The Isles blogosphere comprises of a solid and unique bunch. To me, there is no better resource to go to for scenarios of what the Isles might do with this coming draft. The Isles hold 10 picks, including 2 2nd rounders, and 2 3rd rounders besides the overall #5 pick.

That, my friends, is a lot to work with.

Without further adieu, let’s get their take before I go into my own prediction plus a dark horse scenario.

Michael Schuerlein, charter member of the NY Islanders Blog Box
Islesblogger.com and Isles correspondent for Bleacher Report

The last time Garth Snow and Ryan Jankowski had the number five pick in hand on draft day, they traded down from five, to seven to nine – gaining a handful of extra picks and eventually landing Josh Bailey.

Does that mean I feel the Islanders will play the repeater and do the same this time around? No, and here’s why: two years ago there wasn’t the amount of talent in the top five, or even top then as there is this year.

The Islanders should have a short list of prospects that interest them – three in the top ten and some that are off the chart. For the sake of time and space here I will limit the three to the most obvious (and my personal picks).

The Islanders need to fill glaring holes in their current and future rosters – namely on defense. My number one choice is Erik Gudbranson with a close second by Cam Fowler. Gudbranson has the size and Fowler size plus play making ability. The other player is the one most talked about aside from Seguin and Hall – I am talking about Brett Connolly. Connolly is another power forward close to the mold of Kyle Okposo, he has the tools to be a force on the Islanders growing list of homegrown talent up front.

However, should any of the players on the top of their chart be snatched up before the Islanders are called to the podium next Friday, I can see them moving down a position or two if they feel they can grab someone later in the round.

One thing is certain, the Islanders will have a pick that will be a compliment to the team they are building on Long Island.

Nick Giglia, Lighthouse Project expert and blogger
LetThereBeLighthouse blog, and HockeyIndependent.com

The Islanders are one of the major wild cards in this year’s draft, and a lot of it will depend on what Florida does with pick 3.  We know Columbus will take one of the 2 big d-men at 4, and I have this feeling Fowler fits right in with their team concept.  If Florida either trades the pick or takes Gormley/Connolly at 3, it will blow the draft board wide open and lead to much more maneuvering.  I say that if Gudbranson is on the board at 5, the Isles take him and Garth Snow offers a prayer of thanksgiving to the Hockey Gods.  If he isn’t, things get more interesting.  Fowler is in demand, but he’s very similar to Calvin de Haan, and with so much talent at the back end of the 1st and beginning of the 2nd, the Isles will probably try to stockpile picks.  In the 8-15 range, the forward corps is very center heavy, so I would see them trying to drop back to 6 or 7 to select a winger.  Nino Niederreiter would be my preference in that situation, but Mikael Granlund, while small, is supposed to have buckets of skill.  Then, the Isles use the extra pick(s) from the trade-down to either jump back into the 1st for a guy like Jarred Tinordi or Charlie Coyle, or they wait to see what falls to them in the 2nd.

That’s what I think: I think Gudbranson is a top target for them, and if he’s off the board at 5 they try to drop back for Granlund or Niederreiter.  I think Florida holds the key to what the Islanders end up doing, and given the depth and fluid rankings the one thing I rule out is an Isles trade-up.

Dee Karl, charter member of the NY Islanders Blog Box
Hockeybuzz.com Isles blogger and the NY Islanders 7th woman

Even though this week Garth Snow seemed to be assuring the hockey community that the Islanders would maintain their #5 pick, when it comes to the Isles, I always expect the unexpected.  If they have zeroed in on a draft candidate they feel has been ranked lower than they think he should be (Nino at 12?); be assured Garth will make another shrewd move.

So this June, I am prepared.

Iwill not be surprised if I hear the announcement “The New York Islanders have made a trade…” leaving Snow & company to ascend  the podium at 7th, 8th or 9th.  (That would be a deal with Carolina, Atlanta or Minnesota.)  IT COULD HAPPEN.  All I am hoping for with the 2010 first pick is a gift – something to take the place of what I really wanted LAST year.  I was in the minority of Isles fans that would have passed on Canada’s chosen son, John Tavares, in favor of Victor Hedman (Who came away from his first season with 4 goals, 20 pts and was a -3. Ouch). However, even Denis Potvin  said that 6’6” defensemen don’t grow on trees.  Well, there’s  a new crop just in with five D in the top 10 and I’m personally hoping the Isles can snag Erik Gudbranson, the 6’4” Ontario native who seems to know what it takes to make it in the NHL.  Well, at least that’s what his coach Doug Gilmore thinks.

Aren’t you glad I’m not making the decision? Me too.

