“We didn’t put enough [wins] together in a row,” the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee said back in April as the team lost to the Flyers on the road and were ousted from the 2025 playoffs. Finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division, the Isles missed the postseason for the first time in three seasons. However, things might not yet be out of control.

For a team that has gone over four decades without winning the Stanley Cup, fans can hardly hold back on their optimism before every season begins. But there hasn’t been much to celebrate of late. On top of that, the New York Islanders didn’t have any first-round draft picks between 2020 and 2023. Thankfully, that changed when they roped in Cole Eiserman in 2024. And things are only going to get even better the next time around.

In a post on X from May 5, the official NHL account shared some news that would undoubtedly bring a smile to the Islanders fans’ faces after a disappointing end to the regular season. “The @NYIslanders win the Draft Lottery and will select first overall at the 2025 #NHLDraft!” the social media update reveals.

In both 2023 and 2024, the New York Islanders were ousted from Stanley Cup contention in Round 1 of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, and it can be argued that one of the reasons for those early exits could have been the lack of luck with the prospect pool. However, with the chance to be the first one to name a new player for its roster for the next season, the New York team will have a lot of options to get the ball rolling for its fifth Stanley Cup.

However, while the Islanders will have the opportunity to be the first franchise to beef up its roster, they will also need to make their decisions with caution. San Jose will be the second team to make its pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Considering that the Sharks finished the 2024-25 regular season at the bottom of the Pacific Division, there is no doubt that any top-tier star the New York Islanders miss out on, San Jose will immediately look to bring them in.

The Chicago Blackhawks, too, had a miserable season. The six-time Stanley Cup winners also finished at the bottom of their division with a shambolic 61 points. Apart from a few good days, the Hawks could hardly make any ripple in the NHL this year, and they will also get into the thick of things by virtue of being the third team to make its first-round pick. But who could the New York Islanders, or any team for that matter, be looking to make their 2025-26 season better than the ongoing one?

Who should the New York Islanders be eyeing as their latest member?

With a 35-35-12 record, it suffices to say that the Isles didn’t have a good time on the ice. The team’s power play and penalty kills were terrible. In early April, New York was 31st in the NHL on power play with 13.1%, and it was in the same spot for penalty kills (72%). If that wasn’t all, the Islanders suffered four losses at the hands of the Rangers this season, amplifying their woes even further. But one would argue, these losses weren’t exactly a coincidence. Instead, there were formidable reasons.

All six opening-night defensemen of the Islanders suffered injuries throughout the season, often making them sit out double-digit games. Star forward Mathew Barzal incurred a lower-body injury against the Tampa Bay Lightning in February and was out for the rest of the season, significantly jeopardizing the Isles’ attacking prowess. Netminder Semyon Varlamov also suffered a season-ending injury in November. Brock Nelson‘s trade didn’t help either. On top of that, several of the Islanders’ finest are expected to become unrestricted free agents, including forwards Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin (he could retire), and defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

With that in mind, the New York Islanders could eye OHL’s Matthew Schaefer to boost their blue line, while Michael Misa could easily help to fill the gap should any of the forwards leave before the 2025-26 season. So, who do you think the New York Islanders will go for? Will they make the right calls, or will haste be their downfall in the upcoming season? Tell us your thoughts in a comment!