The New York Islanders selected Seattle Thunderbirds center Mathew Barzal in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2015 NHL Draft on Friday in Sunrise, Fla., at the BB&T Center.
Three other T-Birds also were taken in the draft, wing Ryan Gropp by the New York Rangers in the second round, wing Keegan Kolesar by the Columbia Blue Jackets in the third round and defenseman Ethan Bear by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round.
The Islanders moved up in the draft to select Barzal from the Kent-based team. The Islanders traded defenseman Griffin Reinhart to the Edmonton Oil Kings to acquire the 16th and 33rd selections.
Barzal is the 15th T-Bird to be selected in the first round. The last T-Bird to be selected in the first round was defenseman Shea Theodore in 2013. Theodore was taken 26th overall by the Anaheim Ducks.
Barzal, an 18-year-old from Coquitlam, British Columbia, just finished his second season with Seattle and had 57 points on 12 goals and 45 assists.
He had four goals and four assists in six playoff games. In two seasons with the T-Birds Barzal has 111 points on 26 goals and 85 assists in 103 games. Barzal also is a candidate to represent Canada at the 2016 World Junior Championship.
Gropp, an 18-year-old from Kamloops, British Columbia, has played two seasons with the T-Birds. Last season Gropp had 30 goals and 28 assists to lead the T-Birds in scoring with 58 points. In his rookie season Gropp had 18 goals and 24 assists for 52 points. In six playoff games he had a goal and seven assists.
Kolesar, an 18-year-old form Winnipeg, Manitoba, finished last season with 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points in 64 games. He did not play in the playoffs due to an injury. Kolesar had two goals and six assists for eight points in 60 games in his rookie season.
Bear, an 18-year-old from Ochapowace, Saskatchewan, just finished his second season with the T-Birds and had 38 points on 13 goals and 25 assists. He had a goal and two assists in six playoff games. In two seasons with the T-Birds Bear has 57 points on 19 goals and 38 assists in 128 games.
All four players are slotted to play next season for Seattle. The T-Birds home opener for the 2015-16 season is Saturday, Oct. 3, against the Prince George Cougars at 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
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