Islanders Bold Move After Winning NHL Draft Lottery

The New York Islanders just hit the jackpot, landing the No. 1 pick in this year’s NHL draft after Monday night’s lottery – and they might want to think outside the box with this one.

It’s pretty incredible, really. The Isles only had the 10th-best odds going in. They barely even had a shot at moving up to first.

But now that they’ve got the top pick for the draft in Los Angeles on June 27, they’re facing a tough decision.

Most experts are pointing to Matthew Schaefer, the standout defenseman from the Ontario Hockey League, as the obvious choice. Others say it should be OHL scoring machine Michael Misa.

Here’s the thing though: There’s a local kid who might just be the perfect fit.

James Hagens, a freshman center at Boston College, learned to play hockey right here on Long Island. He’s not the consensus top pick – but he could be exactly what the Islanders need.

It’s rare for a team to go against the draft experts, especially with the first overall pick. But sometimes you’ve got to trust your gut.

And for the Islanders, bringing home a hometown hero might be worth bucking the trend.