Islanders swap first-round NHL Draft picks with Chicago to add an extra pick
New York Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. Credit: Brad Penner
Lou Lamoriello traded a fifth straight first-round pick on Friday. But this time, the Islanders president/general manager got one back in return as he added flexibility for a possible later move.
The Islanders announced a pick swap with Chicago in which they moved back in both the first and second rounds to add an extra selection. They sent the 18th overall pick along with No. 50 to acquire the 20th overall pick along with Nos. 54 and 61.
The NHL Draft is June 28-29 in Las Vegas.
The Islanders have not picked in the first round since 2019 as Lamoriello has used his top picks to help acquire, in order, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, defenseman Alexander Romanov and Bo Horvat.
Having two second-round picks could provide a path for Lamoriello to put together a bigger trade package. The Islanders have already traded away their third- and seventh-round picks in this draft.
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.
