Islanders transfer 1st round draft pick in 2015 to Sabres to complete Thomas Vanek trade

It has been almost seven months since Thomas Vanek was traded by the Buffalo Sabres to the New York Islanders. On Thursday, the deal was made whole with the following announcement: 

The New York Islanders announced today that they will retain their first round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft and transfer their first round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres. The selection was packaged in the team’s deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013.

The Islanders will pick fifth in 2014, and appear to be banking on the fact that next year's selection - in a draft featuring potential superstars such as Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel - will fall well below that range.

Locking up a legitimate starting goaltender in Jaroslav Halak is certainly a good start towards that end.