The New York Islanders face crucial 2025 NHL Draft decision: Schaefer or Misa? The first overall pick could reshape New York’s future.
Gil Martin breaks down the factors influencing the Islanders’ choice, emphasizing long-term impact over immediate needs. He analyzes the NHL buyout window, potential moves for Pierre Engvall and Scott Mayfield, and explores the connection between prospects James Hagens and Cole Eiserman. The discussion covers draft strategy, financial implications of buyouts, and the importance of projecting player development. Martin also highlights former Islanders goalie Yann Denis’s memorable 40-save shutout against the Devils.
Tune in for expert insights on the New York Islanders’ draft strategy and how it could shape their Stanley Cup aspirations.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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42 Comments
ILOVEEEEEEEEEEEE, MISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!, TRADE FOR HAGINS!!!!!!
MAKE A TRADE , GET SCHAEFFER AND TRADE FOR HAGENS!!!!!!!!, I LOVE BOTH !!!!!
THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF THE DRAFT GET A DEFENSEMAN AT ONE WITH A TRADE AND THEN GET MISA OR HAGENS ALSO!!!!!!!
MISA IS A MACHINE OFFENSIVE ANIMAL!!!!!!
Cole Eiserman, Calum Ritchie, Danny Nelson, Quinn Finley. All forwards. Schaefer is the guy
HIT THUMBS 👍 UP LIKE I JUST DID!!
What was Lou thinking with Engvall. The owners should have told Lou no
I suspect the Islanders will draft Schaefer and then trade for Hagens somewhere in the top sever or eight
Maybe darche in a moment of madness will say the name 'misa' to begin draft night and all will be well? its gonnna be schaefer. too bad with the lottery gift and the g scorer and most well rounded fwd. to come out of ohl in years isles have needed for ions is there for the taking yet isles can't even touch him. So cursed… A draft mistake big time to remember. And if this is more about isles shying away from misa because they can't sell him on isles than that is just pathetic. What makes them think the other ontatio kid schaefer will warm up to isles and wont bolt at first chance? If that is the fear then just take fkn hagens at one. Too bad isles have to pick one or the other and can't have both. Isles can never have their cake and eat it too. And misa seems set on sj to play with his bud cherbyshov again where they can enjoy some sunshine and cali beaches.
And one goof so-called expert thinks 44 is going to b's for 7th pick. 44 isn't getting isles 7th pick.
If I NEVER hear the name James Hagens again, I will be happy. So sick of Hagens.
OMG, these freaks want to give up Nelson, Romanov, Dobson, a 2nd round or any combo for Hagens? He won't be as good as any of them. U KNOW these teams want to trade their 1st rounders BC the talent isn't impressive right. Hagens talk ruining draft for me.
Does anyone remember what Sam Bennett was noted for at the combine? NO pull ups, now look at him, MVP!!! The point I am making, maybe the small Russian kid Gil mentioned yesterday is worth taking a chance on. Strength and size are two different things, yes, but this Russian kid probably can be had for a bargain price, if he doesn’t work out you move on.
This probably isn't an issue and Schaefer is probably as good as everybody says that he is, but I think it bears thinking about that, Schaefer played a very small amount of games this year and he got injured, and we don't know how he would've played had he played a full year therefore we don't know what his draft stock would've been, had he played a whole year or close to a full year. There are many past draft picks that had a number one rating or a very high grade, rating going into that last year, and they didn't have a great last year and their draft stock plummeted 10 or more than 10 places. Case in point, to a certain extent, with Hagens. Yes, Hagens draft stock did not plummet nearly as much, but it did. I get that no draft pick and these are kids or basically kids, is a certainty or maybe even anything close but that's what the draft is and I'm saying to the extent that we can tell. And being that it is an exact science that makes it all the more valuable the way you can properly evaluate these kids, is to see them play and when they can't play, not only do they lose valuable experience, but you have even more limited material, information to make your evaluation.
Schaefer. Rarer commodity,fits the style moving forward w intangibles to boot
Finding his D partner long term the n becomes a very underrated but critical task
If they can get a 2nd pick n grab him with a trade is good. Hagens n Eiserman played together in Prep School, spring hockey coached by Benoit Hogue, & then NTDP. So yes playing together on multiple teams together on same line since about 14 or 15 years old a dew times. My hopes is 1+1=3 N they both excel. So if possible to also grab Hagens without giving up too much it does make sense
There is zero doubt Darche will make a deal to get another pick in the top 10 to get Hagens. Utah, Predators, Bruins seem the likely trade candidates. With major health issues of Josi you can bet Trotz would have interest in Dobson to replace the 35 year old Josi who might have to retire. The Bruins open to dealing number 7….. would JGP , a 3rd this year and the Avs 1st be enough?… I do expect Darche to walk away with Schaefer and Hagens. Even better if we could trade for Howard. This would be very sweet going forward! Except some deals at the draft! Should be exciting. The future is 2 to 3 seasons away. Let’s go Islanders
Enough with Hagens.
