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	Isles Take C Petteri Nokelainen
	As we enter into June if your not in the Stanley Cup Finals there's only one other thing: the NHL Entry Draft. As the 21st draws closer islesinfo will be all over the coverage as the Islanders currently hold the 16th pick.

2004 Islanders Selection Board
RD	#	Selection	Pos.	Ht	Wt	From
1	16	Petteri Nokelainen	C	6-1	190	SaiPa Lappeenranta, FIN
2	47	Blake Comeau	RW	6-1	198	Kelowna, WHL
3	82	Sergei Ogorodnikov	C	6-1	185	Tver, RUS
4	115	Wes O'Neill	D	6-4	200	Notre Dame, CCHA
5	148	Steve Regier	LW	6-5	195	Medicine Hat, WHL
6	179	Jaroslav Mrazek	D	6-3	198	Sparta, CZE
7	210	Emil Axelsson	D	6-3	198	Orebro, SWE
7	227	Chris Campoli	D	6-0	192	Erie, OHL
8	244	Jason Pitton	LW	6-2	196	Sault. Ste. Marie, OHL
9	276	Sylvain Michaud	G	5-11	180	Drummondville, QMJHL

Islanders 2004 Picks

1st round - 16th overall
2nd round - one pick
3rd round - one pick
4th round - one pick
5th round - one pick
6th round - one pick
7th round - 2 selections: NYI & PHI (acquired in Mattias Timander deal)
8th round - one pick
9th round - one pick
Total: 10 selections

2004 Draft Day Coverage

Day 2 Preview: Day 1 of the 2004 Entry Draft has come to an end, but there are still some good young prospects available for day two Sunday. Here are a few names that were rated to go in the second round but have slipped just a little:

Defenseman: If and when the Islanders finally do decide to concentrate on their depth problem on defense they may want to take a look at...

D Wes O'Neill           6-4  200lbs    -   Scouts question his decision making
D Dmitri Vorobiev     6-1  211lbs    -   dime a dozen type d-man, but does play physical
D Brett Carson          6-4  220lbs    -   Isles should take a look here. Has great size, needs to get more physical
D David Schulz          6-4  201lbs    -  Big, but doesn't play physical. Some scouts think he's soft
D Jonathan Sigalet     6-1  170lbs    -   Very small for a d-man, but has good skills.

Update 1:30pm: Islanders shock everyone by going against everything they said in the last couple of days leading up to the draft by selecting a European. They select C Petteri Nokelainen from SaiPa Lappeenranta, Finland. Nokelainen made a name for himself this past season playing for the Finnish World Junior developement squad centering a line made up of fellow 2004 draft prospects RW Lauri Tukonen and LW Lauri Korpikoski. Nokelainen was described by the analysts from the draft(Pierre Maguire, Bob McKenzie and Brian Burke) as a "safe and good pick." More to come on the day about the Islanders 2004 first round pick Petteri Nokelainen.

Update 1:20pm: A.J. Thelen goes #12 to the Minnesota Wild because of his ties to the city, he was born there. The Edmonton Oilers took G Devan Dubnyk at #14 ending speculation that they would take Schremp with that pick. Nashville is up at #15 and the Islanders follow.

Update 1:00pm: The top 10 picks have gone by and both C Robbie Schremp and D A.J. Thelen are still available. As expected LW Alexander Ovechkin was selected #1 overall by the Washington Capitals.

Last Bit of News & Notes

- GM Mike Milbury was quoted Friday as saying the sleeper pick mentioned Thursday IS a recognized player, leading many to believe it could be C Robbie Schremp. We will see if Schremp is available at #16 and if he is the kid the Islanders want.

Isles Select C Petteri Nokelainen #16 Overall

June 26: The Islanders pulled a bit of a shocker Saturday, but if you look at their draft record over the last couple of years it's not really a surprise. Once again the Islanders tab a European with their first round pick and for the second time in the last three years select a Finn. Petteri Nokelainen is described as a safe pick that is a very good two way player. He excels in the defensive zone and has good offensive potential. Most believe he'll be a very good second line player with a chance to play on the first line.

