Overview

• The Islanders secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft lottery on May 6 despite just a 3.5% chance.
• GM Mathieu Darche has said he won’t factor in sentimentality and would only trade the pick for an offer that “knocks my socks off.”
• Matthew Schaefer, a 17-year-old from Stoney Creek, Ontario, is ranked first among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
• Boston College center James Hagens, a Long Island native eager to stay home, remains in contention but is considered the underdog.
• The first overall selection will be made on June 27 in Los Angeles and the Islanders are finalizing their top choice.