Islanders Select Seven Players at 2014 NHL Draft
(photo: fansided.com)
The 2014 NHL draft was held this past Friday and Saturday in the City of Brotherly Love and home of the Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia PA. The New York Islanders, a team that is in need of some serious rebuilding went in having the 5th overall pick along with the 28th, 78th, 95th, 108th, 155th, and 200th picks.
5th Overall – Michael Dal Colle
Dal Colle, an 18 year old left winger currently playing for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. Last season Dal Colle posted 95 points including 39 goals, (of which 16 were power play goals), and 56 assists in 67 regular season games. The 18 year old wound up with +/- rating of +8 and only had 34 PIM. His 2014 playoff stats were just as impressive. Dal Colle averaged well over a point per game, with 20 points in 12 games played.
28th Overall – Joshua Ho-Sang
Perhaps one of the more controversial picks from this year’s draft, the New York Islanders selected 18 year old right winger, Joshua Ho-Sang. Ho-Sang has a reputation of being outspoken and opinionated to the point where he was expecting and preparing himself to not be selected this year. As a result, the Toronto native said he will work as hard as he can for the Islanders to show that they made the right choice and that other teams will regret overlooking him. Ho-Sang currently plays for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. Ho Sang, in 67 regular season games, had a total of 85 points including 32 goals and 53 assists, he also ha s a +/- rating of +26 and 44 PIM. In the 2014 playoffs, he had 3 points in 4 games played.
78th Overall – Ilya Sorokin
Filling a huge need for the organization, the New York Islanders selected 18 year old Russian goaltender, Ilya Sorokin. After trading their second round picks, the Islanders picked up Sorokin with their first pick of the third round. Ilya Sorokin currently plays for Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL and has a 91.9 save percentage.
95th Overall – Linus Söderström
With the 95th overall pick, the New York Islanders selected Stockholm, Sweden native, 17 year old goaltender, Linus Söderström. Söderström, currently playing for Djurgarden JR and is the second goalie the New York Islanders selected in the 2014 draft, hoping to eventually help end the team’s long-running goaltending issues.
108th Overall – Devon Toews
Toews, a 20 year old defenseman currently playing for the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Toews only had 17 points, including 1 goal and 16 assists in 37 games. The British Columbia native wound up with only 10 PIM last season and he ended up with a +/- rating of +9. With numbers not nearly as impressive as the Islanders other draft picks, It will be interesting to see Toews will end up and if his stats will improve.
155th Overall – Kyle Schempp
Kyle Schempp, a 20 year old forward is currently playing for the Ferris State Bulldogs. The Michigan native played 43 games last year and had 10 goals and 15 assists for a point total o 25. Schempp had a +/- rating of + 10 and only 12 PIM.
200th Overall – Lukas Sutter
Center, Lukas Sutter is no stranger to the NHL Draft. The 20 year old, son of Rich Sutter and nephew of L.A. Kings coach, Daryl Sutter, was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2012 draft but did not sign with the team. Sutter currently plays for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. The Lethbridge, AB native had 10 goals and 13 assists in 45 games. He had a +/- rating of -6 and the highest PIM of all of the Islanders 2014 selections, with 74 minutes spent in the box.