From THN:

C Petteri Nokelainen
Born: January 16, 1986, Imatra, Finland
2003-04: SaiPa Lappeenranta
Central Scouting: No. 10 European skater
Here's a guy who has more or less the same skills as the top-rated Finn in the draft, No. 4 Lauri Tukonen, but doesn't use them as well. Petteri Nokelainen plays the defensive side of the game better than the Finns ranked ahead of him, but scouts want more production. The 11 points he had at the world under-18s were not a fluke, but he had great linemates. "He is a good penalty killer and a great team player," said a European scout. The feeling is Nokelainen is a second-line player who will surprise you some nights by showing you the skill and finesse of a first-liner." He competes, has great hands and is dependable and reliable," said an NHL executive. Nokelainen spent the season in Finland's top league and while he did not have great numbers, he established himself as a solid two-way citizen. What's unique is Nokelainen missed some league games because of school. It's usually the opposite case for most players. "He takes his studies seriously," said a scout.
The Hockey News says: Two-way forward. Ranked 25th

Central Scouting Bureau: Petteri Nokelainen

An agile skater with speed, intensity and balance....a complete all-round player....has good size, vision, skills and hockey sense....is strong on his skates....can pass and create scoring chances while under pressure....has good hands....has a quick dangerous wrist shot....can score and makes things happen around the net....a very good competitor....works hard in all three zones....effective forechecker....a strong player who plays a physical game....effective two-way forward....very useful in shorthand situations....a leader on the ice....one of the youngest players in the Finnish senior league this season--a regular SaiPa....started as a winger, ended up playing center on the first unit....member of Team Finland at 2004 World Junior Championships....a solid team player....a good student.

- islesinfo.com's Draft Profile for Petteri Nokelainen

Isles Select RW Blake Comeau 47th

The Islanders finally draft a North American player when they selected right wing Blake Comeau with the 47th pick overall. Comeau was a key member of the 2004 Memorial Cup Winning Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. Back in January Comeau helped Team Cherry win the NHL Top Prospects game 9-3 over Team Orr by recording a record tying 4 point game.(one goal, three assists) The Isles continue to focus on character. Comeau does not put up big numbers but scores at opportune times when the games on the line.

Central Scouting Bureau: Blake Comeau

Is a good strong skater with adequate speed....maintains his balance even when being checked by opponents....makes smart decisions with the puck, rarely forcing the play....although he didn't score many goals, those he did get were often at important times of the game....is very aware of his responsibilities when on the ice....makes good plays getting the puck out of his zone....is a very smart two-way player who is used to protecting a lead....will finish his checks with authority....battles hard in the corners and in front of the net....uses his body well to protect the puck....not afraid to take a hit to make a play....will sacrifice his body to block shots....is persistent when being the first man checking.

- islesinfo.com's Draft Profile for Blake Comeau

Central Scouting Bureau: Sergei Ogorodnikov

An excellent, mobile skater with speed, balance and acceleration....soft hands....very good with the puck....high overall skill level....strong and effective in one-on-one situations....a smart player with a very good understanding of the game....slick moves, creates scoring chances....has a good selection of shots....good, strong competitor who does not shy away from physical style of play....likes to go straight for the net....belongs to Dynamo organization but spent the 2003-04 season with Tver in the minors....gained a lot of experience playing with senior team....can score important goals.

From RussianProspects.com: Recap of WU18 Tournament
Author: Evgeny Belashchenko
June 5, 2004

Sergei Ogorodnikov C (Grade: B-)
Sergei Ogorodnikov centered Russia’s fourth line, skating between Salnikov and Kulemin. Despite a very limited role, the young center showcased his ability to the scouts present at the tournament. He is a very capable puck handler, not hesitating to carry the puck up the ice from the defensive zone. On the downside, Ogorodnikov is not strongly built and struggled in the games against more physical opponents. He has a good shot, but it was his drive to the net and ability to be at the right place at the right time that earned him his goals at the tournament, as they mostly came off rebounds from the shots of his linemates. The talented forward was first in line for a promotion if one of the squad’s top forwards was knocked out of the game for any reason. In the semifinal game against Canada, he replaced Malkin on the top line when Russia’s best player was eliminated from the game with a 20 minute match penalty. While obviously not as capable as Malkin, Ogorodnikov did not create problems on the top line and seemed to pick up his game when given the additional ice time. Ogorodnikov’s performance at the U18 WJC did not boost his stock to the level promoted by some scouting services, but it did solidify him as a solid prospect and a likely third or fourth round pick.

From Hockey's Future: Q&A with Sergei Ogorodnikov
author: Grigory Orekhovsky

Sergei Ogorodnikov is the 12th ranked 2004 eligible European skater by Central Scouting in their mid-term rankings. The 6’2” 185-pound forward is playing for THK TVER of the Russian 2 League this season. He played on the winning Russian team in the recent U-18 tournament in Minsk.

