islesinfo - 2002 Draft

2003 Draft

The Islanders followed their renaissance 96 point 2001-02 season with a small step back in 2002-03 as they finished eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 83 points on a record of 35-34-11-2. After a disappointing first round defeat to the heavily favored Ottawa Senators many believed that GM Mike Milbury and the Islanders scouting staff would focus on building up some much needed depth on defense come the draft in late June. But Milbury and crew went against the consensus by using the first four rounds to draft young talent up front. There was plenty of excitement come draft day as Islander fans watched another interesting saga in team history unfold before their very eyes. Bloodlines have played a major factor in the draft the last couple of years. Last year Eric Nystrom, son of former Islander great Bob Nystrom, was drafted 12th overall by the Calgary Flames. This year Zach Parise, a high scoring center playing college hockey in North Dakota and son of J.P. Parise, was rated to go somewhere around the 10-15th pick. Many wondered if the Islanders would select Parise should he happen to slip down or if they would go with another bloodline in Swedish center Robert Nilsson, son of the former Flame Kent Nilsson. The younger Nilsson had made a name for himself with Leksand of the Swedish Elite League in 2002-03 scoring 21 points which broke a league record for rookies which was previously held by current NHL stars Markus Naslund and Peter Forsberg. When the Islanders reached the podium at #15 most observers were shocked to see that Parise was still off the board. With the new pressure of having to make a choice between the two, the Islanders stuck to their guy and chose Nilsson to pull over the orange, blue and white jersey. The Islanders scouting staff, which has become more and more focused on European talent over the last few years, were very pleased to nab Nilsson when they did especially former Islander Anders Kallur: "He will be both a playmaker and a scorer...Nilsson is dangerous around the net and will be a very good power play guy." But not everyone was pleased with the Islanders selection. Many believed the Islanders should have taken Parise, who eventually would be taken at #17 after the New Jersey Devils traded up to take him. TSN analyst Pierre Maguire criticized the Islanders and Mike Milbury for not taking Parise because of him being a smallish player, when in actuality Nilsson came into the draft at the same height and 10 pounds lighter than Parise. Only time will tell if the Islanders made the right decision. But these two will forever be linked together in Islander history when discussing the 2003 Draft.

Left to right: Doug Gibson, Tony Feltrin, Robert Nilsson, Anders Kallur

Hits: In the sixth round the Islanders nabbed defenseman Bruno Gervais from Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL. He impressed so much during training camp that the Isles gave him a three year contract before sending him back to junior on the last day of camp. Unfortunately Gervais tore his knee in November of 2003 when he got his skate caught in a rut trying to make Team Canada for the WJC's. Obviously only a year has past but the Islanders through previous deals had managed to accumulate three picks in the second round. Once again the heavily European influenced Islander scouting staff turned to Russia for their next two picks tabbing right wings Evgeni Tunik and Dmitri Chernykh. It's a bit too early to know really what the Islanders have in Chernykh as he has yet to really apply himself. The Isles scouts were apparently shocked he was still available when he was and quickly selected him. But the real sleeper may be Tunik, who was widely liked around scouting circles coming into the draft. Described as a tank Tunik could one day develop into a pretty good power forward. The Islanders used their third second round pick to select RW Jeremy Colliton of the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders, a good two way depth player.

Turn Back the Clock: It's going to take a good 5 years at least to tell if the Islanders chose the right kid. In 2003-04 both Nilsson and Parise dropped off in production compared to what they did in their draft years.

