Fans should be thrilled that the Islanders are keeping the top pick

When you got the No. 1 pick in any draft, you keep it and take who you think is the best player. Even if you’re the New York Islanders, and you’re not that typical terrible team drafting first overall. 

In case you’re just joining us after a long hockey layoff, you should know the Isles shocked the hockey world when they got the first pick in the draft. But, thanks to the fact their team ain’t half-bad, naturally, speculation rose that they’d trade it. 

A while ago, I called this one as I saw it: Trade the pick, and you’d have gotten off to a bad first impression with this fanbase, Mr. Mathieu Darche. Darche put those rumors to sleep on Tuesday. 

And, while I’d have kept everyone guessing until I turned in the draft card, keeping the right pick’s still the correct move. 

Islanders are now guaranteed to take who they think is the top player

I’m still hoping for Michael Misa, but I’m still thinking it’ll be Matthew Schaefer. I’ll offer praise if Darche rolls with Misa, and I’ll critique if he rolls with Schaefer (or James Hagens). But I’ll also see where he’s coming from, regardless of who he takes. 

You can build a franchise around all three of them, and the Islanders are in a place every team picking No. 1 overall would love to find themselves in. It makes you wonder, if you’re the San Jose Sharks or the Chicago Blackhawks, and if you boasted at least somewhat of a decent team that the Islanders have back in 2024 and 2023, respectively. 

Would Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard have played better? Or at least produced more? Probably. And it’s why Michael Misa could put up 70 points in Year 1 if he goes to Long Island, makes the big club, and stays healthy throughout. 

It’s also why Matthew Schaefer can transform into a playmaker the minute he steps onto the ice if the Islanders go with him. Regardless, you can argue either player will make an immediate impact on Long Island. Celebrini and Bedard were good, but either Misa, Schaefer, or Hagens will enter a situation that’ll give them a chance to immediately produce. 

Keeping the No. 1 pick is more than an ideal move

The Islanders aren’t a good hockey team, because if they were, they wouldn’t be picking No. 1. They’re also not a bad hockey team, because if they were, they’d have had much greater odds to land the top pick. They landed it, but they weren’t supposed to land it. 

Still, because they didn’t make the playoffs and had a lottery pick in the first place, and because they were an older, more experienced team for the most part, it also says they don’t have a franchise centerpiece. No player to build around. 

Solid veterans, a few good prospects, and some young talent at the NHL level? Yes. But there’s no potential game-changer in town. Well, Misa, Schaefer, and Hagens have game-changing potential, among other prospects. 

While there are no guarantees any of them will transform into game-changing players, the point is, you’re putting yourself in position to snag one with that potential. And it’s why keeping the top pick is a genius move.

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