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I think the Islanders have got a real good one in Ryan Strome. Brock Nelson has been looking great too. They finally have at least two legitimate top line prospects who could also play the second line center role. Vanek, if he sticks around, could give them a pretty nice top six by as early as next year, and allow guys like Okposo, Clutterbuck and Nielsen to play in their proper roles rather tan being forced into scoring roles they're not made for.
Despite a few really bad draft blunders, they've had a few good ones too, but I suspect after the Vanek trade, if they don't make the playoffs, Garth Snow might be finished there, especially if Vanek doesn't re-sign, and especially if the pick they traded ends up being a lottery pick.
The one very admirable thing about the job Snow has done there, has been waiting on prospects. Despite badly needing to inject skill into the roster both to help the team and to draw fans, he hasn't tried to force prospects in before they've been ready (with the exception of Niederreiter), and look at the result: they've got two potential all-star forwards in Nelson and Strome, another couple good forward prospects in Anders Lee and Taylor Cammarata, and their pool of D-prospects is among the best in the league, including five that have some capacity of potential to be top four defensemen: Reinhart, Pokka, Pulock, Donovan and Pelech. As for goalies, there's plenty of guys with potential, but as of right now doesn't seem to be any one clear heir apparent to Nabakov; they need to address that within the next couple years unless one of the guys in the system steps up.
Despite a few really bad draft blunders, they've had a few good ones too, but I suspect after the Vanek trade, if they don't make the playoffs, Garth Snow might be finished there, especially if Vanek doesn't re-sign, and especially if the pick they traded ends up being a lottery pick.
The one very admirable thing about the job Snow has done there, has been waiting on prospects. Despite badly needing to inject skill into the roster both to help the team and to draw fans, he hasn't tried to force prospects in before they've been ready (with the exception of Niederreiter), and look at the result: they've got two potential all-star forwards in Nelson and Strome, another couple good forward prospects in Anders Lee and Taylor Cammarata, and their pool of D-prospects is among the best in the league, including five that have some capacity of potential to be top four defensemen: Reinhart, Pokka, Pulock, Donovan and Pelech. As for goalies, there's plenty of guys with potential, but as of right now doesn't seem to be any one clear heir apparent to Nabakov; they need to address that within the next couple years unless one of the guys in the system steps up.
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