Draft 2025 Lottery Winners: The New York Islanders

The draft lottery in the NHL happened on Monday night, and the Islanders won it. They finished with the tenth-worst record in the National Hockey League (NHL) and had only a 3.5% chance to pick first in the 2025 NHL draft. This will be the Islander’s fourth first overall draft pick. The three so far were Billy Harris (1972), Dennis Potvin (1973), and John Traveras (2009). The first two worked out well, but the last run did not. The top overall prospect in the 2025 NHL draft is a center from Long Island. Do you think the Islanders will pick him?

Top Draft Pick Makes Islanders GM Job Attractive

The Islanders failed to renew the contract of 83-year-old general manager Lou Lamoriello. So, they need to hire a new general manager. One thing is certain: the Islander’s general manager just got a lot more interesting. The Islanders may trade the top pick in the draft, or keep the pick and select first overall. We do not know who they will pick, if they pick, or how that player will turn out. However, one of the top players in the 2025 NHL draft is a center from Long Island. James Hagins is the top prospect in the 2025 NHL draft. He is from Hauppauge. The Islanders have picked first overall in the draft three times.

Billy Harris (1972)

The Islanders were an expansion team in 1972, so they got the first pick in the draft because they were new. They kept that first overall pick and selected Billy Harris. He was good, and played twelve NHL seasons and scored 231 goals. The most important thing to know about him is that the Islanders traded him and Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings for Butch Goring. Goring is thought to be the final piece of the Islanders’ dynasty teams.

Denis Potvin (1973)

The Islanders were horrible in 1972 and had the worst overall record in the National Hockey League. They picked first again in 1973. They kept the pick and made, possibly, the greatest first overall selection in NHL history. They selected Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin. Many think he may be the best defenseman in hockey history. That is debatable, but he is certainly in the conversation.

Whatever one thinks about where Potvin ranks all-time among defensemen in NHL history, there is no denying he was a four-time Stanley Cup champion. He also captained the Islanders for eight seasons. He won the Norris Trophy, as the NHL’s best defenseman, three times. The Islanders team he captained won a record 19 consecutive playoff series. The team did so much winning at their home, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum was nicknamed Fort Neverlose. Potvin retired following the 1987-1988 season as one of the most decorated hockey players ever.

John Tarvaras (2009)

With the first pick of the 2009 NHL draft, the Islanders selected John Tavares. He played for the Isladers for 9 seasons and was very good. He is still playing, and may fall just short of the NHL Hall of Fame. He scored at least 20 goals for the Islanders every season he played and he scored 30 goals for the Ianders 4 times.

John Tavares is famous, or infamous, for signing as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs after the 2017-2018 season. The Maple Leafs were the team Tavares cheered for as a child. He is from near Toronto. When he signed his free agent contract with the Maple Leafs, jilting Islanders’ fans, he appeared at the introductory press conference in his Maple Leafs pajamas. Tavares is now booed every time he is on the ice on Long Island (he still plays for Toronto). He is also now derisively referred to as ‘Pajama Boy’ by fans of the Islanders.

Conclusion

It was very unlikely the Islanders would win the 2025 NHL draft lottery. They had only a 3.5% chance. But, win they did. If history is any indication they will keep the pick and will likely select Hagins, the kid from Hauppoge. He is the top rated prospect. He may be able to help the team now.