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The Islanders haven’t had a moment this big in years.
After defying the odds and leaping from No. 10 to No. 1 in the NHL Draft Lottery — with just a 3.5 percent chance — the team holds the top pick in next Friday’s draft in Los Angeles.
It’s a franchise-altering opportunity and new general manager Mathieu Darche can’t afford to miss.
The sentimental pick? Long Island’s own James Hagens, a center from Hauppauge who plays at Boston College. He’s ranked third by NHL Central Scouting, and plenty of locals would love to see the hometown kid don the blue and orange.
It would make for a great story.
But Darche wasn’t hired to write fairy tales. He was hired to build a Stanley Cup contender.
No time for nostalgia
The top-ranked prospect, according to Central Scouting, is defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL’s Erie Otters. Michael Misa, a center out of Saginaw, is ranked second.
Most insiders believe Schaefer is the favorite, and multiple reports suggest he’s who the Islanders are leaning toward.
Darche has to trust his evaluations and take the best player available. Anything less would be hockey malpractice. Even the idea of trading the pick — while technically on the table — seems remote.
Darche has already said it would take a “knock-your-socks-off” offer for him to move it.
The party is set
Fans will be packing UBS Arena for the Islanders’ draft party next Friday, hoping their team gets it right. There’s also buzz that the Isles could swing a deal to acquire a second top-10 pick, with Boston’s No. 7 selection being floated in league circles.
That scenario could potentially land the Islanders both Schaefer and Hagens.
Hagens, for his part, has made it clear he’d love to win a Stanley Cup on Long Island. That’s admirable — and if the Islanders do end up with both players, it would be a dream scenario for fans.
But make no mistake: hometown ties can’t outweigh raw talent and long-term impact.
The Islanders have a rare shot to reshape their future. It’s time to make it count.
Draft party details:
Top: New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, second from left, reacts during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
