10:04 pm: Finally home. Geeze, Hockeybuzz is a little faily. Must be all the Draft talk. Matt Martin also addressed the media after the pick was made and talked about having a new strong D join the group.
So many of the young prospects were taking photos and chatting with the fans that it was hard to see them in the see of Blue, White & Orange.
There is a lot of hope in Islander Country and you can see it. Even though there was one sign that said (and that media outlets were taking photos of - thanks so much) "We don't need a competitive team, we have draft parties." I understand the frustration of the fan base, but it is improving. When you see how the young guys have grown in just one season, you'll know this team will be better next season. They will.
8:13 pm: Matt Moulson said he is very happy with the Visnovsky acquisition. He's played against him and said he will be a welcome addition to the lockerroom.
8:07: Of coruse the net crashed and then we went into talk to Matt Moulson and Matt Martin. I'm very happy with Griffin Reinhart! I called it on 4/11/12.
7:31 pm: Habs get Galchenhenyuk. Okay, now were do we go? Stape says Isles go with Forsberg.
7:25 pm: Well, there goes one big D. CBJ gets Ryan Murray.
7:16 pm: Yakupov to Oilers and Isles make an acquisition of Lubomir Visnovsky from the Ducks fr a 2013 2nd round pick. He said veteran D, he got veteran D. 36 years old $5.6 mil cap hit. Art says good move Garth.
6:59 pm: This is just insane! Don't let anyone say the Islanders don't have fans. They are here and they are crowding around everywhere having a great time. The line for the merchandise is stretched into the exhibit hall. This is just awesome! All to see who the Isles end up with tonight.
6:26 pm: Wow! is it packed!!!! Awesome turn out at the barn. Bad news bears though, John Tavares is stuck at an airport and will not make it tonight. Blame mother nature. She's a bitch.
2:37 pm: Art Staple confirms Garth Snow is working hard to obtain a veteran D during the weekend. Could this be the end of Josh Bailey or Kyle Okposo as an Islander? We all know that unless it's a salary dump by another team, they will want something of value. We may be shedding a few tears by tomorrow as someone leaves the Island.
11:56 am: while the idea of Steve Staios returning for one more season was kicked around in April, it will not be happening. Staios has landed a job with the Leafs in the Hockey ops dept. Congrats to him. He did a fine job with teaching Hammer.
Are you excited?
Do you think you know what will happen? I certainly don't. This year, anything can happen. And by tonight, we'll finally find out. Who will go first overall? They didn't manage to create that Taylor or Tyler buzz as in the past. But it's still going to be exciting.
All the hard work that each NHL team put into their draft decisions (and it is PLENTY!) will be put into play tonight. The chess game begins with the first pick. How many different plans are there? Plan A, Plan B all the way to Plan -- what? M or Z.
There were no blockbuster trades last night as GMs prepared for the draft, but certainly there was conversation. So we wait. And wait. And wait. (Wonder when we find out if that Yandle to the Isles rumor is true.)
BRETT CYRGALIS of the NY Post has this quote from the general manager in his NY Post story.
“All options are on the table,” Snow told The Post. “If we can move prospects to get a player that is going to come in and going to help us and get us where we want to be, we’re going to make that move. It’s a situation where we’ve gone through a rebuild, we have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, so now it’s an easier decision for me to make moves to get us help immediately.
“We’re looking the trade route, and if we don’t have success in that area, then free agency starts in a week.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/islanders/wheeling_and_dealing_67aMKYlqKDAX9rLxP6SO5M#ixzz1yWMQzKSF
The Ferris Wheel at the Islanders Draft Party will amuse the tiny tikes while we await the final word. An estimated 18,000 draft passes were downloaded according to the Isles Twitter account. For me, who doesn't like crowds, that's a little scary. But it does prove just like the guys from Hockey This Morning on XM Home Ice said -- Islander fans are passionate.
I'm feeling tonight they'll be vocal too.
I hope Matt Moulson's plane finally got in at a decent hour and I'm looking forward to meeting some of the Islander youngsters that will be at the party. Yeah, me and 17,999 other people.
Bring money. The blowout merchandise sale usually has some great bargains.
We'll leave this thread open all day as things progress.
Predictions? I've said all along I have a feeling Garth will move DOWN in the draft. I do not know what or who he'll trade for. If the Isles maintain the pick I'm thinking a defensemen, others are thinking best forward available.
No one really knows -- but Garth.
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