The New York Islanders have the top pick in the NHL draft: Who will they choose?

The two-day NHL draft will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this weekend, with the first round held on Friday night.

The New York Islanders have the No. 1 pick after winning the draft lottery in May. The San Jose Sharks, who finished last in the overall standings, pick second followed by Chicago and Utah. Six of the top prospects:

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 183 pounds. Turns 18 on Sept. 5.

Expected to be selected: No. 1 by the New York Islanders.

Accomplishments/background: Schaefer maintained the top spot in NHL Central Scouting rankings despite missing start of the season with mononucleosis and the final three months after breaking his collarbone. Scouts believe he did enough to show off his offensive flair with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games. That's a jump from the his rookie season (seven goals and 17 points in 56 games). Schaefer also had two goals and four assists in captaining Canada to win the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in August. Schaefer has shown poise and maturity in dealing with tragedy. His mother died of cancer in February 2024. Two months earlier, the mother of his billet family was struck and killed by a train and last December Otters owner and Schaefer’s mentor, Jim Waters, died of a heart attack. Would become first OHL player to go No. 1 since Erie star Connor McDavid went first in 2015.

NHL Central Scouting report: “He does it all on the ice -- defends well as an elite skater with good gap control and has the ability and smarts to consistently produce offensively. ... A special talent.”

Hometown: Oakville, Ontario.

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 184 pounds. Turned 18 in February.

Expected to be selected: No. 2 to San Jose, and shouldn’t fall any lower than No. 4.

Accomplishments/background: Misa led the CHL in scoring last season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists), matching the most by an under-18 OHL player since 2009 No. 1 selection John Tavares in 2006-07. He was the eighth player granted CHL exceptional status, allowing him to play at 15. He was the OHL’s rookie of the year in 2022 and helped Saginaw win the Memorial Cup championship the following year. After playing wing his first two seasons, he seamlessly made the switch to center this season.

NHL Central Scouting report: “He’s bigger, stronger and faster than previous seasons. ... A clever play-maker who makes plays at speed and knows how to put the puck in the net. ... His quickness, creativity and hockey sense are off the charts.”

Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden.

Measurables: 6-feet, 198 pounds. Turned 18 in May.

Expected to be selected: Could go No. 2 to San Jose. Shouldn't drop lower than No. 5 (Nashville).

Accomplishments/background: Frondell finished the season as central scouting’s top-ranked international skater. He's a puck-possession forward, with an outgoing personality. He joked about how much his English improved during team interviews at the draft combine. After playing 10 games in Sweden’s junior league, he made the jump to the second division, where he had 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games. In 2023-24, Frondell led his junior team and finished tied for sixth in the league with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 29 games.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Has perfect balance in his skating and makes it difficult for opponents to catch him. Wins most of the one-on-one battles.”

Hometown: Hauppauge, New York.

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 177 pounds. Turned 18 in November.

Expected to be selected: A top-10 selection, who could prompt teams to trade up should he fall to No. 9 (Buffalo).

Accomplishments/background: Hagens is the top-ranked American-born player at No. 3 on central scouting’s list. A high-scoring playmaker who grew up an Islanders fan on Long Island. With 11 goals and 26 assists, he finished fourth in points among college freshmen. He scored five goals for America’s gold medal-winning team at the world juniors. A year earlier, Hagens earned world junior tournament MVP honors with nine goals and 22 points. In two years on the U.S. national development team, he finished fifth on the career list with 187 points and 115 assists.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Always a scoring threat off the rush and can set up his teammates from anywhere. ... He wants the puck on his stick and has game-changer ability. The complete offensive package.”

Hometown: Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 178 pounds. Turned 18 in April.

Expected to be selected: Chance to go 4th (Utah).

Accomplishments/background: Though ranked seventh on the central scouting list of North American skaters, Desnoyers has risen up the charts after leading Moncton to a Memorial Cup berth. He finished fifth in the Q with 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) in 56 games. He followed up in earning QMJHL playoff MVP honors with nine goals and 30 points in 19 games. He’s a three-time gold medalist in winning at the Under-17, Under-18 championship and the 2024 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.

NHL Central Scouting report: “He’s willing to do most of the dirty work to retrieve 50-50 pucks, and will play a physical style when needed. His skating is good and will continue to get more powerful as he matures physically. ... Prospect who has lots of transferable pro elements in his game.”

Hometown: North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Measurables: 6-foot-5, 190 pounds. Turned 18 in November.

Expected to be selected: Has opportunity to be the ninth goalie taken in the first round since 2011. Both Philadelphia (No. 6, 22, 31) and Nashville (5, 23, 26) are potential landing spots, with each having three first-round selections.

Accomplishments/background: Ravensbergen is central scouting’s top-ranked North American goalie and went 33-13-4, finishing tied for the WHL’s second-most wins. He went 26-4-1 last year, with a rookie league record-tying six shutouts. In two WHL seasons, he has a 2.78 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

NHL Central Scouting report: “Has a huge pro presence and plays big even when down in the butterfly with excellent low-net coverage. ... A combination of size and ability, he has a good chance to become an NHL starter.”

