The New York Islanders were active in the first round of the 2008 NHL entry draft, trading down twice to acquire extra draft choices before selecting center Josh Bailey with the ninth overall pick.

The 6-foot, 188-pound Bailey is considered a two-way center with good hockey sense and above average offensive skills. Bailey scored 29 goals and 96 points in 67 games with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL last season.

The Islanders originally owned the fifth pick in the first round but after the Lightning took forward Steven Stamkos, the top three defensemen in the draft, Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pietrangelo were picked by the Kings, Thrashers and Blues respectively. The next two highest ranked players on most draft boards were the offensively gifted but small Russian forward, Nikita Filatov and stay-at-home defenseman Luke Schenn.

Isles' GM Garth Snow didn't covet either of those players so he started wheeling and dealing. Snow sent the fifth pick in the draft to the Maple Leafs for the seventh overall pick and a second and a third round pick. One of those last two picks will be in this year's draft with the other coming in 2009. The Isles will have the option to choose between using the 60th pick in this draft and Toronto's third rounder next year or the 68th pick this year and the Leafs' second round selection in 2009.

Toronto used the fifth pick to grab Schenn and Columbus grabbed Filatov with the sixth pick. On the clock at seven, Snow again felt he could trade down and still get the player he wanted so he pulled off a deal with Nashville to acquire the ninth pick overall and added the 40th pick in this year's draft.

The Predators took center Colin Wilson seventh while the Coyotes grabbed winger Mikkel Boedker with the eighth selection.

Snow finally stepped up to the podium and announced that the Islanders had grabbed center Josh Bailey with the ninth selection. Snow told the Isles' official Web site that he had his eye on Bailey all along and rumors had been circulating at the league's draft headquarters Thursday that Bailey was indeed the Isles' top target. "We kept trading down because we believed we would be able to grab Josh at nine, while also stocking up on more draft picks."

"Josh was the player we targeted from the beginning," Snow said. "He's a center who makes those around him better. He's the type of center we need in our system. Josh has great offensive instincts and can make things happen with his superior vision, character and leadership."

Bailey had played with Islanders' coach Ted Nolan's son, Brandon in Windsor last year. Some scouts compared Bailey's style to that of the Leafs' Matt Stajan. He has also been considered a potential future team captain, especially in the wake of his leadership in the wake of the tragic death of Spitfires' teammate Mickey Renaud last February. Bailey found his offensive game at the junior level last season, increasing his point total by 35 to reach 96 points on the year.

When asked about his own playing style, Bailey told ITV, "I think I'm a good, two-way, play making center-man. I focused on my defensive play over the past couple of seasons and improved on that. I think I have good vision and hockey sense. I think I'm more of a passer before a shooter."

The Islanders now have three or four picks in the second round including the 36th, 40th and 53rd choices plus the option to take the 60th pick this year which the Isles must decide by Saturday morning.

In the third round, the Isles have the 66th overall pick and the 73rd. If they don't take the 60th and final pick in the second round this year, they will have the 68th selection in the third round this season and the Leafs second round pick in 2009.

This year's draft is considered one of the deepest in many years and Snow and the Islanders have a chance to replenish the organization's depth which was reduced after the Ryan Smyth trade in 2007. The possibility of trading some of these picks for a player also remains a possibility.

The remaining six rounds of the 2008 draft will take place Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 AM ET.

ISLES NOTES

A vocal crowd of more than 1,000 fans showed up at the Nassau Coliseum for the Isles' draft party. The majority of the crowd favored taking the flashy Russian forward, Nikita Filatov, but once Bailey was interviewed on the Coliseum scoreboard, the fans gave him a warm ovation. ESPN's John Buccigross acted as host while Isles prospects Robin Figren and Jack Hillen were available to sign autographs and talk to fans.