The Islanders, who finished in last place in the NHL this season, will get the second pick in the entry draft in June, while the Rangers will pick 10th.
Despite a league-high 25 percent chance to win the top pick in the NHL lottery yesterday, the Islanders fell to No. 2 after the Thrashers won the top selection.
“It’s still a hell of a pick,” Isles GM Mike Milbury rationalized. “We’re going to get an excellent player.”
Center Jason Spezza from the junior leagues and winger Ilya Kovalchuk from Russia are expected to be the top two picks, though their order remains uncertain.
Milbury said that he spoke to Atlanta GM Don Waddell after the lottery, but his intentions were unclear. Milbury acknowledged last week that he would be willing to deal the club’s top pick for an established star.
After Atlanta and the Islanders, the lottery order is as follows: Tampa Bay, Florida, Anaheim, Minnesota, Montreal, Columbus, Chicago, the Rangers, Calgary, Nashville, Boston and Phoenix.