SPECIAL HNLI EPISODE TODAY @ 3:30 PM!

There will be a very special episode of Hockey Night on Long Island today at 3:30 PM EST. We will be joined by special guests Tom Liodice and Michael Schuerlein, who will be LIVE at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal providing great insight on everything surrounding the New York Islanders. John Tavares, the Draft Party at the Coliseum and all of the other Isles picks will be discussed. As always, listeners can voice their reactions to the Draft by giving us a call, sending an IM or participating in the HNLI Chat Room during the show.

HNLI LIVE Twitter Updates from Draft Party

HNLI Steve will be providing live twitter updates from the Draft Party at Nassau Coliseum tonight with thoughts and observations about the draft. These updates can be followed below or at www.twitter.com/hockeynightli

Twitter Updates

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Alex's Final Draft Thoughts

The stage is set. Thousands donning Orange and Blue will gather tomorrow at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to watch what is sure to be the biggest draft in quite some time for the New York Islanders. It is a draft that will be looked back on for years to come as a turning point, for better or for worse, in the history of the franchise. It is one of the organization's only chances to acquire a true game-changer considering the team's lack of luck in free agency.

So, as both an observer and a fan, I hope the Islanders make the smart choice tommorrow night. There are times for risks and going with hunches, but this is not one of them. Take the guy who has been the consensus number one for years...not the guy who just emerged on the scene. Take the guy who every GM north of border is coveting. Take the guy who has broken records, changed rules, and won international titles. Take John Tavares.

Draft Coverage Archives

With just days leading up to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, be sure to catch up on the last few weeks of Hockey Night on Long Island's coverage by checking out the show page. Only after listening to an hour with Michael Oke of International Scouting Services and an hour with Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank can you say that you a truly ready for this Friday's events.

Chris Botta Joins HNLI Saturday

This Saturday at 3:30 PM EST, Hockey Night on Long Island's coverage of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft reaches a climax as hosts Alex and Steve are joined by Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank. Botta, called the "blog father" by many in the Islanders fan community, is also the former head of public relations for the Isles and is considered the source for Isles news, commentary, and analysis. Make sure to be listening when Botta joins HNLI to discuss the ins and outs of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, the Tavares/Hedman/Duchene debate, the goaltending situation, and everything New York Islanders. HNLI will also be taking your calls, IMs, and chatter in the HNLI chatroom. Don't miss Chris Botta this Saturday on Hockey Night on Long Island!

HNLI Welcomes ISS this Saturday

Hockey Night on Long Island's coverage of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft continues this Saturday at 3:30 PM EST with a guest appearance by International Scouting Services Chief Scout Michael Oke. Mr. Oke will provide both hosts and listeners alike with in depth analysis of John Tavares, Victor Hedman, and the rest of the top prospects. Oke will also discuss the scouting process, who the Islanders should take with the top pick, and the strengths and weaknesses of the draft class. Like always, HNLI's phone lines will be open for your questions and comments. Also available are the IM feature and the HNLI chatroom. So, be sure to join HNLI for another exciting segment of Draft Coverage this Saturday at 3:30 PM EST.

HNLI Announces Draft Coverage: Kicks off Saturday!

Ladies and Gentlemen...Alex and Steve of Hockey Night on Long Island are proud to reveal what we have in store for our official coverage of the 2009 NHL Draft. Over the next 3 weeks, starting this Saturday at 3:30 PM EST, HNLI will feature several guests that are among the best in the business. The lineup is as follows:

June 6th at 3:30 PM EST: Special Guest Scott Cullen of The Sports Network (TSN)
Mr. Cullen is a well-known columnist and blogger for TSN.ca and has a vast audience from across both Canada and the United States. He has guested twice on HNLI before and has provided excellent insight on both the NHL as a whole and specifically the Islanders. We were particularly impressed last time with his in depth knowledge of the Islanders' prospect pool.


June 13th at 3:30 PM EST: Special Guest Mike Oke, Chief Scout for International Scouting Services (ISS)
This marks the third year that HNLI will be teaming up with ISS to provide an exciting NHL Draft Preview segment. ISS is considered an elite scouting and consulting firm and is consulted by every NHL team. This year, with Chief Scout Mike Oke, HNLI will take an in depth look at the top prospects in the draft, discuss who might be sleeper picks, and learn about the entire pre-draft scouting process.

June 20th at 3:30 PM EST: Special Guest Chris Botta of Islanderspointblank.com
Mr. Botta is the former Public Relations President for the New York Islanders and now runs an independent blog covering the team. After just one year of blogging, his work is known around the league for being one of the first to break news regarding the Islanders and being one of the best hockey reads on the internet. On one March day, in fact, his blog received over 1 million hits as he "live blogged" about the Bill Guerin trade hysteria.

All of our experts will be ready to field your questions and comments! So, be sure to tune in for some can't miss hockey banter that all leads up to the 2009 NHL Draft!