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Swedish teammates Victor Eklund, left, and Anton Frondell address reporters while attending the NHL pre-draft combine in Buffalo, N.Y., June 6, 2025. The two played together for Djurgarden, in Sweden Tier 2 pro league, and both projected to be first-round picks in the NHL draft this weekend. (AP Photo/John Wawrow)

FILE - CHL prospect Michael Misa (66) battles for the puck with USA prospect Asher Barnett during the third period of the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge game in Oshawa, Ontario, Nov. 27, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, file)

FILE - Canada forward Calum Ritchie, left, celebrates after his goal with defenseman Matthew Schaefer during third-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pretournament action, Dec. 21, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP, file)

FILE - Boston College forward James Hagens (10) reacts after scoring a goal during the third period of an NCAA hockey regionals game against Bentley on March 28, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, file)

As No. 1 Indiana prepares for Friday night's College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 5 Oregon, coach Curt Cignetti is already reloading.

On Sunday, the undefeated Hoosiers acquired two key players in the transfer portal, landing former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, according to a person with knowledge of the commitment. The person requested anonymity because official announcements have not yet been made. Former Michigan State receiver Nick Marsh also is headed to Indiana, his mother, Yolanda Wilson, confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday.

Marsh considered transferring last year but said he turned down more money from other schools to stay with the Spartans.

Hoover could be the successor for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza even though Mendoza's younger brother, Alberto, could stay at Indiana. But Hoover brings a dimension that has worked well for Cignetti in his first two seasons in Bloomington — a proven, multiyear starter.

Indiana went with Kurtis Rourke, a Mid-American Conference Player of the Year with Ohio, in 2024 then got Mendoza, a two-year starter at California, this season.

Hoover is 19-12 in 2 1/2 seasons as the Horned Frogs starter and has completed 65.2% of his 1,183 attempts for 9,629 yards and has 71 TD passes and 33 interceptions. In 2025, the Texan was 272 of 413 for 3,472 yards with 29 TDs and 13 interceptions. He also has eight TD runs in his career.

But the other part of Sunday's haul was equally impressive. Marsh had 100 receptions for 1,311 yards and nine TD receptions in his two seasons with the Spartans and broke school records for a freshman with 41 catches and 649 yards in 2024.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Marsh is expected to replace Elijah Sarratt, who caught the winning TD passes at Iowa and in Indiana's first matchup against Oregon.

Multiple news outlets also reported former Boston College running back Turbo Richard also was heading to Indiana. Richard had 145 carries for 749 yards and nine TDs in 11 games last season after only logging 55 carries in 2024. The Hoosiers also are losing their top two rushers — Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black.

The Hoosiers (14-0) and Ducks (13-1) meet Friday night in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta with the winner advancing to the Jan. 19 national championship game.

Quarterback Brendan Sorsby announced in an Instagram post that he is transferring to Texas Tech.

Sorsby was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal. He had thrown for at least 2,800 yards each of the last two seasons at Cincinnati. This season, Sorsby completed 61.6% of his passes for 2,800 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns.

That followed a 2024 season in which Sorsby completed 64% of his passes for 2,813 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He rushed for 447 yards and nine touchdowns that year.

Quarterback Colton Joseph is heading to Wisconsin after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and eclipsing 1,000 yards rushing at Old Dominion this season.

Joseph announced his decision Sunday with an X post that included the message, “On Wisconsin.” He completed 59.7% of his passes this season for 2,624 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Old Dominion, which went 10-3. He also rushed for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries. He didn’t play in Old Dominion’s 24-10 Cure Bowl victory over South Florida after deciding to enter the transfer portal.

Wisconsin has gone to the transfer portal for quarterbacks every year since coach Luke Fickell arrived, though injuries have limited their production.

Tanner Mordecai came over from SMU in 2023 but missed 3 1/2 games with a broken hand that season. Tyler Van Dyke arrived from Miami the following year but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the third game of the season. Former Mississippi State quarterback Braedyn Locke started when Mordecai and Van Dyke were injured.

Billy Edwards Jr. transferred from Maryland and opened the 2025 season as Wisconsin’s starter, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio). He did not play after Sept. 20. San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after Edwards’ injury.

Illinois found a potential replacement for Luke Altmyer, signing QB Katin Houser out of the transfer portal. He threw for 6,438 yards and 43 touchdowns over four seasons for Michigan State and East Carolina.

It was a big weekend for Colorado coach Deion Sanders, who was looking to add weapons for highly touted quarterback Julian Lewis.

The Buffaloes received commitments from an array of players including San Jose State receiver Danny Scudero, who was named to The Associated Press All-America second team. Scudero’s intention to join the Buffaloes was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because Colorado hasn’t announced its new arrivals.

Colorado also had pledges from receiver Kam Perry of Miami (Ohio), along with defensive linemen Lamont Lester Jr. and Yamil Talib, the nephew of longtime NFL cornerback Aqib Talib. In addition, running back Damian Henderson II is set to join Colorado.

Scudero had 88 catches for 1,291 yards and 10 TDs last season for San Jose State. He had a program-best four touchdown catches against Wyoming.

The Buffaloes will be the third school for Perry, who started at Indiana before transferring to Miami (Ohio). He finished with 43 catches for 976 yards and six touchdowns for the RedHawks in 2025.

Henderson follows his coach at Sacramento State to Colorado. Brennan Marion was hired by Sanders as offensive coordinator to implement Marion's high-tempo, run-oriented “Go-Go” system. Henderson rushed for 565 yards last season after starting his career at Colorado State.

Talib comes to Boulder from Charlotte, where he had 28 tackles and an interception last season for the 49ers. He was at Oklahoma State in 2024.

Lester had 9 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles last season for Monmouth.

AP Sports Writers Pat Graham, Larry Lage and Steve Megargee also contributed to this report.

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FILE - Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez,File)

FILE - TCU quarterback Josh Hoover (10) plays against Houston during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith,File)