The New York Islanders shake up NHL Draft with first overall pick and blockbuster trade. Is this the start of a new era for the franchise?
Host Gil Martin breaks down the Islanders’ selection of Matthew Schaefer as the top pick, analyzing his potential impact on the blue line. The discussion covers the surprising Noah Dobson trade to the Montreal Canadiens, resulting in two first-round picks that brought Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson to Long Island. Martin examines how these moves reshape the Islanders’ prospect pool and cap situation.
Tune in for an in-depth look at how these draft-day decisions could change the trajectory of the New York Islanders for years to come.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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36 Comments
are they doing orang and white scrimmage twin rinks this year?
Agree completely with your assessment, Gil, and finally, lol, some islander news that meets the hyperbolic show titles you’ve been using recently. Keep up the great work, let’s go Islanders!
we can't be done either…we have a bunch of cap now to work with not signing dobson. so some other pieces should come over before next year
Eklund has the ability to be the best forward from this draft . Certainly, better than baby hagens. He top line speed, physicality in his north -south game, great shot. However he weighs 158lbs which is a concern. Kashawn I see more of a bottom defenceman who brings toughness and physicality but he has below average skating. For me he is a younger and cheaper mayfield. Real value in that
Habs fan here. You'll love Heineman, he's an absolute beauty.
Good Saturday 🌄, Gil. How are you? The Islanders drafted Matthew Schaffer 1st overall in the draft. He's only 17 years old , and he's an all-around player. He seems very mature. I, too, wish Michael Misa, who got drafted by the San Jose 🦈 and Happague native James Hagens, who was drafted by the Boston Bruins. Matheiu Darche is killing it so far. The Islanders traded Noah Dobson to Montreal for Victor Eklund. He has a brother who plays for the 🦈. They also drafted Kashaun Aitcheson, a 6'2, and weighs 199 lbs. The Islanders have lacked someone like this BIG ⏲️. The Islanders also Emil Heiliman in the Noah Dobson trade. Heiliman is 23 years old, he can put the puck in the net, and he can hit monster style. HAPPY 🎂, MIKE SILLINGER. He was a journeyman who played his 1,000th game in an Islander uniform. He scored 2 goals in a win over the 🐧. Hear from you later, Gil, but before I go, let me just say this. The last time the Islanders drafted a 17 year old kid, he was drafted 22nd in the 2nd Round, and sent back to Lethbridge to grow more in the mind and in the body. It turned out to be the best 💊 he ever took. Will Schaffer go to juniors, or stay in 🏫 THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS. It's going to be Interesting to see 👀 how they do today.
Where the hell is Bauer? I'm about to check to see if he's on the locked on sharks channel following Misa 😂😂😂😂
I love this. Go back and look at every devastating goal in the playoffs against Carolina Noah Dobson was muscled off the puck at some point.
Depending on how the season goes if we are sellers again then we could very well get another 1st and 2nd round pick for pageau and lee in a more stacked class, add Isaac Howard to the mix and we could very well have the best prospect pool in the league and be setup for long term success. We have extra cap space now to work with, do we go for ekblad? Or sign Tony D to a cheap 1 year deal and get either boeser or ehlers?
Great 1st round for the Isles and seeing Schaefer so emotional and so well spoken was heartfelt, without even mentioning his immense talent. Hagens would have been icing on the cake, but I'm sure other teams were either asking for too much or didn't want to move down and risk losing a player they really wanted, but Eklund and Aitcheson are fantastic picks, so Darche did a great job. The Isles are building a solid young core to maybe not challenge for a Cup right away, but within the next 4 to 5 years, they could be Cup contenders for sure. On a sad note, Schaefers late mother was from my city, so my city does have ties to the Schaefer family and we wish him all the best. I've been an Islanders diehard since 1976 when my favorite Soo Greyhounds player Mike Kaszycki was drafted in round 2 by New York. Lets Go Islanders !!!!
I am very pleased with what transpired last night. Lots of hope for the future! LGI
I love that Darch did not cave in and overpay for Hagens. Solid draft at least Darch addresses the media not like Lou ser.
Very happy with taking Schaefer…need to make a deal to get Kyrou or Robertson now.
He should go to College. He needs to play more
Ever since we won the draft lottery, I haven't seen even one mention of Bryan Berard in 1995. Granted, he wasn't the Isles first overall pick, but he was the first overall pick by Ottawa. The Isles traded for him during the 95-96 season for the player we took second overall: Wade Redden. Berard went on to lead the Isles defense scoring for the 96-97 season with 48 points for 9th in the League, winning the Calder….beating out Jarome Iginla.
Then he was Milburied.
