I've watched parts of these guys' podcast and I don't love all of their takes, but I do think that I would be open to trading Dobson in the right deal. I don't want to trade him, but if it were one-for-one for Robertson (or close to it) I would be extremely interested. Same age and Robertson has hit 40g+ twice, 35 once. Effectively been an 80+ point player for four consecutive seasons (one was 79, sue me) including a 109pt season. Hasn't missed a game in three consecutive years.

Assuming Schaefer is coming in, it would be a serious consideration in my book.
- Gabe Athaus

It would be hard to turn down that trade.

Forget it. I do not want Duclair crying again.
- ses111

Using comparables, the debate of Schaefer vs. Misa feels like (to me) choosing between Miro Heiskanen or Tyler Seguin. Both great players, but Heiskanen is a bonafide star #1 defenseman and Seguin is a really talented player that doesn't quite climb into that top tier of forwards in the league.

I don't even think there should be a debate as to who we take. I fully believe Darche makes the obvious move and takes him.

Given that, according to Pronman's article, Utah wants to add defensemen...maybe something like Romanov and COL 2026 1st gets the Isles to 4 and they can add Hagens as well. Not entirely sure how I'd feel about it, but it would be interesting and I'd love to be able to get Hagens here.
- Gabe Athaus

Everyone knows my clearly biased feelings on Hagens so I hope there’s a way we can get him.

Looks like a bunch of finagling but if there’s a way what an absolute home run it would be for darche to somehow get it done. Sure way to win over the fans and stockpile our prospect pool at the same time. If he did that he could literally focus on building a competitive team from that point on with what we already have and those two being drafted.

Everyone knows my clearly biased feelings on Hagens so I hope there’s a way we can get him.

Looks like a bunch of finagling but if there’s a way what an absolute home run it would be for darche to somehow get it done. Sure way to win over the fans and stockpile our prospect pool at the same time. If he did that he could literally focus on building a competitive team from that point on with what we already have and those two being drafted.
- Cptmjl

I want him too, the story is just too good and he's a hell of a talent. I don't think he can be the pick at #1 but I'm open to a ton of options to finding a way to draft him.

Or maybe he pulls an Adam Fox and just rides out four years of college and then signs with us as a UFA

I want him too, the story is just too good and he's a hell of a talent. I don't think he can be the pick at #1 but I'm open to a ton of options to finding a way to draft him.

Or maybe he pulls an Adam Fox and just rides out four years of college and then signs with us as a UFA
- Gabe Athaus

Would moving Dobson be too much for the pick? I'd rather not overpay for Hagens when we all know he is signing with the Islanders down the line. JT revenge.

Would moving Dobson be too much for the pick? I'd rather not overpay for Hagens when we all know he is signing with the Islanders down the line. JT revenge.

- ses111

I would say moving Dobson for a draft pick probably isn't the best move. Can't say I'd absolutely rip it, but I don't think that someone with the type of potential Dobson has should be getting moved for a somewhat risky draft pick

I would say moving Dobson for a draft pick probably isn't the best move. Can't say I'd absolutely rip it, but I don't think that someone with the type of potential Dobson has should be getting moved for a somewhat risky draft pick
- Gabe Athaus

I agree. I think Romanov needs to be moved instead as Pelech will not do it.

Word down here in Tampa is Darche wants Isaac Howard from the Lightning, and Howard wants out because of a log jam of players. Kid is a stud and would fit right in with the young guys we have coming up.

Word down here in Tampa is Darche wants Isaac Howard from the Lightning, and Howard wants out because of a log jam of players. Kid is a stud and would fit right in with the young guys we have coming up.
- LItransplant44

Whatever it is, it'll have to beat the compensatory 2nd round pick the Lightning will get in next year's draft if he walks as a UFA and signs elsewhere. Our COL pick will be marginally better than that. Maybe they flip Danny Nelson or another prospect to ensure they get him. Either way, Howard would be a huge add into the system for a reasonable cost

Whatever it is, it'll have to beat the compensatory 2nd round pick the Lightning will get in next year's draft if he walks as a UFA and signs elsewhere. Our COL pick will be marginally better than that. Maybe they flip Danny Nelson or another prospect to ensure they get him. Either way, Howard would be a huge add into the system for a reasonable cost
- Gabe Athaus

I'd hate to move Nelson in the deal. The Col #1 picks seems fair.

Word down here in Tampa is Darche wants Isaac Howard from the Lightning, and Howard wants out because of a log jam of players. Kid is a stud and would fit right in with the young guys we have coming up.
- LItransplant44

Stud. Agreed…..they should absolutely inquire.

