Islanders trade Griffin Reinhart to Oilers for 16th, 33rd picks; draft Mathew Barzal
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The New York Islanders selected Mathew Barzal with the 16th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
They made the pick after swinging a trade that saw general manager Garth Snow send defenseman Griffin Reinhart to the Edmonton Oilers for both the 16th and 33rd picks in the draft.
Reinhart was selected fourth overall at the 2012 NHL Draft, and has spent most of his time since in the AHL. In eight career appearances with the Islanders, he recorded one assist and four shots on goal. The 21-year-old fell down the organizational depth chart after Snow added both Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy to the mix prior to last season.
2014-15 Stats
| Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Thunderbirds | 44 | 12 | 45 | 57 | 20 |
Overview
Barzal is a strong skater with outstanding ice vision. He's an offensive forward who looks to pass first, as demonstrated by his 45-assist season in 2014-15 for the Thunderbirds.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
He handles the puck with the best of them and features a wicked wrist shot with a deadly release.
He did miss part of the 2014-15 season with a knee injury, which may have dropped his stock a touch.
Barzal had terrific U-18. I see his stock only rising. Some scouts I talked to wonder if healthy all year, would he challenge Marner/Strome?
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 5, 2015
What the scouts are saying
"Difference maker may sum up Mathew. He not only wants to be one, he is one. Always in the 'guts' of the action and he has the puck so much during the course of a game. Smart and really understands what is unfolding and is both quick to take advantage yet patient to let it unfold. Exudes confidence and with a very good skill set, that confidence leads to productivity, both for him and the team." - TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button
"He's the best skater I've seen in the WHL in terms of his east-west game while creating time and space with his feet. He has great vision and puck skills." - NHL Central Scouting’s John Williams
"A fantastic east-to-west skater with the capability of creating time and space for linemates. The 5-11, 175-pound right-shot forward was the top center for the Thunderbirds. He has great vision, puck skills and playmaking ability. He had 45 assists and 57 points in 44 regular-season games, and scored four goals in six WHL playoff games." - NHL.com's Mike Morreale
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