December 5th 2 months into the season, Misa 18 points , Matthew in college, AHL, OHL, not in the NHL….could be injured, overmatched where ever he plays…Meanwhile Misa just moving on up…..
Congrats on picking Schaefer. I didn't believe the front office would trade this pick to San Jose as some Sharks fans vlogs seemed to suggest the Islanders would or should.
Never thought they would overpay for Hagens. Who cares where he is from ? Maybe he can be like that #91 guy and post a picture of himself wearing Islanders pajamas as he signs here as a free agent in 7 years.
Dobson was not worth what he got. They did well with the 3 guys they got yesterday.
I assume that Dobson's salary is 9.9MCAD – If that's true, this equates to $7MUS…
Great day for the Isles. Two number ones for Dobson was an absolute steal. Let’s see what free agency brings.
misa ROY as isles wait it out. 8 moved for no scoring help. So i ask once again where is the much needed scoring help? let me guess? big ufa hunting will land marner and a d man to replace 8. I knew this shit was coming. Its gonna be frustrating as every pick wont pan out. And milbury gathered all those firsts including 4 one draft and how did that work out? milbury didn't want to wait and moved some of them for help. and most of them outside of luongo didn't turn into legit nhl'ers so there is that. This is just the beginning of a frustrating process that could have been avoided if a dufus gm didn't neglect the future so much to keep his gang together. And every pick that struggles or doesn't pan out slows the process even more.
I think they are too young to be drafted age should go up to 19 years old that's when they are .ore nature and better 17 too young even 18
Don't forget come Ritchie from Colorado
Trade return for Dobson was underwhelming. Darche couldn’t even get one of their top prospects? Seriously a third or fourth liner because we don’t have enough of them. Not even a draft pick for next seasons loaded draft. SMH Dobson trade going to be worse than toews. Wait and see
Aitchason will be amazing in the nhl. I am so glad the isles got him
Hi Gil! I fell in love with this kid! I feel many, many, many did! He is a classy kid and my heart goes out to him. Bottom line—-monumental draft!! These two other kids were really excellent choices. We finally have a real Gm!! Refused to overpay pay for Dobson and Hagens. Made great selections——Lee and Pageau will be traded this season sooner or later. Palmeri got lucky with that other guy or he’d be gone too. Schaefer, Eiserman, Ritchie, Nelson, George, help is in the way! We may have to go threw some growing pains but I feel we will be ready to win and be a true contender in 3/4 years. They now have money to acquire good talent come July 1st——-or save it for next year. Good things are on the horizon! Our Gm showed us a lot yesterday! This kid will be very, very special! Take care Gil! We will be back much sooner than later.
The Islanders picked Wahlstrom and Dobson 11 and 12 in the 2018 draft. Why are so many people excited about this years #16 and #17 pick from the first round? I think it was a horrible trade. We should have waited for July 1, when a foolish team would have given Dobson an offer sheet way above his pay grade. We would have then received many high draft picks over at least two seasons. What was the rush to move this underachiever who found a team foolish enough to give him $9.5 million per year, over 8 years. A real head scratcher.
This completes the circle on the Garth Snow Lou Era which began with moves like acquiring Brock Nelson, Pelech and Sorokin which reached the high point with Barry Trotz taking this team to the semis twice. The only negative is with no Dobson and Nelson, will they bring in FA’s to keep the vets competitive or will Darche tear down this team. He may try to trade vets to teams as further inducement, also trying to attract UFA’s. July 1 could be a big signing day or a big trades day?
don't like it. I don't think you ever take a d man first overall. we need SCORING!!!!!
I don't expect to see Schaefer for at least two seasons. Juniors or college for MS. I'm circumspect about sending him to Bridgeport, if chis lamoriello is still running the show. Perhaps the new head coach at Bridgeport is the type who could develop young talent, unlike the last two HC's. I'm a bit surprised we weren't able to move Pageau before or at the draft. Am I being too generous saying he could fetch us a number one pick next season? What happened to the rumors that Pageau would be packaged to Boston for the #7 pick in this years draft? Hey maybe Bode Wilde is available to take Dobson's place on our D. Is he still in exile overseas? Woooo! I just made a funny.
If the Isles were able to Keep toews, and Dobson, adding Schaeffer and Aitchesson would have made a great D corp.
Gil, my friend, none of these draft picks matter if we continue to be utterly useless at development. This is what's scaring me.
good draft I think. we know more in a couple of years. Dobson was inconsistent in his own end. did they really have a cap crunch?
He’ll be sold like tickets, hot dogs & beers. Isles owners business strategy.
“Bold draft strategy” means that we’re gonna draft “good” players now!😮