Arthur Staple

As for #Isles, new GM Mathieu Darche and coach Patrick Roy have to sort out:

— Scott Mayfield, who fell out of favor with Roy last season, though Darche is a fan

— Anthony Duclair, who seems likely to report for training camp

— #Isles not looking for major roster surgery yet



I hope they can find a way to move mayfield or Pulock or both.

NHL Draft Confidential 2025: What insiders think of Matthew Schaefer, goalies and more

Corey Pronman
June 9, 2025 6:00 am EDT

Today, we bring you our annual NHL Draft Confidential. You know where people like me stand on the players and the draft, but today we turn to the NHL, and the people who will ultimately decide where these players land, for their thoughts on the big questions facing this draft class. Numerous NHL evaluators were surveyed for this article. As a note, “Scout 1” in a given question does not refer to the same Scout 1 in another question.

Scouts and executives were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about the prospects in question.

The most interesting debate in this year’s draft, as it is with most drafts, is what happens at the very top. Most expect Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer to be the first pick. Then there’s a big group of forwards after him. Who will be the first forward taken? How close is the grouping? Does anyone have a forward ahead of Schaefer? We asked the NHL.

Scout 1: “Misa would be our top forward followed by (James) Hagens but there’s a sizable gap from Schaefer to those guys.”

Scout 2: “We have Schaefer, then a gap. (Anton) Frondell is No. 2 for us. He’s a potential (Aleksander) Barkov/(Anze) Kopitar type of forward.”

Scout 3: “(Michael) Misa should be No. 1, even ahead of Schaefer. I don’t understand why he’s not getting as much hype as previous top OHL guys, when he’s been just as good, if not better, than some of the top Ontario kids in recent years. He could be an NHL superstar.”

Executive 1: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft. It’s not close, quite frankly. After that, Misa is the top forward, but it’s close. He has the best chance to be a No. 1 center, all-around player who scores a lot.”

Scout 4: “Schaefer is the top player by a good margin, then it would either be Frondell or Hagens. Misa I think is getting overrated — his compete level is average and he’s not as dynamic as some portray.”

Scout 5: “Martone is the best forward in this draft, and I think in the playoffs he will show he has as much value as Schaefer. He’s a competitor who plays a style that will translate to success when the chips are down.”

Scout 6: “Misa and Schaefer would be neck and neck for me. I would lean Misa. Misa has the potential to be a star No. 1 center, and that’s the harder player to find compared to a No. 1 D, even if both are very valuable. (Caleb) Desnoyers would be third, then. He’s a great all-around center, a guy you win with.”

Executive 2: “Schaefer, then a gap to Misa, then a gap to the rest. (Roger) McQueen would have been in the group with Misa if he was healthy.”

Executive 3: “Schaefer and Misa are clearly ahead of the rest of the pack. Then it would be some order of Hagens, (Jake) O’Brien and Martone. Desnoyers and Frondell are nice players, but we worry about their offensive upside.”

Executive 4: “Schaefer and Misa distinguished themselves from the pack. Then it’s Desnoyers and Frondell in a group with Martone on the edge of that group. I expect that combination of players will make up the first five picks.”

Scout 7: “It goes Schaefer, then O’Brien, and then Frondell. O’Brien is so talented, has a lot of upside, and a lot of physical development left to go.”

Scout 8: “Schaefer is in a group by himself, then I would have Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone and Misa all closely bunched together. My lean would be towards Desnoyers as the best of that bunch. He’s a winner who does a lot of things very well.”

Scout 9: “Schaefer is the top player. Misa could get close, he is extremely talented, although he is inconsistent and has some bad habits. The top forward is between Misa and Desnoyers, but you have to take Misa after the year he had.”

Executive 5: “After Schaefer/Misa, Brady Martin is right in the mix with that next group, may even be at the top. He looks very similar to what Sam Bennett has become.”

Scout 10: “Schaefer and Misa are the clear top two players. After that I would have Desnoyers, Frondell, O’Brien and Martin in a close group together.”

Scout 11: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft, then I would have Desnoyers at 2. He does so much well, he could be a player you build around.”

Executive 6: “Schaefer is the clear No. 1. Then it would be a group of Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell and Martin for me. It’s funny because I think Hagens could potentially outscore all of those forwards by the end of their careers, but you’re trying to build a team that wins playoff rounds, and those guys bring different elements.”

NHL Draft Confidential 2025: What insiders think of Matthew Schaefer, goalies and more

Corey Pronman
June 9, 2025 6:00 am EDT

Today, we bring you our annual NHL Draft Confidential. You know where people like me stand on the players and the draft, but today we turn to the NHL, and the people who will ultimately decide where these players land, for their thoughts on the big questions facing this draft class. Numerous NHL evaluators were surveyed for this article. As a note, “Scout 1” in a given question does not refer to the same Scout 1 in another question.

