- Aaron Portzline via twitter: The NY Islanders reportedly offered all their draft picks to the Blue Jackets to move up 2 spots according to numerous sources. It would have worked out to 4, 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185 for the #2. It would have gave the Blue Jackets 12 picks total: 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182 and 185.
- BD Gallof via twitter: Gallof thinks the offer was possible IF a few things went the Islanders way, not for Ryan Murray. Nail Yakupov would have been their answer for 1st line winger. Gallof wonders if there were 2 offers made? One for if Yakupov dropped, and a lesser one if Galchenyuk/Murray dropped. Brian Compton via twitter: Compton agrees with Gallof in that if the offer was made, it would have likely been if the Oilers drafted Murray.
- Elliotte Friedman via twitter: Islanders GM Garth Snow on the ‘offer’: “We do not comment on things of this nature. We’re extremely happy with all of our selections”
- Elliotte Friedman of CBC: Friedman believes it was to draft Murray, since they took 7 defenseman in the draft. Friedman looked at past drafts (1990 to 2008) to see how times the #2 pick played less gamesthan players picked at 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182. There were 5 instance, and some are questionable. 1990 had Mike Ricci and Doug Weight over Petr Nedved. 1991 Scott Lachance and Bill Lindsay over Pat Falloon. 2001 Stephen Weiss over Jason Spezza. 2002 Joni Pitkanen over Kari Lehtonen – unfair goalie-skater comparison. 2004 Andrew Ladd over Evgeni Malkin. From 1990-2008 there were 114 players selected at 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185, and only 7 have played at least 400 games.
The toughest thing about this trade is what it sounds like. But, if you think Ryan Murray is worth it, Garth Snow’s offer makes mathematical sense. And it’s also smart for Scott Howson to reject it in a soft draft, because the odds say you’re not getting the extra value desired for such a move.
