Both the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets believe defenceman Ryan Murray — who went second overall at last week’s NHL draft — has staggering value.
According to a report by Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, the Islanders offered every last one of their 2011 draft picks to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the No. 2 pick to use on Murray.
The trade would have given the Blue Jackets picks 4, 31, 34, 62, 65, 95, 103, 125, 152, 155, 182 and 185.
While the fact that a team offered its entire potential draft class (seven picks in total) for a single player is almost beyond comprehension, so is the fact that Columbus didn’t take them up on their unprecedented offer.
Without the No. 2 pick they were after, the Islanders picked fourth, selecting defenceman Griffin Reinhart.
Bolstering their blue line was obviously a top priority for the Isles, as they used all seven of their 2011 draft picks on defencemen.
