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New York Islanders

Draft Lottery: Islanders Stay at No. 13, Projections, Trade?

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New York Islanders

On Tuesday night, the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery took place with general manager Lou Lamoriello virtually representing the New York Islanders.

Lamoriello on His Players, ‘They’re On Notice Now’

After the lackluster 2021-22 season, the New York Islanders finished with the 13th worst point total in the National Hockey League. Per league rules, a team can only move up a max of 10 spots on lottery night with a 2.0 percent chance to “win” the lottery.

However, the Islanders did not move up at all as they will select 13th overall. The Montreal Canadiens won the Draft Lottery.

Per National Hockey Now draft expert Marco D’Amico of Montreal Hockey Now, he had the Islanders staying put at the NHL Draft Lottery. And he had the New York Islanders drafting Cutter Gauthier of the United States National Development Team.

The New York Islanders will look to add of size and skill to their top-6, and Gauthier could be exactly what the doctor ordered. He projects to be a top-6 power forward capable of owning the boards and being very effective in front of the net.

Gauthier has played two seasons for USNDT. In his first season (2020-21), the 18-year-old scored 12 goals with nine assists (20 points) in 32 games played, with a plus/- of -28.

He showed vast improvements in his second season, with 19 goals and nine assists in 22 games, with a plus/- of +14.

Per D’Amico, Cutter Gauthier is a fast winger capable of playing a solid 200-ft game and has the skills to be so much more. His combination of speed and skill is very dangerous when combined with his fearless hunger for the high danger area.

Now, the New York Islanders do not need to keep the no. 13th overall pick.

General manager Lou Lamoriello had spoken about making hockey trades this offseason, and this draft class is not particularly a deep one. Moving up in the draft would have helped the Islanders favor in terms of value, but this pick could still be a piece to a puzzle, whether it is acquiring a top-four defenseman or a top-six forward.

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