Heading into the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders had one of the best chances to end up with an all-star selection of rookies. While franchises across the league have been focusing on rebuilding their teams before the regular season, the Islanders seem most likely to do that.
They ended up securing the No. 1 pick. On Friday, June 27, the Islanders nabbed top prospect Matthew Schaefer. In addition to their first pick, the Islanders had multiple other picks as well.
With nine picks across the seven rounds, the Islanders have secured a whole batch of franchise players. One NHL insider offers his opinion on the team’s moves.
New York Islanders’ 2025 Draft Gets an ‘A+’ from NHL Insider
Teams are getting used to their new prospects right now. ESPN NHL Insider Rachel Doerrie offered her thoughts on the Islanders’ draft and is quite clear about her thoughts. In grading the Islanders’ draft, Doerrie gives them an “A+.” In the first pick itself, they managed to secure Schaefer.
A NEW ISLANDER
The New York Islanders take Matthew Schaefer as the No. 1 overall pick! pic.twitter.com/rZy498kDu9
— ESPN (@espn) June 27, 2025
“For Day One alone, the Islanders are getting an A+,” Doerrie wrote. “If there were a higher grade possible, they’d be getting it.” Doerrie wrote that Schaefer will be a franchise defenseman and be impactful not just because of his play but also because of his personality.
Doerrie even touts Schaefer as a future Islanders captain. She also gives credit to the Islanders’ management for trading Noah Dobson, who was unwilling to extend his stay in New York, and using this to nab Viktor Eklund at No. 16 overall.
Eklund has long been seen as an upper first-round option for teams who needed a new winger. The Islanders now have him as an option to substitute for Bo Horvat. For their last pick of the first round, the Islanders picked up defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson.
Victor Eklund was selected 16th overall by the @NYIslanders after leading Sweden’s second division in goals and points by a teenager (19-12—31 in 42 GP).
He joins his brother, William (SJS), as the second member of his family to be taken in the #NHLDraft.#NHLStats:… pic.twitter.com/uDNmAbvSak
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 28, 2025
“The Isles didn’t overthink anything,” Doerrie wrote. “You have to hit on your first-round picks, and every time they made a selection, they took quality players who confidently project to be impactful.” With these selections, the Islanders can be sure they have their backline secure.
Perhaps the strongest addition to the Islanders’ blue line came from No. 42 overall pick Daniil Prokhorov, who is 6’6″ and 219 pounds. “Daniil Prokhorov has the potential to become a high-end power forward, and Luca Romano should play NHL games in a middle-six role,” Doerrie wrote.
“There’s a real chance the Isles added a franchise cornerstone, a top-six forward with a blend of hard and soft skills, and a tough-to-play-against defender with raw offensive potential,” Doerrie wrote.
The Official 2025 #Isles Draft Class. pic.twitter.com/V4Nsf21UPD
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 29, 2025
The Islanders also selected the combo of Thomas Poletin and Jacob Kvasnicka at Nos. 106 and 202, respectively, as contenders for wing spots. “Burke Hood in the late rounds is excellent value,” Doerrie wrote. “This could be a franchise-changing draft for the Islanders.”
At 6’4″ and 202 pounds, Hood will be a good bet as a secondary goaltender for New York, who they can expect to get physical with. To close out their night, New York chose Sam Laurila at No. 138 to finish their backline. There is a chance that this draft might turn out to be a special one for the Islanders.
