REPORTS: Darche confirms commitment to first overall pick, eyes franchise cornerstone

With the conclusion of the 2024-25 season and the Stanley Cup officially awarded, the spotlight now shifts to the New York Islanders.

In a somewhat unexpected twist, the Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery and secured the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, set to begin Friday in Los Angeles. That means newly appointed general manager Mathieu Darche is staring down a major, franchise-shaping decision in just his first month on the job.

At the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month, Darche made it clear the team has no intention of trading the top pick.

“I expect to be the one making the first selection on June 27,” Darche told NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman. “You have to keep an open mind, but I’d be shocked if we’re not the ones picking first.”

With that settled, the next big question looms: Who will the Islanders select with the No. 1 overall pick?

Mathieu Darche confirms Islanders’ commitment to first overall pick, eyes franchise cornerstone

There’s a level of unpredictability at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft that hasn’t been seen in recent years. While defenseman Matthew Schaefer is widely regarded as the top prospect in this class and is the expected choice for the Islanders at No. 1, it wouldn’t be a major surprise if forward Michael Misa or Long Island native and center James Hagens were selected instead.

General manager Mathieu Darche emphasized that the team’s focus is on long-term success. He noted the Islanders are aiming to draft “a player we want to play a long time,” and made it clear the pick isn’t about short-term results. With that in mind, there’s no urgency to find someone who will immediately join the NHL roster for the 2025-26 season.

Regardless of whether the Islanders choose Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, or another top talent, that player will become the centerpiece of a new chapter in Islanders hockey—one that aims to build a contender under Darche’s direction. And while the player selected will carry high expectations, even greater pressure falls on Darche to make the right call with this critical pick.