Hit Play to watch the 2003 Draft

C Robert Nilsson - Nicknamed "Mini-Magic" after his father, former Calgary Flame Kent "Magic" Nilsson. Recorded 21 points with Leksands of the SEL in 2002-03, breaking a rookie scoring record previously shared by NHL stars Peter Forsberg and Markus Naslund. Struggled on the fourth line in 2003-04 recording only 6 points in 34 GP before transferring to Fribourg of the German League. Notched 4 points in 7 games. Signed to play for Djurgarden in 2004-05.
Drafted: 1st round, 15th overall

RW Dmitri Chernykh - Father Alexander played for the Gold Medal winning Russian Nat. Team at the 1988 Olympics. Needs to improve his intensity. Had a modest season in 2002-03 with Khimik in the Vysshaya Liga notching only 9 points in 29 GP. Joined coach Viktor Tikhonov and CSKA Moscow in 2003-04 but was mired in and out of the lineup on the fourth line. Tallied only 4 points in 24 GP and failed to make Team Russia for the '04 WJC's.
Drafted: 2nd round, 48th overall

RW Evgeni Tunik - Described as a tank Tunik currently clocks in at 6'2" and 200 lbs. Improves every year. Recorded 24 points in 42 games with Elektrostal in 2002-03. After scoring 11 points in 10 games with St. Petersburg's 3rd level team in 2003-04 Tunik was graduated to the Elite League squad where he went 3-2-5 in 34 GP. Look for him to improve on that once again in 2004-05. Struggled in the '04 WJC's notching only an assist in 5 games with Team Russia.
Draft: 2nd round, 53rd overall

RW Jeremy Colliton - His hockey sense and good work ethic is what attracted the Isles to him. Has now spent three years with Prince Albert of the WHL going 55-75-130 in 188 GP including 50 points in 62 GP in 2003-04. Has good size at 6'2" and 195 lbs. Suffered a severe concussion on a hit last summer at a Team Canada evaluation camp. Rebounded to make the team. Notched an assist in 7 GP. Had a great playoff with the Raiders notching 10 points in 6 GP.
Draft: 2nd round, 58th overall

RW Stefan Blaho - A Slovak that likes to hit and play the physical game. Recorded 3 points in 7 GP for Team Slovakia at the '03 under 18 WJC's. Was drafted by the OHL's Sudbury Wolves in the CHL Import Draft. Did not have a big impact in his first season in North America going 8-8-16 in 51 GP. Was named to Team Slovakia for the '04 WJC's but did not put forth a good showing going scoreless in 6 GP. Look for improvement in 2004-05.
Draft: 4th round, 120th overall

D Bruno Gervais - The Isles had their eyes on Gervais as far back as January 2003. The high scoring power play specialist on the blueline, Gervais went 22-28-50 in 72 GP with Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL in 2002-03. Played so well in training camp for the Isles he earned himself a 3 year contract before returning to junior. Suffered an unfortunate ACL knee injury in November 2003 that kept him off Team Canada at the '04 WJC's.
Draft: 6th round, 182nd overall

D Denis Rehak - Despite his low scoring statistics, Isles scouts believe he has offensive upside and good size at 6'2" and 200 lbs. Was selected by the WHL's Prince George Cougars in the CHL Import Draft. Recorded only 3 assists in 25 games before returning to play for Dukla Trencin's junior team in Slovakia. There he notched 1 goal in 3 GP. Rehak's father still plays pro hockey in Europe. Likes to carry the puck.
Draft: 7th round, 212th overall

D Cody Blanshan - A project with promise. Has good size at 6'2" and 210 lbs. and plays tough. a product of the USHL, Blanshan joined the Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha in 2002-03. There he notched 5 assists in 38 GP. Decided the NCAA wasn't the place for him and moved to the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers in 2003-04. Helped take them to the Memorial Cup Championship game where the Tigers lost to Kootenay. Had 5 points in 20 playoff games.
Draft: 8th round, 238th overall

LW Igor Volkov - Currently 21 years of age, has spent the last four years with Salavat Yulayev of the Russian Elite League. Went 9-5-14 in 40 GP in 2002-03. Had an even better offensive output in 2003-04 going 11-13-24 in 45 GP. The Islanders believe he is a good two way player and solid along the boards. He has good finish around the net. It's a question mark whether he's willing to come to North America.
Draft: 8th round, 246th overall

1998-2005 Tom Mascioli