Is Everything About To Change?
Draft Day draws near; Bridgeport names new coach
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
This is the week, Islanders fans. The kind of week where legends are born—or at least drafted wearing newly purchased suits, snapback caps, and a nervous smile. For the first time since 2009, the New York Islanders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft. Not a mid-round reach. Not a “safe” stay-at-home defenseman. Number one. The golden ticket. The franchise-changer.
All signs (not bumper stickers on the Cross Island Parkway) point to them selecting model defenseman and role model to be Matthew Schaefer (if you don’t know why, you can watch THIS and THIS). Schaefer could become the franchise’s next great blueliner, a cornerstone to build around for the next decade—someone who represents the very best of the organization on and off the ice.
But hold on. The intrigue may not end there.
There’s buzz—whispers, really—that the Islanders could get aggressive and trade back into the first round. Why? To snag James Hagens, the Long Island native with elite hands, playmaking vision, and the kind of hometown narrative the marketing team dreams about. He’s not just a feel-good story; he’s a legit top-10 talent. If the Isles can find a way to pull it off, imagine watching Friday night as Mathieu Darche leaves the first round with a top-pair defenseman and a future top-line center who grew up wearing Tavares jerseys (pre-betrayal).
Schaefer and Hagens? Schaegans? That’s not just a draft—that’s a foundation.
Even if that magical dream scenario doesn’t play out, the Isles can now do what every fan base dreams of: draft the guy, the cornerstone for the next decade and perhaps beyond. This pick could make the old narrative—aging core, no offense, clinging to the past—vanish like a Barry Trotz postgame quote. It's a moment to turn the page and slam the book shut on mediocrity.
So polish the podium and cue the dramatics. History’s calling.
This is the week everything changes, or at least, we hope.
Let’s dive in.
Rocky Bridgeport High
The Bridgeport Islanders announced that Rocky Thompson has been named the 10th Head Coach in franchise history. Thompson, 47, brings over a decade of coaching experience across the NHL, AHL, and junior levels. Most recently, he served three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Philadelphia Flyers.
He previously held an Associate Coach role with the San Jose Sharks during the 2020–21 season under Head Coach Bob Boughner — now also part of the Islanders coaching staff, working alongside Patrick Roy.
Coaching Highlights:
Calder Cup Finals Appearance (2019) with the Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Memorial Cup Champion (2017) with the Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Career AHL Head Coaching Record: 113-71-29 over three seasons
Also served as an Assistant in the Edmonton Oilers’ system for five years
Playing Career Snapshot:
A third-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 1995 NHL Draft, Thompson played 25 games in the NHL — 15 with Calgary (1997–99) and 10 with Florida (2000–02) — totaling 117 penalty minutes. Over a 10-year professional career, he also appeared in 566 AHL games, recording 69 points and 1,919 penalty minutes.
What This Means for Bridgeport:
Thompson’s arrival signals a bold new direction focused on toughness, accountability, and development. His experience with winning teams and high-performance systems aligns with the organization’s long-term goals of strengthening the player pipeline from Bridgeport to Long Island.
Blue & White Scrimmage
The Blue & White Scrimmage Game is BACK in a sign of changing times.
Set for July 2nd at Northwell Health Ice Center, the scrimmage will cap off development camp and mark the first public look at the team’s top prospects, fresh draft picks, and future hopefuls. Over the weekend, season ticket holders received an email with a purchase link, while tickets went on sale to the general public on Monday.
Tickets are $15 and benefit the Islanders Children's Foundation!
Get your tickets now: https://bit.ly/3FOLvgE
◾️Coming Over: Per Stefen Rosner in The Hockey News, according to an interview conducted by HockeySverige, the most reputable hockey news site in Sweden, New York Islanders goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlöf shared that he will attend the team's development camp. "They haven't had a development camp in previous years, but now they're going to have one, and then I'll go over there," Gidlof told HockeySverige (Swedish to English translation).
🎥 ISLES REWIND: On June 25, 2000, 25 years ago, General Manager Mike Milbury and the New York Islanders selected Boston University’s Rick DiPietro as the first goaltender to be selected No.1 overall at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
The Islanders unloaded two goalies to make room for DiPietro, trading future Hall-of-Famer Roberto Luongo to Florida and backup goaltender Kevin Weekes to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "We're hanging a lot of our reputations on this kid," Milbury said of DiPietro. "It's gutsy, it may be crazy, but at least we have the courage of our convictions. We have every intention of giving Rick a chance to play for the New York Islanders in the fall."
🔗 Islanders GM Mathieu Darche has key moves coming up by Andrew Gross, Newsday “Monday served as a good reminder that Mathieu Darche will soon be judged on a lot more than just being the new guy on Long Island. A bevy of decisions await in short order for the Islanders general manager/executive vice president that will help shape the franchise for the coming seasons, including the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday when Darce is expected to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall.”
🔗 Islanders' Potential Second Round Targets At 2025 NHL Draft by Micharl Ostrower, The Hockey News “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.”
And we leave you with this…take 12 minutes and learn more about Matthew Schaefer
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