Top 3 Islanders draft options ranked (and a clear favorite emerges)

The New York Islanders have three players, among others, vying to hear their name called first when the 2025 NHL Draft rolls around in just two short weeks. And Islanders fans, I’m sure, have their opinions of who their team should pick No. 1 overall. 

In case you haven’t heard, the three primary suspects are James Hagens, Matthew Schaefer, and Michael Misa. All three players have their own strengths, and would be valuable for the Blue and Orange should they join the organization. 

But, which prospect is the absolute best one to consider? Below, I’ve ranked all three of them and gave my honest answer. 

3 - James Hagens, C/Boston College

I completely understand why Islanders fans would love to see James Hagens on Long Island. Who doesn’t want to get behind a local product? Especially one who can lead the franchise back to its glory days not seen since the 1980s. 

Yeah, that’s genre fiction translated into real life and a feel-good story for the ages. But Hagens probably isn’t turning pro this year, and if he does, he needs to be in the AHL first. He was solid at Boston College last season and showed off flashes of limitless potential, but he didn’t produce as well as I’d have hoped. 

Hagens is also a prospect I wouldn’t be surprised to see fall beyond the top three, and as I write this, it looks like Tankathon agrees with that take. So, I get it. And if he landed on Long Island, I’d root for Hagens unlike any other. But there are better options.  

2 - Matthew Schaefer, D/Erie

Imagine, for a second, if you saw vintage Noah Dobson take the ice in 2025-26 and put up another 70 points. That’d be a godsend for the Islanders and their fans. But if you also had Matthew Schaefer on that blue line and on another pairing, you’re giving opponents migraines every time you’re in the offensive zone. 

Who are you putting your best players against? In 2025-26, it would be Schaefer, but once he gains NHL experience, he’s putting opponents in a catch-22. That said, I can also see why so many fans would want to see Schaefer in a blue and orange sweater come draft day. 

But, he’s already shown he can be prone to serious injury, and for me, that’s a red flag. Maybe it’s nothing, or a one-off, but 17 games last season would hurt his stock if I made the decisions. 

1 - Michael Misa, C/LW/Saginaw

If you’ve been reading my recent draft-day articles, you probably saw this one coming. Michael Misa is a versatile player with face-of-the-franchise potential who seemingly puts up a point every other period. That won’t be the case in Year 1 of his NHL career, but if Misa’s not hitting a point-per-game by the end of the 2026-27 season, I’d be very surprised. 

He’s got the blend of versatility, size, and productivity to make an immediate impact regardless of whether he’s playing in New York or California. And with Tankathon landing him at an NHL equivalent of 54.6 points this season, it’s a shocker that his name’s not up there alongside the likes of Connor Bedard (2023) and Macklin Celebrini (2024). 

Okay, maybe he’s not generational talent material, something many saw in Bedard and Celebrini. But if I saw a forward averaging over two points per game in junior hockey, with nearly ideal size for the NHL, and the ability to play center or wing, I’m taking him without even thinking about it.

More from Eyes on Isles