The Islanders' intentions are clear ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. They will take Matthew Schaefer with the first overall selection. But they are looking to do more than that. They want the hometown kid in James Hagens. After acquiring the 16th and 17th overall selections in the Noah Dobson trade, they have more ammunition to move up. But, how do the Flyers factor into this?
It's more than obvious the Islanders want Hagens. Every team in the league knows it. It isn't going to be cheap to make another leap into the top 10. The Islanders almost certainly will have to include a roster player to make the move. And there's one name that has been circulating that the Flyers should keep an eye on.
Islanders remain active. In addition to all their action, I’m told some teams have called the Islanders about Mat Barzal, including Utah and Vancouver. Don’t get the sense anything is close right now, but some clubs have inquired.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 27, 2025
Barzal was limited to just 30 games this past season due to multiple injuries. At his best, he is one of the fastest skaters in the league and has been good for 50+ points in six of his eight seasons. He has hit the 80-point mark twice, his most recent coming in the 2023-24 season. Barzal is a career 42.3 percent in the face-off dot, so there is more to be desired there. He has spent time on the wing as well.
There is no guarantee that the Islanders would be willing to part with Barzal unless they decided to go full rebuild mode. They moved on from a stud defenseman in Noah Dobson, sending him to Montreal. Moving another key piece would spell a tear down in New York. However, it's highly unlikely that the Islanders would move on from him as GM Mathieu Darche has reportedly assured Barzal that he wouldn't be traded
Now, things can change if the Islanders are met with a deal they can't refuse. If not Barzal, maybe an up-and-coming player like Simon Holmstrom. He's not a center, but has steadily improved each season and is coming off a 20-goal, 45-point campaign. He will be an RFA this offseason, but shouldn't break the bank on his next contract. Somewhere between $2-3 million might be the sweet spot. That's not bad at all.
Even with how desperate the Islanders may be, the Flyers may still have to give a little of their own in this scenario. After trading Dobson, could the Islanders be interested in someone like Cam York? Or would they want a young winger with potential like Bobby Brink? Would the sixth overall selection be enough?
This is all hypothetical and likely won't happen. It's more likely the Islanders would target Utah or Nashville to guarantee themselves Hagens. But we can dream, right?