This Day in Isles History: June 26

June 26, 2015 -The Islanders entered the 2015 NHL Draft without a first or second-round pick, but came away with a pair of foundational prospects in Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier.
Former General Manager Garth Snow was active on the draft floor as he first dealt defenseman Griffin Reinhart, the fourth-overall pick in 2012, to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for the 16th and 33rd overall picks. The trade was contingent on the Islanders top prospect being available and he was, with the Islanders snatching up Mathew Barzal.
After drafting Barzal with the 16th overall pick, Snow sent the Islanders' 33rd and 72nd picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 28th overall pick, which was used to select Beauvillier.

Barzal came blazing into the NHL during his rookie season in 2017-18 as he amassed 85 points (22G, 63A) in 82 games. The Coquitlam, British Columbia native received the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2018, which is annually awarded to the player selected as most proficient in his first year of competiton in the NHL.

In five seasons in the NHL, Barzal has compiled 311-career points (91G, 220A) in 362 games and has led the team in scoring in four of those years. During the 2019-20 NHL All-Star Weekend, Barzal -- who made his second-straight appearance -- dethroned three-time former Fastest Skater Connor McDavid to win fastest skater honors. Barzal beat McDavid by a margin of 0.04 and a lap time of 13.175.
Beauvillier made the jump to the NHL one season before Barzal did. Throughout his six years in the NHL, the Sorel-Tracy, Quebec native has registered 189 points (93G, 96A) throughout 408 career appearances. Beauvillier also has 29 playoff points (15G, 14A) in 49 playoff games, including the OT winner in Game 6 vs the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.

June 26, 2009 - John Tavares is taken with the first-overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Tavares' selection marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Islanders received the first-overall pick.
During his nine years with the Islanders, Tavares amassed 621 points (272G, 349A) during 669-career games and ranks fifth all time in team scoring, seventh in goals and fifth in assists. Tavares was a six-time NHL All Star and served as the Islanders captain from 2013-18.