The New York Islanders failed their perceived mission this afternoon. The Islanders could not reach any deal for any top seven picks, despite incessant rumors. That left fan-beloved Long Island-Native and current Boston College forward James Hagens free for the Boston Bruins to steal at seventh overall.
The Islanders tried all afternoon to swing a trade for a top pick, but no team wanted to play ball. The Noah Dobson trade remains unofficial. Still, New York landed budding superstar defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick.
The trade leaves the Islanders with picks 16 and 17 tonight. This is not an overly strong draft, and a timeline for anyone taken at picks 16/17 is two to three years away from now.
Instead, the Bruins land perhaps the steal of the draft. Hagens fell from the potential top pick down to the seventh pick. His skating and offensive talent are immense, and he is the best Bruins prospect in a long time.
The Islanders may still flip either one or both of the 16th and 17th picks for current roster players, or keep the picks to bolster their prospect pool.
