


The Islanders acquired more draft capital on Friday, sending their first and second-round picks to the Blackhawks for a first-round pick and a pair of seconds.
Instead of picking 18th and 50th, the Islanders now hold the 20th, 54th and 61st overall picks at the draft a month from now in Las Vegas.
The deal essentially makes up for their lack of a third-round pick, which was traded at the 2023 deadline for Pierre Engvall.
General manager Lou Lamoriello had said at the trade deadline that moving the first-round pick was on the table, but trading it for more draft capital keeps the door open for future trades.
The Islanders have not prioritized draft picks under Lamoriello, who last made a first-round selection all the way back in 2019.
Whether or not they do so this year is still an open question, with the picks representing some of their most valuable assets with holes to fill on the roster.
Giving their system — which is bereft of high-end prospects — a boost with this draft, though, would be a major help over the long term.
And the more picks the Islanders can make, the better their chances of doing that.