Dominik, Isles blogger at SBNation
LighthouseHockey.com

Not that I’m expecting Garth Snow to clue us in, but looking at other teams’ needs and where the Islanders sit at #5, I’m starting to think Erik Gudbranson would be their guy, if he’s there. They talk about the need for size, so Brett Connolly is a temptation. But they’ve spent the last three top picks on forwards and Gudbranson would fill a size and mean-streak need on defense. Plus, it sounds like he’s one of those solid-to-the-core character guys, which they seem to be building around.

That said, whoever they really like could be a surprise. Maybe they love Connolly (if he’s still there), maybe there’s something about Gormley (likewise) or maybe someone else (Nino? A Russian?). I figure Snow to stand pat at #5 — there isn’t the dire need to restock the cupboard with numbers like there was in 2008 — but would anyone be surprised if he traded down again to get someone they’ve fallen in love with? Likewise, with multiple 2nd and 3rd-round picks, could he package a bunch to move his second pick up to the late 1st round?

We’re doing a mock draft at SB Nation, so we just did a more expansive rationale for selecting Gudbranson at Lighthouse Hockey.

Daniel Bressler
Member of the infamous The 2 Man Advantage

The Islanders need a big defenseman. Its as simple as that. The last few years, whether in the draft or through free-agency, they have stock piled nimble d-men or skilled centers.  Its time to add some bulk to the skill. Yes Travis Harmonic is in the system, and thats the only big kid I think of.  The Islanders are still at least two years away from being a threat in the play-offs. So regardless, whoever of Gromley, Fowler, or Grudbranson is available at number five is who the Islanders should take.  That kid will then have time to develop either in junior, the A, or the NHL and when the Islanders are ready to make an impact, so will he.

Tony Stabile
NY Islanders blogger at HockeyIndependent.com

With no glaring need in their prospect pool the Islanders have the opportunity to take the best available player at number 5. In all likelihood either Brett Connolly, Erik Gudbranson or Cam Fowler will be available when #5 comes around….here’s how I think it’ll happen.

At #3 Florida takes Brett Connolly. New GM Dale Tallon can’t pass up the extremely talented Connolly. As the architect of the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, he built that team on the backs of #3 overall pick Jonathan Toews and 1^st overall selection Patrick Kane. Tallon loves big scoring forwards and Connolly is just that. They have a need for a top defenseman, but after choosing Dmitri Kukilov last June, Connolly makes the most sense here.

At #4 Columbus takes Erik Gudbranson. Fowler would be the home run choice for GM Scott Howson, but I think the safe choice for the Jackets is Gudbranson. Projected to be a Pronger like defenseman, Gudbranson would be an immediate rock on the Blule Jackets blueline and a solid building piece to go along with Rick Nash, Nikita Filatov and Steve Mason.

At #5 The New York Islanders will select Cam Fowler. Fowler is a flashy skater, outstanding passer and his game has so often been compared to Brian Leetch. As with Hall, Seguin and Gudbranson, Fowler is most likely ready for the NHL and sending him back to Windsor for another season would be pointless.  Selecting Fowler would give the Islanders a top 4 of Streit, Calvin deHaan, Travis Hamonic  and Fowler on opening night 2011…add in Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, John Tavares and Kirill Petrov and the Islanders will have a outstanding young core for years to come.

Now I in no way have inside information or will pretend that I do, but my hunch says this is how the top 5 will play out….and I’m sticking to it.

I also feel that whomever the Islanders choose at 5 will impact who they choose at 35. If Connolly drops to 5 and the Islanders take him there, I think they will be looking at some defenseman in round 2, but I strongly believe that the Isles will take a defenseman with that first pick. In the second round I would love to see Garth Snow swing for the fences with the 35^th pick and choose either Kirill Kabanov or John McFarland if either is available. The talent is undeniable for either player and really all that’s needed is a little maturity (actually in Kabanov’s case it’s a lot of maturity). Either way, if either player grows up and shows that maturity, it could be a steal for the Islanders.

Tom Liodice, charter member of the NY Islanders Blog Box
The Tiger Track blogger, and NY Islanders correspondent

Remember the last time the Islanders had the fifth overall selection? Well, that eventually turned into the seventh pick, and then the ninth pick. Ottawa fans at that draft, and Isles fans back home were none too happy with the constant “downgrading.” However rest assured this year in Los Angeles, I have no doubt that the Isles will be keeping this fifth pick all to themselves. So what exactly do they need? One word…SIZE. It’s been a problem for the past few years that really hasn’t been addressed on the back line (I’m looking at you, Brendan Witt). But Erik Gudbranson can bring that size for the long term. At 6-foot-4, 195 lbs. (and has time to fill out more!), the young defenseman can fill a void in the Islanders system that has been lacking for quite some time. But of course, for this to happen, Gudbranson will have to escape the clutches of Florida and Columbus in order to wear the orange and royal blue. Regardless, the card will need to fall right for the Islanders in order for the big boy to land.

