Who should the NY Islanders select if they win the NHL Draft Lottery?

Michael Misa, F, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Michael Misa had as good a draft-eligible season as almost any player in CHL history. His 134 points (62 G, 72 A) in 65 games led the CHL, becoming the seventh draft eligible player to lead the league in points in the last 20 years, and His 62 goals are tied with Patrick Kane (2006-07) for third most by a draft-eligible player in that same time span.

Misa stayed hot for most of the season, finishing with 46 multi-point games and registered a 28- game point streak from December-March.

Given exceptional player status by Hockey Canada, Misa is one of only nine players to receive the honor, giving him eligibility to play in the OHL at 15 years old.

At the start of the season, Misa was considered to be a top-5 talent, but his performance this year has vaulted him into the conversation for first overall. 

The 6’1” forward is capable of playing down the middle or on the wing, and would give the Islanders a potential top-6 forward for the next 15+ seasons.

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

For Islanders fans, James Hagens is the name people are most familiar with.

A Long Island native, Hagens grew up attending Islanders games at the Nassau Coliseum with his family and is a lifelong Islanders fan.

Entering this season, Hagens was considered the top prospect in the draft. He has fallen a bit in the rankings, but due mostly to the play of Schaefer and Misa, not for his lack of production.

Hagens ranks fifth all-time for the NTDP in scoring, trailing only Jack Hughes, Cole Eiserman, Will Smith, and Clayton Keller. At the 2024 U18 World Championships, Hagens' 22 points surpassed Nikita Kucherov’s long-standing record for most points in a single tournament.

This past season, Hagens joined Boston College, playing on a line between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perrault. The Golden Eagles were often ranked the top team in the nation, but fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Hagens finished the season as a point per game player, tallying 37 points (11 G, 26 A) in 37 games.

An addition like Hagens would be something for the fans and organization to rally around. A local kid with high-level playmaking and a built-in love for the organization would do wonders for the franchise