New York Islanders Draft Strategy Unveiled: Will the First Overall Pick Reshape the Franchise?
Gil Martin breaks down the NHL Draft Combine’s impact on New York Islanders’ crucial first overall pick. Top prospects Schaefer, Misa, and Hagens take center stage as Martin analyzes their potential fit. The discussion shifts to Matthew Darche’s surprising core player selections, notably including Alexander Romanov while omitting captain Anders Lee. Martin examines Hudson Fashing’s disappointing season and speculates on his future with the team. The episode concludes with a birthday tribute to Islanders legend Marty McInnis, featuring a memorable two-goal performance against the Flyers.
Tune in for expert insights on the Islanders’ draft strategy and how it could shape their future success.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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25 Comments
I heard that we stupidly might trade away the 1st pick to the sharks and then pass on marton and misa and take hagens like a bunch of idiots. If this is true than I am done with this team unless we get a god trade out of it.
Combine don't mean shit. And wait till the interview sessions come. Maybe misa will woo them with his smarts?
And now word is so-called insiders with insider info from other insiders say sj gmmg is trying to move up to no. one to take schaefer. So what if sj makes an offer for top pick isles can't refuse and no sj is not trading dickinson in a deal? What about sj gives isles one of either 28th or 33rd and say cherbyshov to move up to no. one and isles take misa? cherbyshov would have been a first last draft if not for shoulder injury. And cherbyshov put up 59 pts, in 23 gp on misa'a wing this past season. sj has no d guys after dickinson to deal but they do have young fwds. and picks to move including 28, 33 and 44 to go along with 2 this draft. Maybe other pieces like 24 could be worked into a deal. sj also has haltunen nhl sniper ability with ? skating and musty too. I know this is all hypothetical at this point but if isles could parlay top pick into misa, cherbyshov, and first or high second that would be a nice haul for isles. Misa and cherbyshov-big can get to the net and bury his chances-could be 2/3ds of a top line.
Isles have the top pick of the draft-they control draft. Why just take bpa with other options out there that can make isles offense potent in near future with ritchie, eiserman coming who could form another line? Of course isles could do something stupid, trade down to take hagens and regret passing on misa or with louzer lurking in the shadows take martone because he is big.
Then there is the other scenario-where hawks try to get to one to take misa to pair with bedard then isles foolishly are left with hagens or martone.
Or we can just take Misa
After getting the first round pick, the Isles were lucky again having San Jose at number two, already having a franchise center. If the Isles have Schaeffer and Misa about even, they can have Misa, 62 goals 65 games. With size, vision, agility, skill, he really flies.. and add another/more pieces? What a windfall! Don’t be surprised if they talk up SCHAEFFER SCHAEFFER SCHAEFFER in the meantime, only driving up SJ’s offer. Not interested in Hagens at all. If you don’t get Schaeffer or Misa you failed. Misa had the 5th best season in OHL draft years. Better than Hall, Tavares, D Strome. And is tied with Kane with most goals. Schaeffer wasn’t listed super high last year. Then plays 17 games and is anointed #1? sorry. Misa is the pick. LGI
The fact that we are dedicating money that we essentially have no control over, like Palmieri getting 2 years with an NTC, after next season with what that free agent class currently looks like is absolutely criminal. It makes me sick, any team that hopes to compete in 2 years should be ensuring they have as much money and cap space as humanly possible come July 1st 2026
How can Anders Lee be part of the corp, when he's 34?
When darche was hired they said what they liked about him was his business background specifically marketing and sales and his win now approach. Yesterday darche talked about how much he likes and loves this core and how much he believes in them. That the islanders should have made the playoffs and his goal is to make the playoffs this upcoming season. No talk about taking a step backwards to build something long term. I think darche was hired because he told malkin exactly what he wanted to hear. This team should have made the playoffs and will make the playoffs. I don't think malkin cares about long term and sustainable. Its clear from word around the league that malkin was very upset about attendance. I think there will be changes more so than under lou but I get the sense that the strategy won't be that much differently. Win now. Super hard to thread the needle win now and also build something long term
You talk up Schaefer as much as possible, trade down to 2, get nice compensation and also grab Misa.
I wonder what Darche will be allowed to do. Maybe he should call Lou and ask permission to do things. Sounds about right
Romanov must be retained. Even the fastest teams still
need tough Stay-at-Home Defensemen who can clear out the front of the net
and physically punish the opposing forwards in the corners and behind the net.
Romanov may be the only Defensive player on this team that the opposition fears.
Why isn't Holmstrom part of the core? 20 goals and 25 assists and 24 years old makes him the Isles best young player….by far.
Just because Darche singled out players in a core doesn’t necessarily mean they will not be traded. He simply singled out our best current players. I hope when Darche had conversations with the players that he asked them to be honest and tell him how they feel about being an Islander. How they see their future here on the island. It would be nice to know if players want to be Islanders our they would rather be somewhere else. For different results Darche has to make changes popular or unpopular decisions must be made to ensure a bright future. Schaefer should be the pick! Should the Sharks 🦈 want to flip picks and add their 14:50 next years 1 st rd pick that would certainly be intriguing with next years draft class. I am in the camp of Picking Schaefer and trading Dobson to the Sharks for the second pick. If not the 2nd then the 4 th or 5 th to pick Hagens as well. Then hopefully Darche can land Howard! Adding these players would certainly push our prospects into the top 10 of the league. I might be the only fan who is ok with trading Dobson and Barzal for a better future. Certainly ok to wait for 2 years for younger players to develop and create a long runway of Success.
