$1.9B franchise eyeing Cameron Schmidt in 2025 NHL draft: Reports

The New York Islanders are showing interest in Cameron Schmidt ahead of the 2025 NHL draft. The team is preparing carefully for all seven of its draft picks. While most attention is on their No. 1 selection, their No. 42 pick is also important. They have one of the weaker prospect pools in the league, so every pick counts.

According to Eyes on Isles' Michael Stahurski, Schmidt met with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche. It proved that the team is considering him as a possible choice at No. 42. Schmidt is a 5-foot-7 right winger who plays for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. He scored 78 points in 61 games last season, with 40 goals and 38 assists. He also had nine points in fie playoff games.

Schmidt also played for Canada in international tournaments and helped the team win gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18 World Championship.

Darche wants a faster team, and Schmidt’s style of play fits that goal. If he is still available at No. 42, he could be a good option for New York. Ranked as high as 14th by The Hockey News, he may not be an easy player to pass on.

"There aren’t many players in this draft with the kind of one-shot scoring ability Schmidt has." THN's Tony Ferrari wrote on May 25.

The Islanders, who are worth $1.9 billion according to Forbes, seem ready to make a smart and careful decision.

Cameron Schmidt uses his smaller stature as motivation

Cameron Schmidt, who stands 5-foot-7, said he hears questions about his size sometimes, but tries not to think about it too much. Instead, he focuses on the good parts of his game and uses them as motivation.

"I use that (size) kind of as motivation, just being the smaller guy," Schmidt said on Thursday, via NHL.com. "Try to play a more aggressive game, I guess, to fit just the way I play. And I think it brings a lot to my game. I know what I'm able to do on the ice, and I know that my size isn't going to hurt my game in any way. I just try to focus on the positive things."

Schmidt added that being the smaller guy pushes him to play more aggressively. He also watches NHL players like Cole Caufield and Brayden Point, as they are smaller but have done well at the pro level. Seeing them succeed gives him confidence.