Hockey’s Future spoke with him briefly after the final game of the tournament.

HF: How would you describe how you played at the U-18 World Championship?
SO: In the beginning of the tournament I played very well and then the other part played better. I’m very happy that we won this World Championship. I think that we all deserved this result the way we were playing.

HF: Do you have any expectations for yourself in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft?
SO: I want to be in the first two rounds in the NHL Entry Draft.

HF: How would you describe yourself as a player?
SO: I’m a forward who knows how to score goals.

HF: What are your biggest strengths?
SO: I play intellectual hockey and have good hockey sense. I have good hands and I can beat a goalie one-on-one.

HF: Do you have a favorite player?
SO: Yes. I like Sergei Fedorov and Peter Forsberg.

HF: Have you heard people making comparisons of you and current NHL players?
SO: Some people told me that I remind them of Peter Forsberg.

HF: What aspect of your game do you feel you need to work most on?
SO: Right now nothing because it’s the end of the season. But I need to improve my physical game because I need to be stronger and add some muscle. On my team we don’t work on it enough.

HF: What do you do in your spare time?
SO: Right now I want to be with my girlfriend. I miss her a lot.

From HockeyJournal.com

Scouting report: The slick, elusive Russian pivot is adept at both scoring goals and setting up the play. Flashed an impressive skill set on the international stage against his peers, but had typical transition issues playing against men in the Russian upper league. Not very physical and needs to bulk up.

Projection: Time will tell on this project pick who will require time to develop before he is ready to vie for time in the NHL. Depending on who you talk to, Ogorodnikov could end up being one of the better Euros to come out of the ’04 class.

Scout’s-eye view: “Given his talent and hockey sense, the young forward has been highly touted by some scouting agencies, however, his soft style of play and relatively small size are both areas of concern. In addition, his inability to earn a spot on Russia’s U-18 squad until the U-18 WJC has really hurt his exposure to the scouts. Still, Ogorodnikov has received a lot of positive press in the scouting community. It has boosted his exposure and, accordingly, his stock. The young center will likely be a selection on the first day of the NHL Entry Draft.” — Evgenii Belashchenko, RussianProspects.com

- islesinfo.com's Draft Profile for Sergei Ogorodnikov

Day 2:

Isles Select D Wes O'Neill 115th

June 27: The Islanders finally decided to take a defenseman in the fourth round when they selected Notre Dame towering blueliner Wes O'Neill. The Isles scouting staff believes O'Neill has been much over scrutinized leading up to this draft as just two years ago he was rated as a top ten selection for 2004. They also believe he is a raw talent that has a way bit more to go in his developement. College scout Brian Hunter believes O'Neill will need a full 4 years to develope in college under coach Dave Poulin at Notre Dame. O'Neill was a member of Team Canada's WU18 Team in Belarus.

From THN:

The body is willing, but the brain doesn't always work as well as quickly. That about sums up Wes O'Neill. He is a pro package in waiting when you look at his size, skating ability and blistering shot. "But my big concern is his decision-making at times," said a scout. "He doesn't process the game as well as other top draft prospects. It is the mental part of the game that worries me." O'Neill is a straight-ahead skater who will jump into the rush from time to time. His shot impresses scouts for its speed and accuracy, but he could get it off faster, which speaks to the processing part of the game. "You have to love the size and his mobility, if that is what you are looking for back there," said a scout. Another question mark is O'Neill's meanness. He does not have a real physical presence, although he involves himself in the game. "He has that capability to be a physical force, but you have to get it out of him," said a scout. "He is not a physical guy, but he has the tools to become one. He is not a cruncher, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have it in him."
The Hockey News says: Project defenseman, Ranked 36th

Central Scouting Bureau: Wes O'Neill

Is an adequate skater with a short, wide skating stride....has deceptive speed when in full stride....good backwards skater who pivots well and has good lateral movement....strong on his feet and is hard to knock off balance....will rush the puck out of defensive zone....passes the puck well out of his own end....very good low, accurate shot from the point - used in all game situations....tough to beat in one-on-one situations....has a long reach along with quick stick....reads the play well and gains leverage on the opponent quickly....good peripheral vision....effective shot blocker....knows his responsibilities and is dependable....has very good size and strength....a good competitor who stands his ground and works hard....at times can dominate physically....handles himself well in close quarters....forces the play at the blue line....very durable with good stamina.

- islesinfo.com's Draft Profile for Wes O'Neill