Mathew Barzal of the Islanders skates with the puck against the Lightning during the first period in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on Sept. 11 in Edmonton, Alberta. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
The Islanders did not have a pick in the first round of the NHL Draft, conducted virtually on Tuesday night.
They do have perhaps this offseason’s top restricted free agent in Mathew Barzal. But both NHL Network analyst Brian Lawton, a former general manager and players’ agent, and NBC Sports analyst Pierre McGuire believe Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello will be able to re-sign his top-line center without having to fend off an offer sheet from an opposing team.