Islanders NHL Combine Notes: Latest From Schaefer, Misa & Hagens
The Islanders took Schaefer, Hagens and Misa out to dinner this week.
Good morning, and happy Free Friday here at The Elmonters! I am up in Buffalo for the 2025 NHL Draft Combine. We will be speaking to Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Jake O’Brien, and Victor Eklund starting at 3 PM ET.
The Combine begins at 7:30 AM on Saturday, with Misa starting at 9:30 AM and Schaefer and Hagens at 10:30 AM.
BUFFALO, NY — New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche went up to Buffalo for the 2025 NHL Draft Combine, did his interviews, and now has 21 days to decide what he’ll ultimately do with the first overall pick.
Trading the pick is something that has been rumored but is incredibly unlikely. Darche plans to make the pick, and I believe him when he says that.
Here’s what we know so far about the consensus top-three options for the Islanders based on the interviews already conducted by my NHL.com colleagues Michael Morreale and Adam Kimelman, the reporting of Anthony Martineau, and what I’ve heard:
Matthew Schaefer
Arrived 25 minutes early for interviews
Had dinner with the Islanders on Monday
Has not decided whether he’ll play in the OHL or NCAA if he doesn’t make the NHL
Compares his game to Miro Heiskanen
Says it would be very special to play for Patrick Roy
Is fluent in French
Will not participate in the bench press or pull-ups
Will skate with Adam Pelech this summer and is being coached by former NHLer Mark Giordano
"I mean, obviously [the Islanders] had a big jump [in the lottery], which was amazing for them. They're a great team. I've heard a lot of great things about them, as I have all the teams in the draft, so we'll see what happens." (H/t NHL Draft Class)
Michael Misa
Had dinner with the Islanders on Thursday
Compares himself to Kirill Kaprizov
Aiming to get to 190 pounds (currently around 183)
Believes he proved this past season why he should be No. 1
Says he’s NHL-ready
“I hate losing. I’m a hard worker. I’m someone who is coachable. I think when I’m at my best, I’m a force to be reckoned with and make people around me better.” (H/t NHL Draft Class)
James Hagens
Had dinner with the Islanders on Tuesday
Says he wants to bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island
Likely to return to Boston College, though that depends on where he’s drafted to.
Had 16 total interviews at the Combine
Compares his game to Patrick Kane
“I want to be able to win a Stanley Cup as an Islander. The last time they raised the cup, my dad was a little kid, and it would mean a lot to my family, the people of Long Island, to everyone that supported the team to bring a Stanley Cup home and raise it one day on the island.” (H/t NHL Draft Class)
The 2025 NHL Draft takes place on June 27.
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Schaefer is number one on ALL the rankings. Teams are making overtures to the Islanders to trade the pick. Why? The answer, he’s the best player available and maybe a great generational talent on the backend. I don’t think they are considering picking anyone else but Schaefer, and certainly not trading out of number one.They got lucky plain and simple Darche isn’t Mike Milbury!