Rangers, Islanders and Devils first round draft targets
New York Islanders: Back to Back (11th and 12 picks)
Joseph Veleno: Center, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Joseph Veleno, 18, was once the most highly-touted prospect in the draft prior to the introduction of consensus number one pick Rasmus Dahlin. He has since quickly fallen off from that regard that he once had. Ranking as the number eight North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Veleno split this season with Drummondville and the Saint John Sea Dogs, still tearing it up by scoring 22 goals and 79 points in 64 games in the regular season, and then five goals and 11 points in ten games with Drummondville in the playoffs.
Veleno is still praised for his talent. He is perceived by many scouts as a workhorse, unselfish, and high-paced, but he will take advantage of an easy chance if he has the opportunity to. He is regarded as one of the best two-way forwards in the entire draft and plays a 200-foot game night in and night out. A comparison for the style of game he plays is Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier.
Veleno would probably slot in as a center for the Islanders, playing with other young Islanders like wingers Kieffer Bellows, Anthony Beauvillier, Michael Dal Colle and Joshua Ho-Sang.
Ty Smith: Defenseman, Spokane Chiefs
Ty Smith, 18, is one of the biggest point-producing defensemen in the draft. The fourteenth ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting put up 14 goals and 73 points in 69 games this season with Spokane. He also put up two goals and seven points in seven playoff games. He also served as the captain for Canada’s U18 team at the U18 World Juniors this season.
Smith is an elite skater for a defenseman in this draft. Standing at 5’11”, he is also one of the smaller players projected in the first round. He is being praised for his speed and hand-eye coordination through the neutral zone as well as his insane shot. He is very similar to Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators.
Smith is a good fit to play in that defense of the future with Ryan Pulock, Devon Toews, Mitch Vande Sompel, and Sebastian Aho.
Just like the New York Rangers, I feel like both Adam Boqvist and Barrett Hayton are fits for the New York Islanders. Boqvist is a fit for the Islanders because he fits the Islanders play style on their defense. Offensive defensemen like Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, and Pulock and Head Coach Barry Trotz would contribute to the progression and maturation of Boqvist. Hayton, just like Veleno, would fit in the Islander’s top-six alongside Ho-Sang, Bellows, Beauvillier, and Dal Colle.