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2014 Draft Day
13th pick in Round 1: Brendan Perlini LW (CAN) 6'2 / 198lbs.
Our scouting team had him ranked 7th so when he was still available, it was an easy selection. We really like his playmaking ability as well as his skating. He has enormous potential.
48th pick in Round 2: Kasperi Kapanen RW (FIN) 5'10 / 165lbs.
We actually had Kasperi ranked 10th on our list so we were shocked that he was still available after the first round. He needs to add some strength but Kapanen has a good work ethic and he doesn't slack off. Those qualities will make him a good fit in our organization.
78th pick in Round 3: Nikolaj Ehlers LW/C/RW (DEN/SWI) 5'11 / 171lbs.
Nikolaj can play all 3 forward positions, and that is a quality attribute in an 18 year old. Like Kapanen, Nikolaj needs to add some muscle as well. His on-ice vision is pretty good and his playmaking ability is excellent.
4th Round: 108th pick: Dmitri Ogurtsov D(RUS) 6'6 / 227lbs.
After drafting forwards in the first three rounds, our 4th pick was a hulking 6'6 227lb defenseman. Nicknamed 'Green' by his teammates, Dmitri is a physically imposing player with decent skating skills. He's a long term project but he could also be a diamond in the rough.
5th Round, 138th pick: Kaapo Kahkonen G (FIN) 6'2 / 202.
Kaapo long term upside is that of an (NHL) backup goaltender. His progress will be monitored closely.
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It should also be mentioned that the Islanders management team continues to overhaul its scouting department as 10 scouts were bought out of their contracts and 9 new scouts were hired. It's hoped that the quality of the scouting department becomes the envy of the league.
With the July 1st free agent bonanza coming up soon, the Islanders are hoping to sort through the mass of available players and hopefully they'll find a gem or two.
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