James Hagens has made it clear that he wants to be drafted by his hometown team, the New York Islanders.
The 18-year-old center grew up in Hauppauge on Long Island and has developed into one of the top prospects of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 in Los Angeles. And as luck would have it, the Islanders have the No. 1 overall pick, with a clear path to potentially draft the Boston College product.
“I want to be able to win a Stanley Cup as an Islander,” Hagens told the NHL Draft Class podcast. “The last time I think they raised the cup, my dad was a little kid, and it’d mean a lot to my family, to the people of Long Island, to everyone that supports the team, to be able to bring the Stanley Cup home and raise it one day on the Island. Being able to do that where you grow up, where all your friends and family are, it’s special.”
There is a significant wrinkle in this storybook scenario, though. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer is considered the bona fide top prospect of the draft class and is likely a talent too good to pass up for an Islanders team that could beef up its blue line alongside Noah Dobson and Alex Romanov.
New Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche has made it clear on multiple occasions that it would take a lot to part with the No. 1 pick. At his introductory press conference, he said an offer would have to “knock my socks off” to trade it. He then said at the scouting combine last week that he would be “shocked” if he wasn’t making the pick.
“I expect to speak No. 1 on June 27,” Darche said. “You’ve got to be open to everything, but I’d be shocked if we’re not the one speaking first.”
And it would be a shock if the Islanders used that No. 1 selection on Hagens.
However, motivated teams lower on the draft board will undoubtedly be looking to trade up for Schaefer, who starred with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at just 17.
A king’s ransom from, say, the San Jose Sharks, who are picking No. 2, could help the Islanders address multiple holes within the organization, whether it’s the shallow prospect pool or high-ceiling scoring talent on the wing.
Then, acquiring San Jose’s No. 2 pick in the process would make the selection of Hagens all the more reasonable — but only if the organization is not completely set on taking Schaefer.
