The New York Islanders knew their odds of selecting first in this year's NHL Draft lottery were very slim, but they weren't zero and that means they had a chance. After all we have watched huge odds turn into gold in our lifetime when the Pittsburgh Penguins had only a 6.5% chance to select first overall and they beat the odds and subsequently drafted Sidney Crosby with the pick.
The Islanders were the 10th team in seeding but as the numbers were drawn, they were the team who popped up first and will get the #1 overall pick in the draft. The Islanders beat even the Penguins odds as they had only a 3.5% chance of grabbing that first selection.
When the Isles won the lottery all anyone could talk about was the long odds, but quickly afterwards the chatter turned to who would be the top pick. While he isn't regarded as high as a Crosby or McDavid top pick there is a consensus pick. Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer is expected to be selected by the Isles with their top pick.
Schaefer is the top-ranked North American skater at this year's draft. If they decide to go another route than him, they could look to a Hauppauge native, James Hagens who is the third-ranked North American skater.
The Islanders have picked first overall four times in their history. The first being in 1972 when they took Billy Harris. Then the next season they landed Denis Potvin. It wasn't until 2000 when they selected first overall again this time grabbing Rick DiPietro and in 2009, they snagged John Tavares.