Baker's dozen of picks bodes well for Isles

OTTAWA -- The New York Islanders went into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft with a plan; when it was over, the feeling was they had accomplished it.
 
Isles GM Garth Snow did his best Monty Hall impersonation during Friday’s first round, trading down twice and stockpiling draft picks which he turned into 13 selections during the weekend.

Here’s a look at those picks:

No. 9, Joshua Bailey, C, Windsor (OHL) – The Islanders traded down from No. 5 to No. 9 to get the player they said they wanted all along.
 
“Josh was the player we targeted from the beginning," Snow said. "He's a center who makes other people around him better, the type of center we need in our system. He has great offensive instincts, and he can make things happen with his superior vision, character and leadership."
 
Bailey had 29 goals and 96 points this past season for the Windsor Spitfires, and his 67 assists were third in the Ontario Hockey League.
 
No. 36, Corey Trivino, C, Stouffville (OPJHL) – The Junior A star made a big splash at the Under-18 World Championships, when he finished tied for second on the Canadian squad with four goals.
 
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound center had 50 assists and 69 points in 39 games with Stouffville.
 
No. 40, Aaron Ness, D, Roseau High (USHS) – Minnesota’s “Mr. Hockey,” the 5-10, 157-pound defenseman had 28 goals and 72 points in just 31 games for Roseau High School, which he led to a 25-0 record and a section championship.
 
Ness will play next season at the University of Minnesota.
 
No. 53, Travis Hamonic, D, Moose Jaw (WHL) – The 6-foot, 192-pound defenseman had 22 points in 61 games for the Warriors this past season.
 
“He plays an energetic game and has a long legged-type skating style to go along with the willingness to play physical,” said E.J. McGuire, Director of Central Scouting.
 
No. 66, David Toews, C, Shattuck-St. Mary’s (USHS) – The Islanders selected the younger brother of Chicago star Jonathan Toews with the first of three third-round picks.
 
A high-scoring center, Toews had 44 goals and 100 points in 51 games for Shattuck. He’ll play next season at the University of North Dakota.
 
No. 72, Jyri Niemi, D, Saskatoon (WHL) – The Finnish-born defenseman took his offensive-minded game to the Western Hockey League this season.
 
Niemi, 6- 2 and 192 pounds, finished first among WHL rookie defensemen with 14 goals. He also had 34 points.
 
No. 73, Kirill Petrov, RW, Kazan (Russia) – Petrov was NHL Central Scouting’s No. 2-rated European skater, but he slipped due to issues surrounding the lack of a transfer agreement with the IIHF, and the fact that Petrov has three years left on the deal with his Russian team.
 
He was named the Top Forward at the Under-18 World Championships after totaling five goals and seven points.
 
No. 96, Matt Donovan, D, Cedar Rapids (USHL) – The 18-year-old native of Edmond, Okla., had 12 goals and 31 points in 59 games as a rookie in the United States Hockey League.
 
No. 102, David Ullstrom, W, HV-71 (Sweden) – A 6-3, 196-pound forward, Ullstrom had 27 goals and 54 points in 40 games for HV-71’s junior-level team.
 
No. 126, Kevin Poulin, G, Victoriaville (QMJHL) – The netminder posted a 3.69 goals-against average and .887 save percentage on a team that allowed the second-most goals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
 
No. 148, Matthew Martin, LW, Sarnia (OHL) – A 6-2, 180-pound forward, Martin had 25 goals and 155 penalty minutes in 66 games for the Sting.
 
No. 156, Jared Spurgeon, D, Spokane (WHL) – The 5-8, 175-pound defenseman from the Memorial Cup champion Chiefs had 43 points in 69 games.
 
No. 175, Justin DiBenedetto, C, Sarnia (OHL) – The 19-year-old left wing had 93 points this past season, second on his team behind superstar Steve Stamkos.
 
Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected].