Islanders Lou Lamoriello On Drafting Cole Eiserman, Keeping Pick

LAS VEGAS -- After the New York Islanders selected Cole Eiserman with the 20th overall pick, general manager Lou Lamoriello spoke with the media.

Related: Sniper Cole Eiserman Selected By The New York Islanders At No. 20

“We had him rated pretty high," Lamoriello said. "So we were excited that he was there when we picked, so that's all we can say. As far as when people fall everybody has their own preference. We were looking for a certain type of player and we were able to get it.”

That certain type of player is a big-time goal scorer who leads the United States NTDP in all-time goals.

“Well, first of all, he's a pure goal scorer. Let's start off with that," Lamoriello said. "As far as seeing the game differently, everybody sees it through their own set of eyes."

Eiserman will play for a former Islander in Jay Pandolfo, who is the head coach at Boston University. Lamoriello is comfortable with leaving the development of his newest prospect in Pandolfo's hands.

"But what we're most pleased about is he's going to play for a coach that I know. I know what he can do and how we can develop people," Lamoriello said. "So it was a win-win for us. Our scouts were just delighted.”

“He's 195 pounds, young. So he just has to go, mature a little, play and develop. And I said he’s going to a great program and to a great coach.”

With rumors floating around about the Islanders potentially dealing their draft choice, Lamoriello said that wasn't the plan.

“No, we would not move out of the first round,"Lamoriello said. "We felt comfortable when we moved down two picks with what we potentially would have gotten. We actually didn't think that where we were at, we could have gotten him Eiserman) at that point.”

When asked about the importance of making a first-round pick for the first time in half a decade, Lamoriello gave some perspective on what his traded picks turned into.

“It all depends on what you do with the pick and what the results are. I mean, go to statistics. Look at how many first-round picks don't play," Lamoriello said. "So we were in position with the team and we do all the work we did to acquire plays that gave us a chance to win. I don't look into the past, but picks we gave up got us one goal away from going to the Stanley Cup. I’d do it tomorrow. So that's that's the only way I can answer that.”

The Islanders' 2020 pick was traded for Jean-Gabrile Pageau, 2021 for Kyle Palmieri, 2022 for Alexander Romanov, and 2023 for Bo Horvat. All four of those players are important pieces of the Islanders' current roster.

Lamoriello was happy with the trade he made with Chicago, although if he knew Eiserman would be on the board, he may not have made that decision.

“We were able to do it, so it certainly helped. We didn't have a third so it gives us now two seconds," Lamoriello said. "It's always helped. But we didn't feel there was any risk, but had we known that this player would have been there, we might not have done that."

We will speak with Lamoriello following Day 2.