With the New York Islanders owning the top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, all attention has been on Matthew Schaefer, the presumptive top selection.
As a result, nobody is discussing who the franchise could select in the later rounds, which are quite valuable.
The draft's strategy should be to target the best player available, focusing on projected first-rounders who fall into Day 2.
So, here are a few names Mathieu Darche and his team could look at for the 42nd overall pick:
Filip Ekberg | Left Wing | Ottawa 67's (OHL) | 2024-25: 16G, 29A, 45P, 53GP | Projected Second Round Pick
Filip Ekberg made a name for himself at the U18s, scoring 10 goals and 18 points in just seven games to set a scoring record for Sweden, which helped the country secure its seventh consecutive medal en route to an MVP award.
While Ekberg’s 2024-25 season’s point total with the 67’s was not all too impressive, the eye test is another story, as his hands and speed distinguish him from his peers.
The first thing you notice with Ekberg is his 5-foot-10, 168-pound frame, something that will deter NHL teams from drafting him in the early rounds.
While this is a fair concern given the league’s focus on larger players at the 2024 NHL Draft, the perfect opportunity now presents itself for a team to swoop in to snag Ekberg at a discount.
Smaller players have to find ways to play larger than their frame, and Ekberg does just that with his relentless forecheck and ability to knock pucks off opponents' sticks.
He comes with some risk given his size, but it makes much more sense for the Islanders to take the high-ceiling winger over the low-floor option given the team’s surplus of talent in the depth.
Shane Vansaghi | Right Wing | Michigan State (NCAA) | 2024-25: 6G, 10A, 16P, 37GP | Projected Late First or Early Second Round Pick
2025 NHL Draft : Shane Vansaghi - 24-25 Highlights
Here's a video package of Shane Vansaghi from the 2024-2025 season. #nhldraft #2025nhldraft #nhl #ncaahockey #ncaa #sports Profile : Name : Shane VansaghiAg...
Shane Vansaghi may be gone by the 42nd pick, but if not, he should be considered.
Unlike Ekberg, Vansaghi’s game is all about size and strength.
He stands 6-foot-2, 216 pounds, but plays much larger, leveraging his strength to win puck battles on the boards and around the net.
He is slower than most, but he moves very well, a trait that he takes advantage of in the offensive zone to capitalize on his powerful shot and hands.
The St. Louis native is on the older side of this draft class, just a few months older than Islanders draft picks in 2024, Kamil Bednarik and Cole Eiserman, so age should be considered.
However, Vansaghi offers something the Islanders lack in their prospect pool: strength combined with goal-scoring ability.
Islanders prospects Eiserman and Quinn Finley are elite goal scorers, but they don’t score from the dirty areas.
In the NHL, the Islanders have players like Anders Lee, Kyle Palmieri, and even JG Pageau who get to the front of the net, but all three are in their early-to-mid 30s and under contract for either one or two more seasons.
The best draft philosophy is to select the best player available, but for the Islanders, landing Vansaghi at this pick would also address a major need.
Henry Brzustewicz | Right Defenseman | London Knights (OHL) | 2024-25: 10G, 32A, 42P, 67GP | Projected Second Round Pick
2025 NHL Draft : Henry Brzustewicz - 24-25 Highlights
Here's a video package of Henry Brzustewicz from the 2024-2025 season. #nhldraft #2025nhldraft #nhl #ohl #hockey #sports #sportshighlights Profile : Name : H...
The Islanders did not draft much out of the CHL under Lou Lamoriello, but that may change with French-Canadian Mathieu Darche now at the helm.
Funny enough, Henry Brzustewicz is an American, but he has spent the past two seasons with the London Knights, winning two OHL Championships and the 2025 Memorial Cup alongside Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi.
Brzustewicz also won the 2024 OHL Championship alongside Islanders prospect Isaiah George, who had aged out of the CHL for the 2024-25 season.
If there is one thing NHL teams know, it is to draft from London, as the storied OHL franchise consistently produces top prospects.
Brzustewicz, who stands 6-foot-1, 194 pounds, will be no exception, as he played a prominent role for Canada’s top team, even on a blue line with top prospects Sam Dickinson, Oliver Bonk, Jared Woolley, and Cam Allen.
