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ZHL GENERAL MANAGER: |
Peter Kobran |
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General manager Mike Milbury completed an almost complete overhaul of the Islanders in the days between the expansion draft and the entry draft. He traded G Kevin Weekes and the rights to 1999 first-round draft pick D Kristian Kudroc to Tampa Bay for the fifth overall pick and two other selections. Milbury also dealt G Roberto Luongo and C Olli Jokinen to Florida for LW Oleg Kvasha and RW Mark Parrish. The Isles then used the top overall pick in the June 24 draft on G Rick DiPietro, who has drawn comparisons to Martin Brodeur for his puckhandling skills. "We're hanging a lot of our reputations on this kid," Milbury said. "It's gutsy, it may be crazy, but at least we have the courage of our convictions. We have every intention of giving Rick a chance to play for the New York Islanders in the fall." Just in case he doesn't, the Islanders obtained veteran G John Vanbiesbrouck from Philadelphia for a draft pick. The Isles used the fifth overall pick on LW Raffi Torres, the son of a Mexican father and Peruvian mother who scored 43 goals in 68 games in juniors last season. ... Milbury wasn't done, sending LW Josh Green, D Eric Brewer and a second-round pick to Edmonton for puck-carrying D Roman Hamrlik. ... New York lost D Ian Herbers and C Ted Drury in the expansion draft. Herbers was claimed by the Minnesota Wild, while Drury went to the Columbus Blue Jackets. |
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New York Islanders