The 2025 draft prospect Islanders fans quietly hope they don’t pick

Ever since the New York Islanders won the draft lottery, fans have had one prospect circled. James Hagens has been the prospect that fans have been dreaming about. A Long Island native who grew up and is a die-hard Islanders fan. He seems like the perfect player for the Islanders to draft, and the franchise icon fans can rally behind.  

However, while Hagens would be a great story, he’s not the best fit for the Islanders. While Hagens is a talented player, he struggled to adapt his game to college hockey in his first year at Boston College. A sign that his game may not translate to the higher level of hockey. 

When you have the first overall pick, you want someone who will shine as soon as they reach the NHL, something Michael Misa will do. But what makes Misa such an interesting pick, and a better option than the other players available?    

Why Michael Misa makes the most sense for the Islanders 

Since being granted exceptional status, Misa has been one of the most dominant players in the OHL. In 132 career games with the Saginaw Spirit, he recorded 91 goals and 118 assists for 209 points. His 2024-25 season was one of the greatest seasons a player has had in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 65 games, he registered 62 goals and 72 assists for 134 points. He also tallied a goal and two assists during the Spirit's playoff series against the Erie Otters. 

While these numbers are impressive, they become even more special when you compare them to other top players. He put up a higher point total in his draft year than Mitch Marner, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares. He was also only nine points shy of Patrick Kane's 145-point season, the highest point total of the past 20 years. 

Sure, just because he has similar numbers to star players does not guarantee he will be a star in the NHL, but it’s encouraging. It shows that he was able to play at the same level as the current superstars played when they were his age. It indicates that this Misa has a high floor and an insanely high ceiling. 

Another area where Misa sets himself apart from Hagens is his ability to play defense. All the talk surrounding Hagens revolves around his offense and how his skill set can be developed to improve his offensive capabilities. However, you don’t hear much about how he impacts his defensive side.     

Unlike Hagens, many are quick to praise Misa's defensive playmaking capability. Both his forechecking and ability to create turnovers have been described as elite. Having players who can do that and do it at a high level is crucial for teams to have success in today’s game. Misa can give the Islanders that edge to go up against the top teams in the league and give them a taste of their own medicine.    

Although it’s not as great a story as drafting Hagens is, if the Islanders want to get their next franchise-changing player, then they have to draft Misa.