Palmieri had 24 goals and 24 assists while playing all 82 games for the Islanders last season. He has 87 goals and 85 assists in 305 games with New York since arriving in a trade from New Jersey on April 7,

This year, of course, the Islanders have won the NHL draft lottery and will have a chance to make their first No. 1 pick since John Tavares in 2009. Darche didn’t tip his hand on whether he’d pursue Long Island-born center James Hagens but did acknowledge the special opportunity of holding the first pick.