Scouts and executives were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about the prospects in question.

The most interesting debate in this year’s draft, as it is with most drafts, is what happens at the very top. Most expect Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer to be the first pick. Then there’s a big group of forwards after him. Who will be the first forward taken? How close is the grouping? Does anyone have a forward ahead of Schaefer? We asked the NHL.

Scout 1: “Misa would be our top forward followed by (James) Hagens but there’s a sizable gap from Schaefer to those guys.”

Scout 2: “We have Schaefer, then a gap. (Anton) Frondell is No. 2 for us. He’s a potential (Aleksander) Barkov/(Anze) Kopitar type of forward.”

Scout 3: “(Michael) Misa should be No. 1, even ahead of Schaefer. I don’t understand why he’s not getting as much hype as previous top OHL guys, when he’s been just as good, if not better, than some of the top Ontario kids in recent years. He could be an NHL superstar.”

Executive 1: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft. It’s not close, quite frankly. After that, Misa is the top forward, but it’s close. He has the best chance to be a No. 1 center, all-around player who scores a lot.”

Scout 4: “Schaefer is the top player by a good margin, then it would either be Frondell or Hagens. Misa I think is getting overrated — his compete level is average and he’s not as dynamic as some portray.”

Scout 5: “Martone is the best forward in this draft, and I think in the playoffs he will show he has as much value as Schaefer. He’s a competitor who plays a style that will translate to success when the chips are down.”

Scout 6: “Misa and Schaefer would be neck and neck for me. I would lean Misa. Misa has the potential to be a star No. 1 center, and that’s the harder player to find compared to a No. 1 D, even if both are very valuable. (Caleb) Desnoyers would be third, then. He’s a great all-around center, a guy you win with.”

Executive 2: “Schaefer, then a gap to Misa, then a gap to the rest. (Roger) McQueen would have been in the group with Misa if he was healthy.”

Executive 3: “Schaefer and Misa are clearly ahead of the rest of the pack. Then it would be some order of Hagens, (Jake) O’Brien and Martone. Desnoyers and Frondell are nice players, but we worry about their offensive upside.”

Executive 4: “Schaefer and Misa distinguished themselves from the pack. Then it’s Desnoyers and Frondell in a group with Martone on the edge of that group. I expect that combination of players will make up the first five picks.”

Scout 7: “It goes Schaefer, then O’Brien, and then Frondell. O’Brien is so talented, has a lot of upside, and a lot of physical development left to go.”

Scout 8: “Schaefer is in a group by himself, then I would have Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone and Misa all closely bunched together. My lean would be towards Desnoyers as the best of that bunch. He’s a winner who does a lot of things very well.”

Scout 9: “Schaefer is the top player. Misa could get close, he is extremely talented, although he is inconsistent and has some bad habits. The top forward is between Misa and Desnoyers, but you have to take Misa after the year he had.”

Executive 5: “After Schaefer/Misa, Brady Martin is right in the mix with that next group, may even be at the top. He looks very similar to what Sam Bennett has become.”

Scout 10: “Schaefer and Misa are the clear top two players. After that I would have Desnoyers, Frondell, O’Brien and Martin in a close group together.”

Scout 11: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft, then I would have Desnoyers at 2. He does so much well, he could be a player you build around.”

Executive 6: “Schaefer is the clear No. 1. Then it would be a group of Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell and Martin for me. It’s funny because I think Hagens could potentially outscore all of those forwards by the end of their careers, but you’re trying to build a team that wins playoff rounds, and those guys bring different elements.”


- Gabe Athaus

Heck, the more Hagens falls for no real reason, the higher the chance the Isles may indeed be able to select Shaefer and then trade back up to grab Hagens. It's a long shot no matter what, but a little less so if you're trading with the team picking 6th or 7th rather than 2nd or 3rd.

Heck, the more Hagens falls for no real reason, the higher the chance the Isles may indeed be able to select Shaefer and then trade back up to grab Hagens. It's a long shot no matter what, but a little less so if you're trading with the team picking 6th or 7th rather than 2nd or 3rd.
- UIF

It definitely has potential to be an interesting storyline to follow. I don't think he's going to fall very far, but there is some potential there. Chicago has lots of smallish, skilled forwards already so I think the consensus is that he likely won't go there at 3. Utah doesn't seem to be primed to take him at 4 either, for similar reasons, but that's a little more murky I think. I see him going to NSH at 5, but you never know. Guys like Jake O'Brien, Caleb Desnoyers, and Brady Martin all seem to have seen their stock rise somewhat and could go in that range. Roger McQueen would have probably been an easy top-5 pick if not for his back issues. If someone's medical staff thinks those issues are behind him he could end up going in that range as well.

