Islanders Acquire Ben Walter, Pick From Boston

[Thrillhouse]

The New York Islanders have acquired center prospect Ben Walter and a conditional second round draft pick in 2009 from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Petteri Nokelainen.

The 23-year old Walter was the Most Valuable Player of the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence last season, finishing second on the team in scoring with 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 points and a team-leading +23 in 73 games. The 21-year old Nokelainen was 6-10-16 in 60 games last season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).

"Ben Walter is a strong addition to our roster and immediately becomes one of our top prospects," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "Our staff loves his two-way play, work ethic and knack for scoring big goals. Ben is a young player who will battle for a position in training camp and gives us excellent depth at an important position."

The 6-2, 200-pound Walter – the son of Ryan Walter, a 15-year NHL veteran with Montreal, Washington and Vancouver – is entering his third professional season after three years at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Ben has played 10 games for the Boston Bruins over the last two seasons.

In his last season at UMass-Lowell, Walter was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Trophy, given to the best player in college hockey. That season he was 26-13-39 in 36 games.

Nokelainen was the Islanders' first round selection in the 2004 NHL Draft. He played 15 games for the Islanders in 2005-06, scoring a goal and adding two assists.

"Petteri is a talented young player," said Snow. "We wish him the best."

[Isles4life]

Another former first round pick traded by the Islanders, although Nokelainen looks to be a bit of a flop as his offensive skills just never emerged. Walter is a minor league acquisition, but he might actually provide some offensive talent in the event of an injury call-up.

[blackngold]

fukk this

[steg1989]

Meh.

Doesn't matter to me unless he takes a roster spot from Reich or Thornton.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Another former first round pick traded by the Islanders, although Nokelainen looks to be a bit of a flop as his offensive skills just never emerged. Walter is a minor league acquisition, but he might actually provide some offensive talent in the event of an injury call-up.

Agreed.

[dp]

Originally Posted by Isles4life

Another former first round pick traded by the Islanders, although Nokelainen looks to be a bit of a flop as his offensive skills just never emerged. Walter is a minor league acquisition, but he might actually provide some offensive talent in the event of an injury call-up.

I thought Walter looked like a pretty good prospect...Hobey Baker Trophy finalist?

The finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy are ussually pretty good players and some have gone on to great NHL carreers. I think Ryan Miller, Rob Blake, Bredan Morrison, Paul Kariya and Chris Drury have all been finalists.

Give the kid a few years, maybe this turns out to be a nice trade.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by dp

I thought Walter looked like a pretty good prospect...Hobey Baker Trophy finalist?

The finalists for the Hobey Baker Trophy are ussually pretty good players and some have gone on to great NHL carreers. I think Ryan Miller, Rob Blake, Bredan Morrison, Paul Kariya and Chris Drury have all been finalists.

Give the kid a few years, maybe this turns out to be a nice trade.

I'm not saying it's a bad trade, I just don't know what kind of NHL upside Walter has. There have been plenty of Hobey Baker finalists and winners who amount to nothing at the NHL level, so don't read too much into that.