It’s time to analyze the New York Islanders in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Islanders’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
The Islanders are in a period of transition with the draft lottery win looking like the moment when the organization finally accepted its fate.
The opportunity to draft first overall had the team looking to the future. It’s why they traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens, acquiring two more top-20 picks in the process.
The Islanders are ushering in a new era, now looking to the future with a new management team. Simply making the playoffs is no longer the goal. Building toward something greater is what new GM Mathieu Darche and his staff seem to be looking toward.
Things took a turn toward this direction at the March trade deadline. The Islanders traded Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche for their top prospect, Calum Ritchie. After his trial with the Avalanche at the start of the past season, Ritchie was excellent for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, which made a deep playoff run.
Ritchie is a tactical two-way center who can play various roles. He’s such an effective playmaker who can make plays in various ways, working delays to open a lane or hooking a puck around a defender to put teammates in the best position to score. Ritchie’s skating has improved since being drafted as well, so he will join the Islanders as a more complete player than he was when Colorado selected him.
One player who might benefit from Ritchie’s playmaking and overall passing ability is Cole Eiserman, the team’s first-round pick in 2024.
Eiserman is a lethal shooter who can fill the net. Eiserman can grip-it and rip-it from all over the offensive zone. He really seems to understand the nuance of settling into pockets and providing a quick trigger option. Eiserman has some physicality as well. He’s taking his time developing in the NCAA, which has helped round out some of his defensive issues as well.
When Jesse Nurmi moved to the London Knights, the initial expectation was the Finnish forward would step into the lineup and be an impact player night in and night out. He wound up playing more of a depth scoring role for the Knights as they went on to win the Memorial Cup, but his flashes of skill and playmaking popped up routinely. He’s set to jump to the AHL, where he will have to show he can play through contact and provide some value outside of his skill.
Although his first NCAA season wasn’t quite as good as he hoped, Kamil Bednarik is still a very interesting prospect. What did carry over from his days with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program was his defensive game and the intelligence it takes to angle players off and take good routes on the backcheck. He did flash some of his passing ability, hitting teammates as they streaked to the slot or on the back door. The Isles will hope for a big step up for Bednarik this season.
Drafted last year as an overage defenseman, Jesse Pulkkinen continues to be one of the most intriguing prospects the Islanders have because of his offensive creativity. There is a brashness about Pulkkinen that makes him fun to watch. The biggest thing holding Pulkkinen back is his feet. The 6-foot-6 blueliner often struggles to pivot or change directions quickly. That has caused some issues in the defensive zone, but he can lean on his length and physicality when needed. Pulkkinen has some intriguing upside, but he’s no guarantee to be an NHLer.
Calle Odelius played his first AHL season, and it featured some ups and downs, but the mobile blueliner made strides throughout the season. Odelius’ game is built around his skating and vision on the breakout. There is still plenty of potential as a bottom-pair puck-mover who could play up if needed. His skating is at the NHL level, and he just needs to play a tighter defensive game.
U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season
Calum Ritchie (C), Matthew Schaefer (D)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 1st overall – Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL)
Round 1, 16th overall – Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.)
Round 1, 17th overall – Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)
Round 2, 42nd overall – Daniil Prokhorov, RW, St. Petersburg Dynamo Jr. (Rus.)
Round 3, 74th overall – Luca Romano, C, Kitchener (OHL)
Round 4, 106th overall – Tomas Poletin, LW, Pelicans (Fin.)
Round 5, 138th overall – Sam Laurila, D, Fargo (USHL)
Round 6, 170th overall – Burke Hood, G, Vancouver (WHL)
Round 7, 202nd overall – Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
The Islanders were the talk of the NHL draft.
Obviously, the team with the first overall pick is of interest, but when the Islanders traded Noah Dobson to Montreal to get the 16th and 17th overall picks as well, everyone was talking about the Islanders on draft day.
There were immediately rumors flying around that they were looking to move those two picks in an effort to move up and grab the local kid, James Hagens. Ultimately, they were unable to move up, and Hagens went to the Boston Bruins, but the Islanders made three first-round picks, giving them a trio of prospects that they can build around for the next decade or more.
As soon as Dobson was moved out, it made a ton of sense to take Matthew Schaefer.
His ability to control many facets of the game is impressive. His mobility is simply special. Schaefer uses his four-way mobility in various ways. He can shadow attackers in his own end or evade a forechecker by slipping by them with ease. In the offensive zone, he dances along the blueline and then attacks lanes when given room.
The most impressive area of Schaefer’s game is in transition, gashing through the neutral zone while putting defenders on their heels. Schaefer looked incredible in his limited action last year, including asserting himself as Canada’s best defender before suffering a collarbone injury at the World Junior Championship. If Schaefer does step into New York’s lineup on Day 1, there’s a chance that he’s arguably their most effective blueliner by season’s end.
Victor Eklund’s fall at the 2025 draft might be the most fortunate thing to happen for the Islanders outside of the miracle lottery win. Eklund is arguably a top-eight talent in this draft class, with many, including me, considering him a top-five player. He is a tenacious, driven winger who plays bigger than his size suggests. He fearlessly goes into corners with the intention of winning the puck battle, and he comes out with it more often than not. Eklund will fly down the wall to prevent a defender's easy breakout by throwing his body around.
On top of his relentless nature, Eklund is a very skilled shooter who is never shy to fire the puck on net from the home plate area on the ice. He works off the wall to the middle of the ice with high efficiency, looking to draw defenders and open up passing lanes when he doesn’t have a shot from inside the dots. Eklund is a legitimate offensive threat when you combine his motor and skill with a very good snap shot and a quick release. Eklund could be the steal of the first round at 16th overall.