It's starting to feel like Hagens' game has been picked apart too much at this point and I don't think he's going to really get outside the top-5. He's still a premier talent.

Another writeup on Schaefer:

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ters-islanders-blackhawks

Another writeup on Schaefer:

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ters-islanders-blackhawks
- Gabe Athaus

Any chance Schaefer can be Brian Leetch with the offensive game and much better on D?

Any chance Schaefer can be Brian Leetch with the offensive game and much better on D?
- ses111

I'm not going to start comparing him to HoF defensemen. But the comparisons to Heiskanen and Jake Sanderson are more than enough to get me fired up

Forgot until I saw someone mention his name on Twitter recently, but it sounds like Maxim Shabanov will be coming to the NHL next year and the Isles were one of the teams mentioned awhile back as being in the mix. Not sure how much that may or may not change with Lou out and Darche in, but he's clearly a talented player who happens to be on the small side. But...free asset.

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/375743/maxim-shabanov

Although there appears to be a lot from over the weekend linking him to the Flyers, so who knows

Forgot until I saw someone mention his name on Twitter recently, but it sounds like Maxim Shabanov will be coming to the NHL next year and the Isles were one of the teams mentioned awhile back as being in the mix. Not sure how much that may or may not change with Lou out and Darche in, but he's clearly a talented player who happens to be on the small side. But...free asset.

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/375743/maxim-shabanov

Although there appears to be a lot from over the weekend linking him to the Flyers, so who knows
- Gabe Athaus

Listed at 5' 8" and 157 lbs. Yup, he meets your description. Who knows? Maybe he'll be the next Marty St. Louis.

Listed at 5' 8" and 157 lbs. Yup, he meets your description. Who knows? Maybe he'll be the next Marty St. Louis.
- JohnScammo

I wouldn't expect much, but I'm obviously I'm on record plenty of times being a full supporter of adding any free asset with potential. Worst case he stinks and he goes back to Russia. Best case they add a 2nd line offensive player at the cost of nothing.

It definitely has potential to be an interesting storyline to follow. I don't think he's going to fall very far, but there is some potential there. Chicago has lots of smallish, skilled forwards already so I think the consensus is that he likely won't go there at 3. Utah doesn't seem to be primed to take him at 4 either, for similar reasons, but that's a little more murky I think. I see him going to NSH at 5, but you never know. Guys like Jake O'Brien, Caleb Desnoyers, and Brady Martin all seem to have seen their stock rise somewhat and could go in that range. Roger McQueen would have probably been an easy top-5 pick if not for his back issues. If someone's medical staff thinks those issues are behind him he could end up going in that range as well.

It's starting to feel like Hagens' game has been picked apart too much at this point and I don't think he's going to really get outside the top-5. He's still a premier talent.
- Gabe Athaus

Thinking about this a little, if Hagens somehow falls out of the top 5, maybe the Isles could offer this year's 2nd plus one of their first round picks in next year's draft (which rumor has it is a deeper draft) in order to draft him.

I wouldn't expect much, but I'm obviously I'm on record plenty of times being a full supporter of adding any free asset with potential. Worst case he stinks and he goes back to Russia. Best case they add a 2nd line offensive player at the cost of nothing.
- Gabe Athaus

Fair enough. It's a no-lose proposition.

Thinking about this a little, if Hagens somehow falls out of the top 5, maybe the Isles could offer this year's 2nd plus one of their first round picks in next year's draft (which rumor has it is a deeper draft) in order to draft him.
- JohnScammo

Seems light on the return. Maybe if they include some sort of other asset, but trading the 6th or 7th overall pick for #42 this year and a pick likely in the mid-to-late 20's next year doesn't seem like it would be a deal too many guys would be jumping to accept. It would be a terrible idea for the Islanders to trade their own first next year.

Then again Peter Chiarelli traded #16 and #33 for Griffin Reinhart, who went on to play in only 29 games for the Oilers

Seems light on the return. Maybe if they include some sort of other asset, but trading the 6th or 7th overall pick for #42 this year and a pick likely in the mid-to-late 20's next year doesn't seem like it would be a deal too many guys would be jumping to accept. It would be a terrible idea for the Islanders to trade their own first next year.

Then again Peter Chiarelli traded #16 and #33 for Griffin Reinhart, who went on to play in only 29 games for the Oilers
- Gabe Athaus

You have both Colorado AND the Islanders going deep in the playoffs this coming season?