Good 🌄, Gil. How are you? The draft combine is huge, and it will have an impact on who the Islanders draft. These kids will be subjected to several tests, both mentally and physically. If the Islanders draft James Hagens, he'll have Smithtown native Kyle Palmieri to give him support. If they need a sniper, they'll go with Michael Misa. I can't wait to hear who Matheiu Darche HAS AS HIS CORE. He has Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat, Matthew Barzal, and Alexander Romanov. On choosing Romanov, I'm surprised because Darche is talking speed, and I'm not sure he has Bob Bourne type speed. Why didn't he choose Anders Lee, especially since he's the Captain. You're right about one thing, THEY SHOULD FREE UP SOME CAP SPACE. Hudson Fasching, had a disappointing season. He's 29 years old, and in the 1.5 years, his numbers and hits have taken a hit. He has a 50/50 chance of coming back to the Islanders next year. HAPPY 🎂, MARTY MCGINNIS. He was one of the victims of Mike Milbury's ruination of the team. He scored 2 goals in 4-1 over the Flyers, who to this day, are cursed when they play the Islanders on the road, whether it's at the Barclay Center, UBS Arena, or especially at the Coliseum. Hear from you later, Gil. I'm now ⌚️ Game 5 of the Patrick Division Finals between the Islanders and the dreaded Rangers. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS.
Darche has to free up cap space! Lee, Pelech, Duclair must be traded even just for picks. Just because you like a player doesn’t mean he is a player who compliments the team! The 4 th line has to get bigger! Stronger! Nastier! Gatcomb is a great start. Really would like to see UFA Justin Brazeau signed!
Good morning team! Gil, first things first. Even before the team can entertain trading down, we have to know the players we're going to draft, that player has to be available when we make our pick, and we get great compensation for moving down. The days of the Islanders getting screwed by bad deals is in the rearview mirror. I like Fasching, but he is going to be in his 30s, and his struggling ways makes it kind of an easy decision to make. I truthfully don't see his chances at 50/50. The new Islanders need to set a level of play that players need to stay above for a roster spot. Everyone, have a great day! See you all again tomorrow. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
Scheafer I keep reading that this kid is the 2nd coming Victor Heddman, rewind reverse if we had it to do all over again Heddman would have been wearing a Islanders jersey, I love the islanders I can play hockey, Kids in the draft and favorite team pick me pick me, well dosnt really work like that, Lamarillo really shook things up, he should have traded so many players, Brock lol, he got one outta 4-5 players we were sellers, we all knew this was Coming Let’s hope for the best thanks Gil !!! LGI !!!!
James Hagens is a playmaker, not a pure goal scorer. They already have a playmaker in Barzal. The Islanders need players that can put the puck in the net. I'm fine with trading back and selecting Misa if San Jose provides a king's ransom to get the #1 pick. Otherwise, welcome to the Islanders Mathieu Schaefer!
i feel like there aren't enough people questioning the prudence of drafting an injured player based on a 17 game sample size (albeit a great 17 games) when you have a guy with 35 points per game right behind him
Whats wrong with you guys it has to be misa we have 1 player that can create barzal everyone else dump and chase misa can do it all
You nailed it. It’s an art..not a science
No way taking Hagens over Misa so what he's from long island
Gil, you’re absolutely right on taking the best player. I’d likely go for Shaeffer but there is some reason for concern and hesitation. He was the number one prospect with a 17 game sample size. If this were celebrini, mcdavid, McKenna, etc. there is no conversation. I’m just not fully convinced that Shaeffer is the slam dunk some talking heads claim he is. Misa’s numbers were inflated when playing the weakest teams in a weaker league and Hagens numbers took a hit in college and his lack of physicality and fear in the corners was evident. All this to say, we’ll never know what Shaeffer would have looks like if he never got hurt and we were not certain his skills will take a back seat should he go to college. It’s fair for people to want Hagens being that there are major questions with all 3. I can see why someone would say “just take the kid that WANTS to be an islander” when there’s major questions with all. It’s best to just go with the path of least resistance and take who most think is the number one and call it a day.
Hello Gil. As a non sequitur for today's podcast, did you ever have the opportunity to ask and Islanders from the 1993-94 team, Al Arbour, Bill Torrey, or scribes from that period, what happened in the first round of the playoffs against the Rangers? How does a team stacked with players who could put the puck in the net, suddenly not be able to find the net and get absolutely outplayed by their cross river rivals? Pierre Turgeon, Steve Thomas, Ray Ferraro and the rest of the team didn't show up for a most consequential first round tilt. Embarrassing to say the least.
Understandable that Schaefer won't be performing the bench press. I'm concerned about his shoulder/collar bone issue, but he's still my consensus #1 pick. Misa is enticing but if Schaefer is the real deal, we could have a shutdown D man for the next 15 years. "IF."
Agree would only trade the #1 pick only if the deal knocked Darche’s sox off. LGI