song – Defense - NJ HS
This was a stupid pick that isn’t even worth addressing. The one bad thing Snow did in this draft. 13 picks later the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Nikita Korostelev, a Russian RW playing for Sarnia in the OHL. Korostelev probably has 2nd or 3rd round talent, including a beast of a shot, but fell because of concerns about his compete level and commitment. Snow should have taken a flyer on this kid, this would have made this draft a solid A+. That being said, it was a 6th round pick and it’s hardly deserving of all that much criticism.

My take: Publicity pick so Wang can say he drafted the first ever Chinese-born player. Hoping he makes it to the NHL so we can hear a probably-intoxicated Butch Goring struggle to differentiate between “that Dong Song guy” and Ho Sang.

202nd Overall – Petter Hansson – Defense, Linkopings Jrs. (SWE)
With their final pick, the Islanders selected Petter Hansson, a defenseman with Linkopings Jr. squad. There is little available on this player at the moment. He did manage to score 15g and a total of 34pts in 38GP for Linkopings U20 Jr. team in the SuperElit (juniors) league. He was called up to the big club for 15 games, where he managed to post 1 assist.

My take: Not much to go off of here. We’ll have to keep an eye on the kid and see what happens. Maybe Snow will hit a Zetterberg/Lidstrom/Lundqvist home-run with a late round Swedish player, but it’s unlikely. We’ll probably never see him here, but we can hope.

Summary
The 2015 draft was a glaring success for the Islanders. In a year where they were expected to sit back quietly and wait for their first pick to come at 72nd overall, Snow ended up being one of the biggest movers-and-shakers of the draft.

The departure of 2012 top pick Griffin Reinhart came as a shock to many. However, the emergence of Ryan Pulock as the Islanders top defensive prospect, coupled with a strong season and (extremely limited) NHL playoff showing from Scott Mayfield, gave Snow the wiggle room to deal a prospect like Reinhart. Reinhart’s development clearly hadn’t been at the pace the Islanders wanted to see. Now he will get his shot at being a full-time NHL’er with Edmonton next season.

Snow certainly re-stocked the cupboard with talent this year after seeing the talent level in his prospect pool decline sharply, with the graduation of Strome, Lee and Nelson to full-time jobs with the big club. All in all this year’s draft was one that all Islander fans should be extremely happy with.

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