If in the Florida Panthers starting lineup at any point against the Edmonton Oilers, Kyle Okposo will become the latest New York Islanders draft pick to skate in a Stanley Cup Final. Who came before him?
If in the Florida Panthers starting lineup at any point against the Edmonton Oilers, Kyle Okposo will become the latest New York Islanders draft pick to skate in a Stanley Cup Final. Who came before him?
If in the Florida Panthers starting lineup at any point against the Edmonton Oilers, Kyle Okposo will become the latest New York Islanders draft pick to skate in a Stanley Cup Final.
Okposo was drafted seventh overall back in 2006, spending nine years (2007-2016) on the island, with 139 goals and 230 assists for 369 points in 529 regular season games.
In three playoff runs, Okposo potted seven goals with eight assists in 24 games.
He joined the Buffalo Sabres following the 2015-16 as an unrestricted free agent before joining Florida at this past trade deadline.
Who was the last Islanders draft pick to appear in the Stanley Cup Final?
It wasn't too long ago.
Former Islanders defenseman Devon Toews, who the Islanders dealt to the Colorado Avalanche due to salary-cap issues ahead of the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft for their 2021 and 2022 second-round picks, skated in and won the Stanley Cup Final back in 2022.
The Islanders drafted Toews in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, playing two seasons on Long Island (2018-20).
In 116 career regular season games in Blue & Orange, Toews recorded 11 goals with 35 assists, with three goals and 12 assists in 30 playoff games.
The Islanders ended up moving the 2021 second-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes to take on Andrew Ladd's contract, and the pick became defenseman J.J. Moser.
The 2022 second-round pick turned into defenseman Calle Odelius, who will begin his professional career with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League this coming fall.
Before Toews skated and hoisted Lord Stanley, former Islanders forward Blake Comeau lost in the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals as a member of the Dallas Stars.
After being drafted by the Islanders 47th overall at the 2004 NHL Draft, Comeau spent his first six seasons on Long Island (2006-2011) before being claimed off waivers by the Calgary Flames.
Comeau had 56 goals to go along with 65 assists for 121 points in 261 regular season games with New York.
The Saskatchewan native's last NHL season was 2021-22 with the Stars.
In 2014, Mike Rupp and the New York Rangers lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings. The Islanders drafted Rupp ninth overall in the 1998 NHL Draft, but he never played for the organization because they never signed him.
He re-entered the draft before being selected 78th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He went on to play 610 games in the NHL as an enforcer.
Rupp won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003.
The Islanders had three draftees who appeared in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final with the Vancouver Canucks.
Former NHL enforcer Raffi Torres, who the Islanders drafted fifth overall in the 2000 NHL draft after taking Rick DiPietro's first overall, skated in the Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.
After getting up two games to one against former Islander Zdeno Chara, who was drafted 56th overall in 1996 by New York, and the Boston Bruins, the Canucks ultimately fell in seven games.
Torres played 31 games with New York, with six assists and 16 penalty minutes.
At the 2003 Trade Deadline, the Islanders dealt Torres and forward Brad Isbister to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Janne Niinimaa, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick in the 2003 NHL Draft.
With that second-round pick, the Islanders drafted forward Evgeny Tunik.
Vancouver's starting goaltender Roberto Luongo was drafted fourth overall by the Islanders in 1997, being dealt to the Florida Panthers after just one season (1999-2000, 3.25 GAA, .904 SV%).
Center Olli Jokinen also went to Florida in exchange for Mark Parrish and center Oleg Kvasha.
Luongo was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame back in 2022.
Chara, who will join Luongo in the Hockey Hall of Fame at some point, spent four seasons on Long Island before being dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2001, with forward Bill Muckalt and what became Jason Spezza with the second overall pick for forward Alexei Yashin.
The six-foot-nine defenseman returned to the island for his 24th and final NHL season in 2021-22 as a free agent, mentoring Noah Dobson before calling it a career.
Here's more draftees, per X user @5StevenSiegel5:
Wade Redden: 2nd overall in 1995, lost in 2007 SC Final With Ottawa to Anaheim
Brad Lukowich: 4th rd in 1994, Won 2004 SC with Tampa, 1999 with Dallas
Tom Fitzgerald (NJD GM): 17th overall in 1986, Lost 1996 SC with Florida to Colorado
Pat LaFontaine: 3rd overall in 1983, Lost 1984 SC with Islanders to Edmonton
Pat Flatley: 21st overall in 1982, Lost 1984 SC with Islanders to Edmonton