With the very next pick, the Islanders decided that they got high-end skill with their first two selections, so adding some nastiness and jam was warranted. That led them to draft OHL defender Kashawn Aitcheson, one of the most feared players in the class. Aitcheson (figuratively) beats the life out of opposing players with massive hits and doesn’t let up after the whistle. He loves being physically involved, often getting into the heads of his opponents.
The rest of his game is still a work in progress, but the building blocks are all there. Offensively, Aitcheson has a booming shot, and he loves to use it. His passing is fairly simple but often efficient. In his own end, Aitcheson can impose his will physically, but his footwork could be improved so that he can defend in space more effectively. His offensive game may not be the most translatable to the NHL, but he projects as a physical, mean defender who can move the puck up ice.
In Round 2, the Isles opted for another physical monster, 6-foot-6 forward Daniil Prokhorov, who loves to blow opposing players up and score goals. He’s one of the better power forwards in the 2025 class, using his size to its full potential. He can lower his shoulder, drive through the defender and get to the net. Prokhorov is also a bit of a jerk who loves to throw an extra shot during play and after the whistle. The second-round pick is a bit of a swing, as his offensive game must become more than just being a powerful net driver and shooter, but it’s one worth taking.
Luca Romano has all of the tools and shows flashes of putting it all together. Romano is a hard-working forward with a ton of speed. He is still figuring out what kind of player he will be at the next level, though. Will he lean into the skill, or will he become an energy guy? Can he blend the two? No matter what, the Islanders made a solid bet in the third round.
The rollercoaster ride Tomas Poletin’s draft stock took this year made for an interesting evaluation. Coming into the year, many thought that he could be a potential first-round pick, but he is a worthwhile selection this late. In some games, he was a force on the boards and showcased his strength and work rate in the corners. On other occasions, he leaned into his skill but often had less success. Poletin must accept his role is likely that of a bottom-six player, and if he does, he could be a really solid prospect.
One of the youngest players eligible for the 2024 NHL draft, Sam Laurila, had a very good season in the United States League, which led to him being drafted as an overage prospect. He’s headed to the NCAA with the University of North Dakota in the fall, where he will look to get a bit faster and stronger to help take advantage of his passing and vision in the offensive zone. He began playing with a tighter gap this year and showing some physical play.
Burke Hood is a goalie with size and athleticism who posted great numbers in the WHL despite a big workload. Hood helped make Vancouver competitive on most nights, but his play in the post-season fell off pretty hard. The Isles are betting on Hood’s package of tools and traits coming together.
Jacob Kvasnicka showed glimpses of speed and skill that could make him an intriguing player. He’s heading to the WHL for a season with the league's newest franchise, the Penticton Vees. He will then head to the University of Minnesota. Kvasnicka weaponizes his speed on the forecheck and often creates havoc around the offensive zone. He often seems like he’s skating around without a purpose, but when he focuses on a task, he can make an impact.
Strengths
With Eklund, the left wing position of the Islanders’ prospect pool has become a legitimate strength.
Eklund and Eiserman headline the group as potential top-six players. Nurmi is a potential depth scorer as well. Poletin saw his stock rise and fall throughout the season, but the fourth-rounder comes with some pedigree. Quinn Finley has flown under the radar at times, but he’s a world junior gold medallist, and he averaged more than a point per game in the NCAA this past season. For a prospect pool with more weaknesses than strengths, the left wing is quite strong in terms of depth and top-end talent.
Weaknesses
Not to be dramatic, but the Islanders have no right-shot defensemen in the system, with all due respect to Tomas Machu, who just had a decent enough freshman season at Providence College at 22.
The Islanders added a few solid defenseman in the 2025 draft, but none of them were on the right side. New York must bolster that side of the blueline, but if they’re rebuilding or retooling, they have plenty of time.
Hidden Gem: Danny Nelson, C/W
Ever since his time with the NTDP, Danny Nelson has consistently found a way to impact the game as a defensive player, forechecker and steady contributor on offense.
His game isn’t full of flair, and he doesn’t have some sort of unreal highlight reel, but Nelson always finds a way to provide value to his team. He’s played a fourth-line role for the American world junior squad to win gold, and he’s been a depth scorer for them another time to bring him a second gold medal. Nelson is a guy you win with because he does the little things so well. Coaches love him. Although he may never be a high-end producer, he can be an effective bottom-six energy guy.
Next Man Up: Matthew Scheafer, D, And Calum Ritchie, C
The Islanders will likely have some young talent jumping into the NHL lineup when the new season starts.
It’s not often that a first overall pick doesn’t jump right into the NHL, and despite Schaefer’s lack of games played this past year, he could be given a top-four role in short order on Long Island. His impact in all facets of the game will be a blessing. If he faces some struggles in one area of the game, he can fall back on another. Schaefer has all of the tools to be an effective rookie, but there will be growing pains.
As for Ritchie, the spot Nelson vacated when the Islanders traded him for Ritchie looks like a great spot to jump into the lineup. Ritchie has the 200-foot game the Isles coaching staff will demand of him if he wants a regular role in the top six. He has the puckhandling and passing to become a very good offensive player as well. His skating continues to get more powerful, and he looks much more agile on his feet. Ritchie could be a sneaky Calder candidate if he can secure a role on the second line.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Victor Eklund, Cole Eiserman, Jesse Nurmi, Tomas Poletin, Quinn Finley, Eetu Liukas
C: Calum Ritchie, Kamil Bednarik, Danny Nelson, Luca Romano
RW: Matthew Maggio, Jacob Kvasnicka, Daniil Prokhorov
LD: Matthew Schaefer, Kashawn Aitcheson, Calle Odelius, Jesse Pulkkinen, Isaiah George, Sam Laurila
RD: Tomas Machu
G: Tristan Lennox, Dmitry Gamzin, Marcus Gidlof, Burke Hood
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
