New York Islanders Want James Hagens
James Hagens Making It Clear Where He Wants To Go
Nothing is guaranteed, but the stars are aligned for the New York Islanders to not only draft Matthew Schaefer but James Hagens as well.
The Islanders hold the number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night in Los Angeles. Depending on who you talk to, the Islanders are likely to select Schaefer, the defenseman, first overall. It is the safe pick for new general manager Mathieau Darche.
As the old saying goes, a team can never have enough defensemen. But the Islanders need help up front as well. For how many off-seasons have Islanders fans heard, under former General Manager Lou Lamoriello, that their team needs offense. James Hagens could bring that offensive punch the Islanders have been missing for years.
There was a chance to have that with Oliver Wahlstrom, but he was misused and still developing as he finds his footing in the NHL. However, Hagens, as previously mentioned, is a player with the most talent and the highest ceiling.
And realistically, he should be going number one since he was the number one draft pick for most of the season by most draft experts. However, as most teams do this time of year, they fall for something with a new player and a trend. This year, that trend is emerging from Florida, as the Panthers have those big and physical players that provide offence.
The chatter has picked up in Los Angeles that Hagens could fall as low as the sixth pick, which the Philadelphia Flyers hold. Every team’s draft board is different, but it seems that Hagens is likely going to fall with the San Jose Sharks potentially taking Anton Frondell at number two. That means Michael Misa falls to Chicago at three, and then Utah is on the clock.
And opportunity knocks there for the Islanders to jump back into the first round and select Hagens with the fourth overall pick. And the hockey world knows they are looking to jump back into the top 10 of the first round.
The door is now open with Utah Mammoth trading Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan to the Buffalo Sabres for J.J. Peterka. There is a spot on the right side of Utah's defence that needs to be filled.
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Enter New York Islanders restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson. Dobson needs a new contract and is seeking a deal worth over $10 million for an eight-year term. Utah has the cap space to give him what he wants, along with the San Jose Sharks.
Dobson’s name was gaining momentum on Thursday, with multiple teams involved, including the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Mammoth, and Sharks. But it makes sense for the latter two as they need a cornerstone defenseman.
According to those in the league, the Islanders could secure the 4th overall pick and potentially acquire Sean Durzi ($6 million over the next three seasons) or John Marino ($4 million over the next two seasons).
The Islanders have offers on the table for Dobson. And it makes sense if it is Utah and Sean Durzi goes the other way. Say Dobson did come, where is Durzi playing, not on the first power play unit? That would be Dobson’s spot.
You can also throw in the Nashville Predators, whose GM Barry Trotz, when he coached the Islanders knows Dobson very well. The Predators need a defenseman as well, especially on the right side. So there is a deal to be made there as well, but it all depends on where players are selected in picks two through four.
Not to mention, Hagens continues to talk about how cool it would be to play for the Islanders.
“Yeah, I mean a lot. Somewhere you grow up. Something that you took so much pride in as a kid, and still to this day,” Hagens said on NHL Draft Media Day. It’d be really something. It would be really cool being able to come home to go back to where it all started. It would really be special.”
Additionally, he mentioned that he was Matt Martin when he fought with his brother. So Hagens is saying all the right things. Go back to the weekend of the NHL Scouting Combine, where Hagens talks about bringing a Stanley Cup back to his hometown team.
"It would be really cool bringing the Stanley Cup home to where you started, being able to bring home a Stanley Cup to not only my family but the people of Long Island would be special,” Hagens said to Sam Cosentino on NHL Network.
So, with what he is saying and the pressure from the fans with the bumper stickers, “Bring Hagens Home,” ownership will want to make a splash on Friday night in front of their fans at UBS Arena for their draft party.
That should be the least of their concerns, but if there is a deal to be made, you know the Islanders will pounce on it. Adding a player like Hagens, along with Schaefer, to complement Calium Ritchie and Cole Eiserman, who are already in the system, gives them a bright future.
The door is open for the New York Islanders to get back into the top five of the 2025 NHL Draft to select the Long Island native James Hagens.
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