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Islanders Trade First-Round Draft Pick To Chicago, Get Three Back In Return

Originally posted on NYI Hockey Now
By Andrew Fantucchio | Last updated 5/24/24

It’s become somewhat of a running joke that New York Islanders president/general manager Lou Lamoriello has become too willing to trade away the team’s first-round draft choices in recent years.

In all likelihood, Lamoriello doesn’t find the quips particularly funny and doesn’t seem to pay mind to them either, by evidence of his latest draft pick deal.

Per an announcement by the team on Friday afternoon, the Islanders made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, sending a first-round pick (18th overall) in next month’s NHL Entry Draft to Chicago along with a second-round pick (50th) in exchange for a first-round pick (20th) and two second-round picks (54th and 61st).

The #Isles have acquired a first-round pick (#20) and two second-round picks (#54 and #61) in the 2024 Draft from the Chicago Blackhawks for the team's first-round pick (#18) and second-round pick (#50), per the team.

— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) May 24, 2024

Following the trade, the Islanders gain an extra pick in the upcoming draft and now own a total of six picks, with one in the first round, two in the second, as well as one in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.

The 20th overall selection, which the Islanders acquired from the Blackhawks, belongs to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks received the pick from the Lightning as part of a deal in 2022 that sent forward Brandon Hagel to Tampa Bay.

Still very much in a win-now mindset, this is the fifth season in a row that Lamoriello has traded away the Islanders’ first-round draft choice. In the four previous instances, the Islanders acquired the likes of Bo Horvat, Alexander Romanov, Kyle Palmieri and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, all of which Lamoriello quickly signed to contract extensions and remain fixtures on the roster today.

Although the Islanders didn’t receive a player back in this particular deal, the added draft capital supplies Lamoriello the assets to make another move, with the draft just over a month away at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

This story will be updated.

This article first appeared on NYI Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

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