Go for the offense of course
Draft mesa!!!
An Islander fan gets a 1 minute- grab anything for free supermarket shopping spree and is asked when he comes out “what did you get? The Lobster, the steak or what?”
Answer: “ I went right for the bag of gummy worms”
At the end of the day there are only 2 impact players in this schaeffer and Misa. I am fine with islanders selecting either them. However for me you always draft the dynamic 2 way defenseman. A player that will impact the game 5v5, PP, PK Defensively. A player who will be on the ice for 25 minutes a game. Unless the forward is generational in talent you always take that 2 way dynamic defenseman. Misa who I think can be very good is not a generational talent.
Good 🌄 , Gil. How are you? Will the Islanders pick Schaffer or Misa. I hope they don't trade the pick. We're not sure who Matheiu Darche will pick for the generator player. The buyout 🪟 opens tomorrow and will close on the 30th. Pierre Engvall is a candidate for a buyout. As I said before, Engvall has been in Patrick Roy's 🐕 🏠 ever since he became Head Coach. The Islanders are considering LI native James Hagens. He played with Cole Eisernman in the development team 2 years ago. Eisernman scored 43 goals, and Hagens assisted on half of them. You're right about one thing, IT'S GONNA BE ONE WILD RIDE UNTIL DRAFT DAY. HAPPY 🎂, YANN DINEEN. He came along when DiPietro got hurt. He made 40 saves and shut out the 😈 in the process. Hear from you later. Gil. I'm going to ⌚️ a classic game 3 or 4 of the 1980 Finals. Once again, congratulations to the 🐈 on winning the Stanley Cup again. They now have a chance to be the 2nd NHL team based in the 🇺🇸 to be a 3 peat next year. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS.
If the #1 overall pick takes 4 years to make the NHL, he’s a bust.
Hey Gil, do you think Sheifer will go to Bridgeport if drafted? Or like all the other picks decide to stay in Jr's or school? Maybe be could motivate the others who aren't that happy being an Islander DP. And was Maggio a bust????
When you have the top pick you're getting a player that will drive offense no matter what. Just like the option of Tavares or Hedman. Both players drive offense for their teams throughout their career. The elite defenseman is more rare than an elite forward. You take Schaefer
You don’t draft Misa Number one, you trade down to get him with the number 2 pick. Drafting anyone but Schaefer number would be moronic. I have no problem fans wanting Misa as our pick, but think about it and all the other stuff we can have if we trade for the number 2 pick.
Good morning team! Gil, it seems the team is leaning toward Schaefer, which in this day and age really doesn't mean anything. I believe, we can speculate all we want. I mean why not, it's fun to try and figure it out. It's my thought they are going to be Schaefer all the way, and in the end, they'll pick Misa. At this point I won't care which they pick. I like them both. We can't lose with either pick. Everyone, have a great day! See you all again tomorrow. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
Thought everyone knew that about Hagens. Of course he played with eiserman
The Flyers supposedly are interested in James Hagens at #6. How about Dobson and Eiserman to San Jose for the #2 pick? Then we pick Schaefer with the first pick and Misa with the second pick. I'm losing faith in Dobson. Boqvist, D'Angelo, Pelech, Pulock, Romanov, on D for the upcoming season. Bring Reilly back on a team friendly one year deal and rotate in and out with Mayfield.
Schaefer is the one player to have when you’re picking number one. 😄🍺
I don't like the rumors i'm hearing regarding the Islanders trading back in the draft. Stick with the number 1 pick.
I’m not convinced there is a divide. Since we won the lotto, I’ve probably done like 6 polls on twitter. In every single poll it was Schaefer by a mile. It wasn’t even close. I think the majority of the fanbase wants Schaefer, and now that that is basically the consensus the conversation has shifted to whether we can or should try to trade up for Hagens.
Misa is the pick i hope
Misa
Darche needs to add some scoring punch via the draft or free agent route. Tough decisions ahead. LGI
Misa misa misa how is this guy not the pick you make im really lost here
The Islanders face a dilemma similar to the "Nico or Nolan" debate of the 2017 NHL entry draft. Who they choose will have the potential to alter the course of the franchise for years to come. Good luck Islanders!
Everyone has been crying for years about scoring but let’s pick a defenseman. Misa is lights out
17 games for Schafer and everyone jumps on the bang wagon. Hagens was ranked 1 for quite some time. So if Hagens hurt his collarbone and was out, then he prob would still be the top pick by that thinking. But the “scouts” dropped Hagens bc his stats dipped a little playing against better competition. Point is. 17 games is not enough to accurately assess a prospect especially after a not so spectacular prior year.
Misa
Cmon man… Misa is clearly the better prospect. Hes more proven, no injuries but MOST IMPORTANTLY it’s much easier to sign a defensive FA than sign a center who can score and facilitate. Misa is the pick, sign 2 defenders who don’t score but are just lockdown players. I get it, we have zero defensive prospects but we can’t score either. I feel like Schefer has a much higher bust percentage. No?
Your team still suck regardless draft tom hanks