There are very few instances when an NHL team should deviate from the consensus of experts at the top of the draft. But with the Islanders winning Monday night’s NHL Draft lottery, this might be the rare time to do just that.
New York had the 10th-best odds overall and second-worst odds among the teams eligible to move up to the top pick in the draft (June 27, Los Angeles). However, the Islanders shouldn’t use the No. 1 selection on borderline consensus top prospect Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the Ontario Hockey League. They also shouldn’t use it on OHL superstar Michael Misa, the player believed by most scouts to be the top overall forward.
Instead, the Islanders should draft James Hagens, the Boston College freshman center who grew up playing hockey on Long Island.
