Having the first overall pick in the NHL Draft can be an exciting time. It can also be a time when the organization wonders if it made the right pick. The New York Islanders are a tried franchise that has had the first overall pick four times in their history and for the most part that they have succeeded with that pick.
The 2025 NHL Draft is a mere two weeks away and the Islanders sit in that predicament again. Will they draft Erie Otters sensation defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Ontario Hockey League? Plenty of possibilities this season for new general manager Mathieu Darche.
New York has drafted two forwards, a defenseman, and a goaltender with the first overall pick. John Tavares, Billy Harris, Rick DiPietro, and Denis Potvin have been those choices and have worked out rather well. Potvin and Tavares have had exceptional careers, while Harris was a solid player and DiPietro had a somewhat difficult path.
Billy Harris
Right winger Billy Harris, a 6-foot and 196-pound forward was drafted in 1972 out of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) while playing for the Toronto Marlboros. He would spend eight seasons with the Islanders and have a successful career in New York. He recorded 184 goals and 259 assists for 443 points in 623 games. he was also a +412 and had 296 penalty minutes before he and Dave Lewis were traded to the Los Angeles Kings for forward Butch Goring.
Denis Potvin
Defenseman Denis Potvin was drafted in 1973 from the Ottawa 67's of the OHA and would spend his entire 15-year career with the Islanders. The 6-foot and 206-pound Potvin would become one of the best players in the history of the Islanders and one of the best defensemen in NHL history. The Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native would play in 1,060 games racking up 310 goals and 742 assists for 1,052 points.
He was also a +456 and had 1,336 penalty minutes. he participated in nine All-Star games, won the 1973-74 Calder Trophy for the league's best rookie, was a three-time Norris Trophy winner for the league's best defenseman, won four Stanley Cups, and was voted as one of the NHL's greatest players in 2017-18.
Rick DiPietro
Goaltender Rick DiPietro was drafted in the 2000 NHL Draft out of Boston University in Hockey-East. The 6-foot and 185-pound DiPietro spent his entire 11-year career with the Islanders, most of it on the injured list.
Between the 2008-09 and the 2012-13 season he played only 50 games. he would play in the 2008 NHL All-Star game and post a record of 108-130-36, a .902 save percentage, and a 2.87 goals-against-average during his tenure with the Islanders.
John Tavares
Center John Tavares was drafted first oveall in teh 2009 NHL Draft from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The 6-foot-1 and 211-pound Tavares spent nine season with New York, racking up 621 points on 272 goals and 349 assists in 669 games. On July 1, 2018, he made the controversial move to the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent.
During his time in New York, he made the All-Star game four times and has been an NHL All-Star six times total. He continues to thrive and produce offensively. With the Maple Leafs in the 2024-25 season, he scored 38 goals and 36 assists for 74 points, was a +10 and had 46 penalty minutes. he is currently a free agent.
The first overall pick in the NHL Draft can sink a franchise or propel it forward. Many players have produced successful careers but there have also been many busts. The Islanders have the opportunity to pick a franchise-changing player at number one. Do they take that talent or trade it for a massive haul? Darche has time to think but time is slowly running out. Either way, the franchise is about to be greatly affected in two weeks.