The one closest to joining the big club is not defenseman Calle Odelius, the first selection the Islanders made at 65th overall, but rather fifth-rounder Matt Maggio.
In a different year, this NHL draft might have been considered the chase for Adam Fantilli as the top pick rather than the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. Fantilli's got the size at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, and a proven ability to put the puck in the net. The pandemic led the Canadian to the U.S., where he became only the third freshman to win college hockey's Hobey Baker player of the year award joining Jack Eichel (2015) and Hall of Famer Paul Kariya (1993).