By Warren Kozireski —
Both the New York Islanders and New York Rangers entered the 2015 NHL Entry Draft without first round selections due to prior trades, but Islanders General Manager knows how to get New Yorkers to talk hockey in June.
New York made two separate trades to get into the first round. They selected Matthew Barzal in the first round, 16th overall, with a pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Griffin Reinhart. They also received the 33rd pick in the trade.
12 picks later, they selected Anthony Beauvillier 28th overall after dealing that 33rd selection and the 72nd to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Barzal, who missed three months in the middle of the season with a knee injury, scored 57 points (12 goals, 45 assists) in 44 games last season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. The 5’11, 175-pound forward, Barzal added eight points in six WHL Playoff games.
He was Team Canada’s leading scorer at the World Junior Under-18 tourney in April.
“Giving up Griffin Reinhart, he’s a big asset, and for them to have confidence in me that I can be a top guy for them in the future shows that they really appreciate me and that’s what I wanted,” Barzal said.
“I’m more of a high-skilled centerman whose 200 foot game is improving. I like to compete—that’s my big thing.”
Beauvillier recorded 94 points (42 goals, 54 assists) in 67 games last season with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 5’10, 173-pound forward, added seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven QMJHL playoff games.
“I’ve very excited and very proud to wear the jersey,” Beauvillier said. The center is said to play with drive and at a high pace with a good skill set and lauded for his leadership skills—he was chosen over Connor McDavid for captain at the Top Prospects game.
His older brother, Francis, was a sixth round selection by Florida in the 2012 draft.
