UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Two months after the end of another disappointing season, the New York Islanders got busy in the opening hour of the NHL draft as they try to rebuild the franchise.
Shortly before the Edmonton Oilers selected forward Nail Yakupov from Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League with the No. 1 overall pick on Friday night, the Islanders acquired defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky from the Anaheim Ducks for a second-round pick in next year’s draft.
Moments later, the Islanders chose defenseman Griffin Reinhart with the No. 4 pick in the draft held in Pittsburgh.
Reinhart led Edmonton Oil Kings defensemen with 12 goals in 58 games this past season, his second in the Western Hockey League. The 18-year-old Reinhart also added 24 assists.
New York, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2007 and has just one postseason appearance since 2004, picked fourth for the fourth time.