BACK TO BD

And now my prediction:

The Isles blogosphere consensus pick. Yet, one problem....

I wasn’t sold on Erik Gudbranson until I met him at game 4 of the Cup Finals in Philly. There is far more at work just besides his Pronger-compared play and size. He is highly intelligent, calm, cool and collected.

If there was a man born to play on Long Island in uneven times and to rebuild with, it is this man.

He exudes leadership and is the type of guy a team could rally around.

The Isles have missed on several high end defenders due to their placement. Bogosian, Doughty, Pietrangelo all were those who they regarded highly. Hedman also was regarded highly but the Isles took the player that would bring all facets along with him…fan excitement and scoring.

Now the Isles have a lot of holes, but a player like Gudbranson might be that one to push up a spot to get unless the Isles are convinced he will drop to them. But what can the Isles even offer Florida or CBJ to do such a move?

The problem here are the two teams in front of us: Columbus and Florida. Both are wild cards, and Florida could even deal for their spot to a team with far more to offer when they feel they are poised for the playoffs with some regular players.

So we also have to consider that Gudbranson will not be there at #5.

This means a change of philosophy in my opinion and you take the next best player overall, which in my opinion is Nino Niederreiter. I am not on the Brett Connolly bandwagon. His injury is something that does affect his value, and I am not convinced he is unaffected by it. I hope I am wrong, because he is a talented kid. I am not on the Russian prospect bandwagon. Isles cannot afford to wait or hope they don’t go to the KHL. Not at the #5 spot.

So you take the best one there instead on offense then you hope the Isles can push back into the top of the 1st of the round dealing some of those 2nd and 3rd round picks to grab a mean Dylan McIlrath or perhaps hope Jarred Tinordi, another physical defender drops to the 2nd round.

Then the Isles have one dynamic forward and an excellent blue chip defender from the draft. Definitely two things they needed.

If Gudbranson is available, you pick him as your dynamic defender and work on catching a gem in the rough of an offensive player by moving up. Or you try to jedi mindtrick Atlanta to get back into the top 10. Or you roll the high school dice with a Brock Nelson at the end of the 1st or even at their spot in the 2nd round.

Isles are willing to move things to get their man, and they have been scouting these kids all season besides just meeting some at the combine. Trust me, they have a plan.

Is it predictable?

I was able to guess correctly they’d move back in 2008 except I thought it was Colin Wilson they were going for. I did predict Tavares, but that was a no-brainer. So I can’t really tout my prognostication skills…. even if I was more accurate than LI’s local paper.

This year…all bets are off.

From Russia with love…

With those KHLers dropping like stones in draft value, the Isles could grab one deeper in the draft in the 2nd or 3rd round to take a chance on. I don’t buy Alex Burmistrov talk one bit. If the Isles bite on a Russian is will not be him, it will be Vladimir Tarasenko who also has expressed interest in playing in the NHL and is rated higher by many, some feeling he is a top 4 pick (ISS). Could Burmistrov drop to 2nd round? Then, well, there is a conversation worth having. First half of the 1st round? Not buying it.

And now for something completely different:

Which brings me to the dark horse scenario. The Isles have two solid goalies prospects in their system: Kevin Poulin and Mikko Koskinen. But a good system has more. A good system and future doesn’t put all their eggs in one or two baskets.

Do not discount that the Isles might have an eye on Jeff Campbell or Calvin Pickard. Or at least some under-the-radar European goaltender that they will look to take in round 2 or 3.

Rick DiPietro, their 15 year man, is a huge question mark after last years assurances all was well, slow rehab, and eventual shutdown. His career is in deep trouble if  the swelling persists. Meanwhile their starter, Dwayne Roloson, will be 41 years old in October and on the last year of his contract.

Garth Snow was a former goalie, so is Mr. Bean Pot Trot himself, Scott Gordon. The Isles brainstrust must be considering other goalie prospects in their system and those in the draft for the uncertain future they are presented.

Folks, don’t discount the goalie factor in this coming draft. I don’t think they will take one early, but do consider it as factor later on.

If they leap at Campbell or later in 1st for Pickard, then know that the DP situation might be quite dire. If they just take someone deeper, then they are just being smart and prudent.

And of course there is the Isles wacky character factor:

Jaden Schwartz, Austin Watson, and Ryan Johansen could be ones that catch the Isles eye on character and talent with their psyche profile pushing up their value. If the Isles move back in the 1st round, could be for one of these surprises. Remember, the Isles use a 180 question personality test and have their psych guy front and center at the Combine. There is a reason for it. There is a chance they can rate someone far higher due to that character, potential plus talent.

- BD