Islanders Can’t Afford to Miss With 13th Pick in 2026 Draft

Last year, the New York Islanders drafted Matthew Schaefer first overall, who changed the direction of the franchise overnight. This year, they have the 13th overall pick. That may not sound as exciting at first, but don’t sleep on how important it is to the future of the franchise. This is still a very valuable spot, especially for a team in the Islanders’ position. 

While the Islanders certainly aren’t rebuilding from scratch, they’re not in a position to keep relying on the same aging core year after year. They clearly need new talent to support those who are already in the room. 

Islanders Still Need Game-Breaking Skill

The Islanders have been in need of more offense for years now. While the team already addressed that somewhat by drafting Victor Eklund and trading for Cal Ritchie, the glaring need for more youth in the top-six cannot go unnoticed. 

A good scenario would be a player like Ethan Belchetz dropping down the board, who could add size and skill to the wing, something the Islanders desperately need. More realistic names that can also add a lot of value include players such as Adam Novotný, whose overall game is almost NHL-ready, and Oscar Hemming, a big, physical forward with some scoring pop. That’s a pair that the Islanders should probably be studying closely.   

This is where their scouting department really needs to shine. While a winger could be an excellent pick, it could also be the best player available if the right player falls. The Islanders need more shooting, more speed, and more players who can create opportunities without having Mathew Barzal and Schaefer drag the offense uphill.  

The Right Side of the Blue Line Is Still Thin 

The arrival of Schaefer completely changed things on the blue line, and the addition of Kashawn Aitcheson over the next few seasons means that they’ll have another top-end defensive prospect with great offensive capabilities to play with. With these two guys, the Islanders are looking much better compared to what they had last year. 

It’s when you look at the right side of the defense that you quickly realize that the cupboard is completely bare. They can keep trying to patch that side with veterans, but that’s not how teams build a sustainable blue line. 

The ideal scenario would be getting a player like Daxon Rudolph, who is unlikely to be there when the Islanders pick, but would still represent the best choice in that range. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound right-shot defenseman leads rushes like a forward and anchors his own end with elite positioning and a long reach.

In terms of the most realistic players, Ryan Lin appears to be the perfect fit for the Islanders, as he fits the profile that they are after. Lin is a right-handed defenseman who has great mobility and can really move the puck well. If the Islanders plan on building a fast, skilled defense core around Schaefer in the long run, Lin should be among their targets. 

Again, this is where general manager Mathieu Darche and the scouting staff have to come through. Drafting purely based on need spells trouble. But if the board is close, a right-shot should carry some extra weight.

A Center Could Give the Islanders More Options 

Centers are always valuable since they are hard to find and offer more flexibility as they can play either down the middle or on the wing. At the same time, they are the safest picks in the draft since they always add value to the team. 

If names like Tynan Lawrence or Viggo Bjorck somehow slip to 13, the Islanders should absolutely consider them. Bjorck would be particularly difficult to pass up; the 5-foot-10, 172-pound right-shot center is an electric skater with elite hockey sense and has a knack for creating highlight-reel chances.

The Islanders have an aging group down the middle, and it would make sense to get another center who could potentially replace some of the current forwards if they fail to live up to expectations. 

Islanders Can’t Overthink It  

This isn’t the pick where the Islanders should try to get cute. They need someone who can tilt the ice and provide the team with an element they don’t currently have. Whether that player is a right-shot defenseman, a scoring winger, or even a center, there is no reason to overcomplicate things. You simply need to go with the best player available. 

That has to be the mindset going into the draft at 13. If Darche and company make the right move here, it won’t seem like a franchise-defining pick when it happens, but a few years from now, it could be remembered as another key turning point of this next era of Islanders hockey.