While Brzustewicz is projected to go early in the second round, his skill set is absolutely first-round caliber, led by his offensive instincts, skating, and shot.
The Islanders have not drafted a right-shot defenseman since Tomas Machu in the seventh round in 2021, and they may opt to go forward if they select Schaefer first overall, but Brzustewicz should be a target to help restock the prospect pool.
Alex Huang | Right Defenseman | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) | 2024-25: 7G, 33A, 40P, 64GP | Projected Late Second Round Pick
It doesn’t take much time to see the skill Alex Huang possesses.
The 17-year-old is an incredible skater and playmaker, almost similar to Lane Hutson.
He carries the puck extremely well through the neutral zone and is unafraid to drive the net, even with his 6-foot, 170-pound frame.
The main pushback Huang receives is an overreliance on his speed, but it isn’t going anywhere.
As he gets older, he will continue to develop all aspects of his game, and for a team like the Islanders, which has explicitly stated it is looking to add speed to the roster, Huang could be a great fit.
Not to mention, he doesn’t turn 18 until the end of July, so he could continue to grow a little bit longer than many of his peers.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak | Right Wing & Center | Luleå HF (SHL & J20 Nationell) | 2024-25: 1G, 1A, 2P, 13GP & 23G, 34A, 57P, 40GP | Projected Late First or Early Second Round Pick
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak entered the 2024-25 season as a potential lottery pick, but slightly underwhelming offensive production brought him down to a likely late first-round or early second-round pick.
The eye test for Ihs-Wozniak is quite promising, as his offensive skillset is well-rounded and among the best in this class.
He can score, make precise passes, and even facilitate a power play – a major need for the Islanders.
However, he does not find the scoresheet as often as one would expect, and he is below average defensively.
At the U18s, Ihs-Wozniak didn’t stand out, as he was overshadowed by forwards like Ekberg, Ivar Stenberg, and Milton Gästrin.
A short tournament is not a major concern, but finding the scoresheet a bit more often on such a dominant offense would have cemented his spot as a first-round talent.
Now, he may slip into the second round, offering the Islanders a chance to snag a high-upside forward to add to the pool.
Mason West | Forward | Fargo Force, Edine High (USHL & USHS-MN) | 2024-25: 1G, 8A, 9P, 10GP & 27G, 22A, 49P, 41GP | Projected Second Round Pick
2025 NHL Draft : Mason West - 24-25 Highlights
Here's a video package of Mason West from the 2024-2025 season. #nhldraft #2025nhldraft #nhl #ushl Profile : Name : Mason WestAge : 17Birthplace : Edina, Mi...
Mason West has been compared to Islanders captain Anders Lee quite a lot throughout the draft process.
They are both from Edina, Minnesota, and like Lee was years ago, West is a star quarterback for Edina High.
Not only that, but West’s idol growing up was none other than Lee, with West pursuing a career in football, as well as hockey, because of Lee.
While Lee wanted West to commit to Notre Dame – Lee’s alma mater – West has chosen Michigan State, where he will join in 2026-27 following his senior year.
If the Islanders select Schaefer, a defenseman, at No. 1, they may go with a forward with their second selection, and West is a likely candidate to be taken.
Cameron Schmidt | Right Wing | Vancouver Giants (WHL) | 2024-25: 40G, 38A, 78P, 61GP | Projected Late First or Early Second Round Pick
The New York Islanders reportedly have interest in winger Cameron Schmidt, and while he may be off the board by pick No. 42, he is a name worth keeping an eye on.
Standing at 5-foot-7, Schmidt is on the smaller side, but his first-place finish in the bench press (7.82 watts/kg) could show teams he is capable of playing alongside stronger talent.
His game centers on speed and skill, two traits GM Mathieu Darche has emphasized as offseason priorities for the Islanders.
According to Elite Prospects, Schmidt is “capable of firing in between two strides off the rush, picking the corners of the net from low angles, catching and releasing passes, and adjusting his footwork instantly for one-timers,” all skills that would complement the Islanders’ system.
It remains to be seen whether Schmidt will still be available when the Islanders make their second selection, but it is possible they consider trading into the back half of the second round to secure him.
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