Howson Hypothetical: Islanders draft offer.

[wr50l]

How badly did New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow want to move up two spots in this year's NHL Draft? Enough to give up all of his team's picks, according to a report.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson selected defenseman Ryan Murray with the second pick Friday night in Pittsburgh, but Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported Monday that the Jackets could've dropped to the No. 4 spot held by the Islanders -- and added six other picks -- if the deal was completed.

The Islanders reportedly offered the Blue Jackets picks Nos. 4, 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185 for just the No. 2 pick. That would have given the Jackets a total of 12 picks -- Nos. 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182 and 185.

Instead, the Jackets took Murray and the Islanders chose defenseman Griffin Reinhart with the fourth pick. The Islanders also used their final six picks on blueliners.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=635992

Would you take all those picks, have reasonable expectations that you can get a quality player at #4 albeit not your first choice, and expect that with 2 early 2nds and 2 early 3rds you can pick up at least a couple of average 2nd liners? Or keep the #2 and go with the guy you've been looking at all Summer? Prioritizing top level skill over the chance to grab some depth.

I think, surprisingly, that Howson made the right choice in rejecting this offer. Outside of the elite 2 or 3 draftees every year the drop-off is remarkable. By the time you get to the 31st pick you'd consider it a success if you managed to select a good future 3rd line or 2nd pair player. Picks 103, 125, 155 and 185 are almost worthless.

[wingsfan77]

I dunno, there's a TON of other moves you could do with all of those picks. I highly doubt they would have made 12 picks, but those picks would have been great supplements to have for trades.

[Ravin]

I think for his job it was the right thing to do. They needed a pick and they needed one to come through. The Blue Jackets drafting was horrible, and by adding Murray, they should get a solid first line dman.

At #4, there were a lot of options still open, but past the second round the draft wasn't deep, and yeah, it was going to be a 3rd liner, 4-6th dman type of draft. They needed the elite level guy. Murray played with the pro's at the IIHF this year, so he can come in next season and play with the Jackets. That is what they need.

[killgod]

Picks 103, 125, 155 and 185 are almost worthless.

Mind you, both clubs suck at drafting, this is simply wrong.

Yer bloody hero Hank went 205. Pavelski, Datsyuk, Demitra, Zetterberg, Alfie, Striet, Rinne, Big Buff, Clowe, Hasek, Gilmour, Robitalle, Hull, Fleury, Bondra, Benn....the list goes on and on about how not worthless those picks are.

[Rudi]

What is even more amazing about the story is the Bluejackets fired their whole scouting team just a few hours after the draft...wtf lol