Isles won't comment on draft-pick trade report

Here is the statement the team issued earlier today regarding The Columbus Dispatch's report that the Isles offered their entire stock of 2012 draft picks to the Blue Jackets for the No. 2 overall pick, presumably to select D Ryan Murray.

"We do not comment on things of this nature.  We're extremely happy with all of our selections and look forward to their continued development as a part of our organization's future."

This is not a denial. GM Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang, who attends every draft and would have a say in whether to make such an offer, didn't comment other than the statement.

For all of the Twitter... Uh, twitter about this offer, it says volumes about the relative weakness of this draft, even beyond just the top one or two spots. Murray is a more polished, more NHL-ready defenseman than No. 4 pick Griffin Reinhart. The Islanders need current defensemen.

If Reinhart projects as 2-3 years away from the NHL and Murray is ready now or within a year, then you factor in how many of the players drafted in rounds 2-7 will pan out in 3+ years' time -- let's say 1-2 -- and you see why Wang and Snow might be tempted.

Now, here's something else that speaks volumes about the quality of this draft: GM Scott Howson turned this supposedly unbelievable offer down to stick with Murray rather than have the Nos. 4, 31 and 34 picks, among all the others.

I'll be out at Isles rookie camp tomorrow and report back with some info on the prospects in attendance.