Islanders trade Noah Dobson, but they aren't done — one more huge NHL Draft trade is coming

Billy Heyen

Islanders trade Noah Dobson, but they aren't done — one more huge NHL Draft trade is coming image

The New York Islanders are only half done.

They traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens at about 2 p.m. Friday. They've got a handful of hours to turn the two first-round picks (16, 17) they got for him into one more gigantic deal.

It's well-known via numerous NHL insider reports that the Islanders want James Hagens, a Long Island kid. And it's believed they'll have to trade into the top-five to get him.

The Islanders already possess the No. 1 overall pick. That'll be the 17-year old defenseman Matthew Schaefer from Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.

But Hagens gives them the chance to have a dream draft, if they can get to No. 5, ahead of the Flyers and Bruins at 6-7 who would probably take Hagens.

MORE: Canadiens already sign Noah Dobson to huge contract

Hagens just completed his freshman season at Boston College. He has starred for the United States at both the World U18s and the World Juniors.

At one point, he was considered in the running for the No. 1 slot, but the teams in the top-five have mostly gone away from him.

Nashville picks fifth, and that may be the team New York hopes will make a deal with them.

The 16th and 17th picks, and maybe another asset, could be enough for the Predators to move off No. 5 and let the Islanders in on the party.

And if the Islanders leave Friday night with Schaefer and Hagens, they'll be the happiest team in the league.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle