Calle Odelius – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:42:03 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: Boston University Terriers forward Cole Eiserman (34) looks on during the Hockey East semifinal game between the Boston University Terriers and the UConn Huskies on March 20, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 11th (May 2025 - 21st)
GM: Mathieu Darche Hired: May 2025
COACH: Patrick Roy Hired: January 2024

Jumping up ten spots is the New York Islanders, which significantly reshaped their prospect pool and hopefully the future of the organization.

They headlined the off-season by trading top defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for back-to-back picks at 15th and 16th in the 2025 draft. After already landing their new franchise blueliner, Matthew Schaefer, with the first overall pick, the Islanders used those mid-round slots to select Victor Eklund and throwback-style defender Kashawn Aitcheson. They also added high-regarded second-rounder Daniil Prokhorov.

Those names are in addition to adding an already high-caliber youngster in Calum Ritchie. Rarely do teams land a top-tier prospect in exchange for a rental player, yet that’s exactly what happened when the Isles acquired Ritchie from Colorado for long-time Islander Brock Nelson.

Ritchie brings slick hands, elite hockey sense, and a track record of production, finishing his OHL career with 254 points in 221 games for Oshawa. He’ll eventually join forces with Cole Eiserman, the sharpshooting Boston University freshman who scored 25 goals, earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team honours, and won gold at the World Juniors. Eiserman is set to return to school for his sophomore season, but the potential of a Ritchie–Eiserman tandem gives the Islanders a legitimate offensive foundation for the future.

Supporting that core is a trio of defensive prospects—Isaiah George, Calle Odelius, and Jesse Pulkkinen—currently developing in the AHL with Bridgeport.

With Lou Lamoriello stepping aside, the Islanders enter uncharted territory under Mathieu Darche. The NHL roster’s middling performance suggests a retool is in order, and the influx of high-end young talent this year represents a promising first step.

New York Islanders Top-15 Prospects

1 - Matthew Schaefer

Everyone’s favourite story from this past year saw the Isles draft Schaefer first overall. A mature young man, Schaefer was selected first despite missing a significant portion of the year due to a collarbone injury. The reason for that is that Schaefer is the complete package. He’s an elite skater and processor who impacts the game in so many different ways. He’s also the kind of player who oozes leadership qualities and could, one day soon, wear a letter for the Islanders. A potential top pairing defender and minute muncher, Schaefer will attempt to make the Islanders roster this year or he will return to the OHL after signing his ELC. A return to junior hockey might not be a bad thing for his development considering how little he played last season. This would allow him to build up strength and confidence before making that jump to the show. Don’t worry, Islanders’ fans, you won’t have to wait long for Schaefer to make an impact.

2 - Cole Eiserman

Eiserman’s progression over the season showed notable growth in engagement and consistency in his game. Early in the season he displayed inconsistent effort, lack of defensive commitment, and limited puck support, often disengaged without contributing in all three zones. However, as the season progressed, he demonstrated increased physical presence, stronger puck protection, and a more competitive forecheck. His offensive strengths remained a consistent theme, with a quick release, powerful shot, and strong net-front presence. Eiserman excels as a shoot-first offensive forward with solid skating, puck handling, and net-front scoring ability. His quick release and shot accuracy are his most valuable assets. Weaknesses wise, his effort and defensive responsibility remain inconsistent. Eiserman projects as a top six scoring winger with powerplay upside. Continued improvements in compete level and decision making will be very important for his game to transition well to the pro level.

3 - Victor Eklund

The speedy, energetic Eklund immediately becomes one of the Islanders best prospects after falling into their laps at 16th overall. The young Swedish winger should endear himself to Isles fans in no time at all. He’s a total spark plug. He skates like the wind, his processing speed is excellent, and his motor never stops. He’s so slippery along the wall and makes plays from the boards to the middle with ease. He can fill the net with his laser of a shot as well. Although he’s on the smaller side, Eklund is a bulldog who plays bigger than he is. He will have to bulk up and get some seasoning against better competition before he’s considered NHL ready, however. After tearing up the HockeyAllsvenskan and helping his team secure SHL promotion, Eklund will have the chance to do so. He should assume a top six role with Djurgården and will most likely slot into the Isles top nine when he makes the jump across the pond. If all goes well, Eklund could be a 20+ goal scoring winger at the NHL level.

4 - Calum Ritchie

Acquired from Colorado for Brock Nelson, Ritchie joins a very quickly revamped Islanders’ prospect group. Last season, he cracked the Avalanche opening night roster and even scored his first NHL goal in one of the seven games he appeared in. Upon returning to Oshawa, Ritchie was generally a standout for the Generals, although you could probably make an argument that his game didn’t take a huge leap forward this past year. He was more aggressive in playing through the middle and getting to the net, but he’s still not shooting the puck enough and his defensive metrics took a bit of a step backward. Ritchie is at his best when he’s dictating pace with the puck on his stick because of how skilled a playmaker he is. He is excellent at drawing in pressure before finding open passing lanes; he’s poised beyond his years. Yet, Colorado was obviously concerned about the lack of urgency in his game at times, so hopefully the Islanders’ organization can bring out the best in him. At this point, you’re probably looking at something similar to what Dylan Strome has become, which is a valuable secondary offensive option.

5 - Kashawn Aitcheson

A true throwback, Aitcheson was one of three first-round selections by the Islanders in 2025 as they attempt to re-tool after the Lou Lamoriello era. The Barrie Colt defender is a feared and ferocious physical player. He also took massive steps forward this past season as an offensive player, emerging as one of the OHL’s elite two-way defenceman. He creates a lot of his offence from his booming point shot and off puck activation, which could make him a weapon on the power play at the NHL level eventually. As Aitcheson returns to the OHL for likely his final season, the focus for him will be to continue to build upon his two-way ability, while tightening up his decision making in the defensive end to become a true stalwart. He projects as a versatile second pairing defender who can be the kind of defender you want in your lineup come playoff time. There is a very real chance that he cracks the 30-goal plateau in the OHL this upcoming season, and that’s a milestone few junior defenders have hit recently.

6 - Isaiah George

Isaiah George was particularly impressive last season, but not just because he was a first-year pro. George was so impressive because he was thrust into a prominent NHL role very early on during his pro career, and this was unexpected by many people because of his pedigree as a later-round NHL draft pick. With that being said, George was extremely impressive in big minutes for the Islanders, and he also played quite well as a smart, strong-skating defender for a very poor Bridgeport Islanders team. Like it is for any first-year pro, last season presented its own growing pains, as George had to learn to defend against NHL-calibre players a bit on the fly, but his foundation dating back to his time with the London Knights is very strong. George looks like he has all the tools to develop into a bona fide top four defenceman that can drive the play in both the offensive and defensive zones, and he should become a full-time member of the New York Islanders’ blueline this upcoming season.

7 - Maxim Shabanov

Shabanov is the latest in a long line of undrafted Russian players who developed in the KHL and earned a chance to prove themselves at the top level. After dominating the past few seasons in Chelyabinsk, the Islanders were eager to snatch him up and pair him with Tsypaklov for a talented scoring duo. He is a speedy forward with smooth hands and a quick release. He has a knack for finding pucks and creating looks without wasting a second. He is a dual threat offensive talent with the ability to create with his passing and wristshot. Maxim’s biggest challenge will be overcoming his lack of size, but he possesses the speed and skill to give him a real shot with the Isles. Expect him to slot in as a top six forward with a real chance to improve the team's scoring potential.

8 - Daniil Prokhorov

Daniil Prokhorov was one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects from this past year's draft class. His size and highlight reel goals off the rush made him a star in many scouts' eyes. He pushes up ice with pace and has a knack for faking out defenders with skilled dekes. He has a heavy shot and can pick corners well when firing off the rush. Lots of work needs to be put in to reach the next level. His skating needs a lot of work mechanically to keep up with the speed and agility of the NHL. He also needs to work on becoming more competitive in battles for the puck. As a second-round pick, Prokhorov is a good bet to make. Lots of time will need to be put in but a high ceiling as a top six winger makes the risk worthwhile.

9 - Danny Nelson

Danny Nelson was a second-round pick by the Islanders in 2023, and though he won’t blow anyone away with his counting stats, has a two-way skill set that could make him a very valuable piece of the future on Long Island. The 6-foot-3 centerman has been a workhorse for Notre Dame in his collegiate career, being leaned upon in all situations. Nelson is a good skater, has some skill, and has a shot that is a threat in the offensive zone, but what really sets him apart is his high motor and his ability to use his size to win puck battles and create space. His play isn’t flashy, but his versatility and dependability could make him a fan favourite before long. Nelson profiles as an energetic bottom six NHL center who can kill penalties, play with grit, and chip in some secondary scoring. He is heading back to Notre Dame this season.

10 - Luca Romano

Speed and pace are the name of the game for Romano currently. He loves to play the game at a breakneck pace and is consistently looking to use his speed to attack the offensive zone. A lack of size and consistency drove him down draft boards, but a lot of that can be attributed to a lack of strength and a need to improve his conditioning. As he matures physically, his two-way game and off puck play could actually become a strength and may be the key to his future NHL success. He’ll need to develop into a versatile and competitive player to be a long time NHL forward at his size. This is especially true considering that he doesn’t possess the creativity or high-end skill to be a big time point producer at the NHL level. As an offensive player, his biggest weapon may just be his shot, so look for him to find ways to be a more consistent scorer this year with the Kitchener Rangers. A long-term project, the Islanders will be patient with Romano, who may just be the kind of player who might benefit from the new NCAA eligibility rules.

11 - Marcus Gidlof

It was quite the season for the tall, well-schooled goalie. Despite many backers his draft year, few saw him not only making the SHL this season but becoming a 1B starter of sorts for Leksands. His 11 wins in 17 SHL outings, WJC gold medal game performance, 14-4 U20 league record, and outstanding 2-0 record with a .980 save percentage to cap off Djurgarden’s historic promotion to the SHL all have him lined up as one to watch moving forward.

12 - Quinn Finley

Finley has become a sneaky good NHL prospect, displaying strong creative instincts, a deft stick, and sly shot-release motions. A bit on the light side, Finley can prance in and out of lanes and plays with a deceptive nonchalance, often a step ahead of the play. In his just concluded sophomore season, he more than doubled his total output from the year before, leading Wisconsin in scoring. Islanders brass is felt to hold him in high regard.

13 - Kamil Bednarik

After enjoying a fantastic 95-point draft year with the USNTDP, including solid contributions to a U18 Worlds gold medal, Bednarik stepped into BU’s line-up this past season and promptly became one of coach Jay Pandolfo’s key faceoff and shutdown situation specialists. Despite getting the bulk of the defensive responsibility in key situations right on into the national championship game, Bednarik also managed to finish seventh on the team in assists. Look for his TOI to increase this winter.

14 - Jesse Pulkkinen

Pulkkinen presents surprisingly solid agility and mobility for a 6-foot-6 defenceman and that’ll need to be his calling card moving forward. Last season, he showed little Liiga-play progress vis-a-vis his overage draft year, putting up comparable stats in nine more games. He then concluded the year with the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL, where his -8 plus-minus in 10 games fit right in with the league-worst outfit. It’s time for the talented Pulkkinen to take the next step.

15 - Calle Odelius

After missing the vast majority of the 2023-24 season, Odelius was thrown into the deep end for the tire fire that was the Bridgeport Islanders last year. To his credit, his -34 plus-minus had as much to do with the whole team’s results as the difficulties of being a young AHL rookie. A fluid skating defenceman who can make slick breakout passes, the hope is that Odelius’ sophomore year in AHL will have him showing more routine and improved puck-protection.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #21 NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 23 May 2025 12:21:30 +0000

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Cole Eiserman is drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

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NY Islanders 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #26

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 13:00:50 +0000

_{NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: New York Islanders Right Wing William Dufour (v56) in action during the National Hockey League Preseason game between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers on September 26, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 26th (Previous Rank - 30th)
GM: Lou Lamoriello Hired: June 2018
COACH: Patrick Roy Hired: January 2024

The New York Islanders are the 10th lowest scoring team among NHL teams across the last five seasons, and it does not take long to crack the code as to why. While their offensive talent gets by, there is an obvious lack of star-worthy goal scorers, which trickles throughout the system. Mathew Barzal leads the pack with 295 points throughout those five years, but if they are going to take that next step, they’ll need much more than that.

Enter Cole Eiserman, McKeen’s 71st-ranked prospect. Despite some concerns about his compete and skating levels, the Massachusetts native is one of the purest goal scorers among the 2024 Draft class. Eiserman’s talent is evident, as he holds two of the top three goal-scoring seasons in the history of the NTDP, with 62 and 58 goals, respectively. Expectations for those goals to translate to the higher levels are high, as the talent level takes a slight nosedive after him.

With their second pick in the 2024 Draft (65th overall), the Islanders added an intriguing defensive prospect in overager Jesse Pulkkinen (279th). Pulkkinen, who will continue his development overseas, brings a compelling combination of size (6-foot-6) and skill to the blue line, offering some hope for the future of the Islanders' defence.

Closer to home, William Dufour (143rd) has been a solid contributor at the AHL level but is still likely a season away from NHL consideration. Danny Nelson (150th) continues to develop at the collegiate level, and Calle Odelius (189th) is also a few years away from making an impact. Meanwhile, Ruslan Iskhakov, who showed significant promise in Bridgeport, has opted to return to the KHL, stalling any NHL potential he may have had. All that said, the shelves are bare for immediate youthful injection.

On a positive note, the Islanders successfully integrated Simon Holmstrom into the lineup on a full-time basis, and the 2024-25 season could see rearguard Samuel Bolduc leap full-time in the NHL.

For a team that has struggled to find a consistent identity, exemplified by scattered playoff appearances, it’s difficult to pinpoint where the organization stands. Barzal (27), Brock Nelson (32), Anders Lee (34), Noah Dobson (24), and Ilya Sorokin (29) remain the backbone of this club. However, with an aging core, the need for youthful reinforcements is becoming increasingly urgent—and as of today, that talent pool is scarce.

New York Islanders Top-15 Prospects

1. Cole Eiserman

Michael Dal Colle. Kieffer Bellows. Oliver Wahlstrom. The Islanders are desperately hoping that Eiserman can buck the trend of recently failed draft picks, selected with the expectation that they become high end, top six goal scoring wingers. At this point last year, Eiserman was considered a top three candidate for the draft, but a disappointing draft year saw him fall into New York’s lap at 20. We use the term disappointing loosely too, as Eiserman still managed to set a new NTDP record for goal scoring. However, scouts were disappointed in the development of other parts of his game. As Eiserman prepares for his freshman year at Boston University, that will be the focus for him. Can he improve his off puck play and become more than just a complementary goal scorer? He should become an immediate impact player for the Terriers and possesses immense potential as a dominant goal scorer.

2. William Dufour

The big power forward remains the Islanders top prospect despite a down year in production as an AHL sophomore. However, context is important. Bridgeport was one of the worst and lowest scoring teams in the AHL last year. Despite a decrease in production, Dufour was still third on the Sound Tigers in goals scored and he still showed potential as a middle six option for the Islanders. The former QMJHL and Memorial Cup MVP is a real load to handle for defenses as he drives the net, and he has a clear understanding of his role on a scoring line as someone who can clear space and play through the middle. To take that next step as an NHL player, Dufour’s skating needs to continue improving, something that he has worked hard on since being drafted in 2020. He could probably play a depth role next year for the Islanders, but it might make more sense to have him play a third year in the AHL to continue building up his confidence as an offensive leader.

3. Danny Nelson

The team’s first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Nelson is coming off a successful freshman year with Notre Dame. He finished near the top of the team’s scoring chart and was highly effective as a two-way player on a low scoring, defence first Fighting Irish squad. Two years ago, Nelson rose significantly up the draft rankings late in the year with a great second half and U18’s on a deep NTDP team. A big power center, he was able to prove that he had more offensive upside than previously thought with his strong offensive finish to the year. Nelson skates well for a heavy pivot and he uses that to his advantage to drive the net and to be a factor in puck pursuit. He shows strong awareness at both ends and already has some great pro-like tendencies in his game. As Nelson’s development and game continue to tick upwards, the likelihood of him becoming a solid middle six center for the Islanders becomes greater.

4. Calle Odelius

Last year was a tough season on the injury front for the team’s first pick in 2022. Odelius suffered a broken ankle at the end of the 2023 calendar year, and it was a battle to get back into the thick of things. Limited to only 10 games at the pro level in Sweden with Djurgardens, one could argue that it was a lost year of development. Signed by the Islanders, one would think that the plan is for Odelius to play in the AHL this year with Bridgeport. Odelius’ best asset remains his mobility. An intelligent two-way player, his high-end upside remains a mystery. Due to his strong skating, he has offensive upside as a puck mover, but he has yet to truly unlock that at any level. Additionally, because of his mobility and high IQ, he possesses upside in the defensive end too. Jack-of-all-trade type defenders can be a bit difficult to project and more will be known about Odelius’ upside and NHL potential once he plays in North America.

5. Matt Maggio

The 2023 Red Tilson winner from the OHL as the league’s most outstanding player, Maggio virtually came out of nowhere to dominate the CHL at that time. His first pro season in the AHL had its ups and downs. He was in and out of the lineup a few times with minor injuries and consistency was definitely lacking. However, he still finished second on Bridgeport in goals scored and he was comfortably inside the top 20 of rookie goal scorers in the league. More shifty than truly quick, Maggio’s focus this offseason will be on continuing to improve his quickness and top speed. Additionally, he’ll look to add strength to help him improve the consistency of his play on and off the puck. But the Islanders have to be happy with the flashes that Maggio showed last year; he was the best player on the ice in some AHL games. Look for him to take a big step forward next year as an AHL sophomore.

6. Jesse Pulkkinen

The massive Finnish defender was a second-round selection of the Islanders in 2024 despite being second time eligible. The draft “re-entry” was one of the most improved young players in Finland from the year prior. He jumped from playing sparingly at the Finnish U20 level to earning significant minutes at the pro level, on top of making the Finnish WJC team. Despite nearly turning 20, Pulkkinen’s game is quite raw. He is highly skilled, more than you would expect from a 6-foot-6 behemoth. There is no doubt that he possesses upside as a point producer at the NHL level. Defensively, he can play mean and put that size to use. However, the decision making at both ends can leave some to be desired. Simply put, Pulkkinen just needs to gain experience playing at the higher levels to learn to refine his approach. He’ll return to JYP of Liiga (Finnish pro) and look to further establish himself as one of the top young defencemen in Finland before making the jump to North America.

7. Alex Jefferies

Jefferies recently turned pro after four solid years at Merrimack. As a senior, he battled injuries, but still managed to lead Merrimack in goals scored for the second straight year. Jeffries is at his best in transition because of his high-end skating ability. Not only is he quick, but he’s great and confident on his edges, making him very difficult to pin down. Deadly on the counterattack, Jeffries also plays a high energy game, hunting pucks to earn touches. He uses his skating ability to be a difference maker in all three zones. As an offensive player, he’s equal parts playmaker and goalscorer, but the quick release on his wrist shot might be his best asset. Jeffries will play out this year in Bridgeport after finishing the year strong at the pro level last season. He projects as a solid middle six option for the Islanders.

8. Maxim Tsyplakov

Following a breakout season in the KHL that saw Tsyplakov score 31 goals (second on Spartak Moscow), he inked a contract with the Islanders and will compete for a top nine job in camp this season. As you may have guessed, his shot is his biggest weapon, making him a threat from the perimeter and on the powerplay. However, the big winger loves to take the puck hard to the net and uses his size to his advantage to get looks between the hash marks. The questions surrounding his game revolve around pace, as Tsyplakov is a good, but not great skater. Additionally, will his game away from the puck be up to par, or will he become more of a powerplay specialist for the Islanders? We won’t know the outcome until the season starts, however this was an excellent signing by New York. They apparently beat out several other organizations for Tsyplakov’s services and he will be given every opportunity to make an impact.

9. Kamil Bednarik

Another second-round selection of the Islanders in 2024, Bednarik is a mature, two-way pivot out of the NTDP. Billed as one of the draft’s top defensive forwards, Bednarik projects as a solid middle six player in the future. If the offensive game doesn’t continue to evolve with greater responsibility given to him compared to with the NTDP, then Bednarik probably tops out as a potential replacement for Casey Cizikas. However, Bednarik has shown flashes of skill and strong playmaking ability. He skates well and can push pace as a carrier. Heading to Boston University with fellow recent Islanders draftee Cole Eiserman, Bednarik probably starts his NCAA career as a bottom six player. It could be important to temper expectations offensively early on, however he should slowly earn more ice time and responsibility through his sophomore and junior seasons.

10. Quinn Finley

After being selected in the third round by the Islanders in 2022, Finley decided to play another year in the USHL rather than attend Wisconsin. This was a wise decision as it allowed him to add strength and build up confidence before making the big jump to the NCAA. We saw the importance of that decision this past year during his excellent freshman year for the Badgers. Not only was Finley a key secondary contributor for them, but he played a solid depth role on team USA at the WJC’s, helping them win gold. Finley has a lot of upside as a goal scorer because of his excellent puck skill and quick release. He can create his own chances through speed and skill, but he also works well as a complementary piece with his ability to find soft spots in coverage and his high-end shooting ability. Wisconsin is on an upward trend as a program again and Finley should be right at the forefront of that over the next few seasons.

11. Justin Gill

It worked for Matt Maggio, why not for Justin Gill? Both players were drafted in their final year of draft eligibility. Both players returned to the CHL for stellar overage seasons. Gill’s game is already very pro ready. He’s excellent in all situations and was one of the top defensive forwards in the QMJHL. He’s also a physical presence who plays a high energy game that is predicated on quick touches and middle lane activation. Is he the most individually skilled or creative pivot? No, and that’s why he’s probably best suited to become a solid bottom six player for the Islanders in the future. However, his speed, tenacity, and versatility give him a solid floor as a potential NHL player.

12. Cameron Berg

13. Isaiah George

Without a doubt, George has to be considered one of the better skating defensive prospects on the planet. His four-way movement is so fluid thanks to his crisp edgework and explosive first few strides. However, George’s offensive skill set never really developed in the OHL the way many anticipated it would. That said, George has developed well as a defensive player. What’s in store for George as a pro? That remains to be seen. A future, stable, bottom pairing defender?

14. Dmitry Gamzin

Much like Pulkkinen, the Islanders selected Gamzin this past draft outside of his first year of eligibility. Already 21, Gamzin had a breakthrough year in Russia, emerging as a quality netminder in both the KHL and the VHL (Russia’s top and second men’s leagues). The 6-foot-3 stopper will return to Russia this year and look to establish himself as a starter for CSKA.

15. Henrik Tikkanen

The massive netminder had played the last two seasons in the ECHL/AHL on a minor league deal, but his strong performance in a limited sample with Bridgeport last year helped earn him an ELC from the Islanders recently. Can he build off his breakthrough performance and give New York a goaltending prospect ready to push for a roster spot?

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #30 New York Islanders – Organizational Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Tue, 28 May 2024 17:13:58 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: New York Islanders Right Wing William Dufour (v56) in action during the National Hockey League Preseason game between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers on September 26, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Typically, a prospect pool that ranks near the bottom reflects a team that has been deeply involved in the playoffs for a number of years, with a championship in sight. Lou Lamoriello took over as GM in 2018 and has made one first round pick in the last five years. The key pieces he acquired in the deals remain in the organization hiowever, in Bo Horvat, Alex Romanov and Kyle Palmieri and J.G. Pageau, so not strictly rentals. Lamoriello was quiet on the trade front this season, but the big change that was made was bringing in fiery coach Patrick Roy in January. The team were 13th in the league in win percentage until the end of the season under his leadershop, after ranking in the bottom third prior. He improved the team enough to make a playoff push, when they were finally looking like they might be sellers. The GM stood pat largely, other than adding Robert Bortuzzo, but that could change prior to the draft.

There is not a lot in the system that will make likely make an impact in the near future. Number one prospect, power forward William Dufour, is still likely a year away. Ruslan Iskhakov, Bridgeport’s best player last season, is the only prospect with a realistic shot at the roster next year. There are some good youthful core pieces in Mathew Barzal and Noah Dobson. Romanov is only 24 and elite goalie Ilya Sorokin is only 28. The franchise is likely facing a crossroads, with an aging roster, on what appears to be a borderline playoff team consistently in recent years, rather than a consistent cup contender. The prospect cupboard reflects the latter effort, without the results. Lamouriello and Roy are unlikely to look at rebuilding, after the encouraging finish, so what limited prospect resources available may likely yet move.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	William Dufour	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`20(152nd)	55	15	10	25	35
2	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(43rd)	69	18	32	50	30
3	Danny Nelson	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	`23(49th)	30	9	14	23	32
4	Calle Odelius	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	`22(65th)	10	0	4	4	2
5	Matt Maggio	RW	21	5-10/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`22(142nd)	55	15	10	25	35
6	Justin Gill	C	21	6-1/190	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	`23(145th)	65	40	58	98	66
7	Cameron Berg	C	22	6-0/195	North Dakota (NCHC)	`21(125th)	40	20	17	37	8
8	Alex Jefferies	LW	22	6-0/195	Merrimack (HE)	`20(121st)	22	13	10	23	19
9	Quinn Finley	LW	19	6-0/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`22(78th)	36	10	6	16	16
10	Isaiah George	D	20	6-0/195	London (OHL)	`22(98th)	68	6	24	30	54
11	Tristan Lennox	G	21	6-4/190	Worcester (ECHL)	`21(93rd)	13	5	6	2.94	0.909
12	Eetu Liukas	LW	21	6-2/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`21(157th)	47	3	4	7	34
13	Jesse Nurmi	LW	19	5-10/165	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	`23(113th)	19	0	2	2	2
14	Travis Mitchell	D	24	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	FA(3/23)	34	1	3	4	36
15	Zach Schulz	D	18	6-1/195	Wisconsin (B1G)	`23(177th)	34	2	4	6	6

1. William Dufour, RW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

The big power forward remains the Islanders top prospect despite a down year in production as an AHL sophomore. However, context is important. Bridgeport is one of the worst and lowest scoring teams in the AHL this year. Despite a decrease in production, Dufour is still second on the Sound Tigers in goals scored and he’s still shown potential as a middle six option. The former QMJHL and Memorial Cup MVP is a real load to handle for defenses as he drives the net, and he has a clear understanding of his role on a scoring line as someone who can clear space and play through the middle. To take that next step as an NHL player, his skating continues to need to improve, something that he has worked hard on since being drafted. He could probably play a depth role next year, but it might make more sense to have him play a third year in the AHL to continue to build up his confidence as an offensive leader.

2. Ruslan Iskhakov, C, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

It seems like Ruslan Iskhakov has been in the Islanders system forever. However, he’s still only turning 24. It’s likely the wacky and wild journey that he has taken along the way that makes it seem that way. Since being drafted he’s gone from the MHL, to the NCAA, to Liiga in Finland, to the DEL in Germany, and now to the AHL. Last year, he was a great secondary scoring piece on a stronger and more veteran laden Bridgeport team. This year, he’s unquestionably become the team’s best player. He’s a truly dynamic offensive player who seems to routinely hit the highlight reels with his dazzling shootout moves and ability to beat defenders one on one. What’s great about Iskhakov’s game and makes him more likely to succeed as an NHL player despite a lack of stature, is that he’s competitive and scrappy. He takes on larger defenders and is far from a perimeter player. Will next season finally be the year that he makes his NHL debut?

3. Danny Nelson, C, University of Notre Dame (NCAA)

The team’s first pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is coming off a successful freshman year with Notre Dame. He finished near the top of the team’s scoring chart and was highly effective as a two-way player on a low scoring, defense first Fighting Irish squad. Last year, Nelson rose significantly up the draft rankings late in the year with a great second half and U18’s on a deep NTDP team. A big, power center, he was able to prove that he had more offensive upside than previously thought with his strong offensive finish to the year. He skates well for a heavy pivot and he uses that to his advantage to drive the net and to be a factor in puck pursuit. He shows strong awareness at both ends and already has some great pro-like tendencies in his game. As his development and game continue to tick upwards, the likelihood of him becoming a solid middle six center for the Islanders becomes greater.

4. Calle Odelius, D, Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

It has been a tough season on the injury front for the team’s first pick in 2022. Odelius suffered a broken ankle at the end of the 2023 calendar year, and it has been a battle to get back into the thick of things. Limited to only 10 games at the pro level in Sweden with Djurgardens, one could argue that it’s been a lost year of development. Signed by the Islanders, one would think that the plan is for him to play in the AHL next year with Bridgeport. His best asset remains his mobility. An intelligent two-way player, his high-end upside remains a mystery. Due to his strong skating, he has offensive upside as a puck mover, but he has yet to truly unlock that at any level. Additionally, because of his mobility and high IQ, he possesses upside in the defensive end too. Jack-of-all-trade type defenders can be a bit difficult to project and more will be known about his upside and NHL potential once he plays in North America.

5. Matt Maggio, RW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

The reigning Red Tilson winner from the OHL as the league’s most outstanding player, Matt Maggio virtually came out of nowhere to dominate the CHL a year ago. His first pro season in the AHL has had its ups and downs. He’s been in and out of the lineup a few times with minor injuries and consistency has definitely been lacking. However, he still finished tied for second on the team in goals scored and he’s comfortably inside the top 20 of rookie goal scorers in the league. More shifty than truly quick, Maggio’s focus this offseason will be on continuing to improve his quickness and top speed. Additionally, he’ll look to add strength to help him improve the consistency of his play on and off the puck. But the Islanders have to be happy with the flashes that were shown this year; he has been the best player on the ice in some AHL games. Look for him taking a big step forward next year as an AHL sophomore.

6. Alex Jefferies, LW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

Alex Jefferies recently turned pro after four solid years at Merrimack. As a senior, Jefferies battled injuries, but he still managed to lead Merrimack in goals scored for the second straight year. Jefferies is at his best in transition because of his high-end skating ability. Not only is he quick, but he’s great and confident on his edges, making him very difficult to pin down. Deadly on the counterattack, he also plays a high energy game, hunting pucks to earn touches; he uses his skating ability to be a difference maker in all three zones. As an offensive player, he’s equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, but the quick release on his wrist shot might be his best asset. Jefferies will play out next year in Bridgeport after finishing the year strong at the pro level this season.

7. Quinn Finley, LW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

After being selected in the third round by the Islanders in 2022, Finley decided to play another year in the USHL rather than attend Wisconsin. This was a wise decision as it allowed him to add strength and build up confidence before making the big jump to the NCAA. We saw the importance of that decision this year after his excellent freshman year for the Badgers. Not only was he a key secondary contributor for them, but he played a solid depth role on team USA at the WJC’s, helping them win gold. He has a lot of upside as a goal scorer because of his excellent puck skill and quick release. He can create his own chances through speed and skill, but he also works well as a complementary piece with his ability to find soft spots in coverage and his high-end shooting ability. Wisconsin is on an upward trend as a program again and Finley should be right at the forefront of that over the next few seasons.

8. Justin Gill, C, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

It worked for Matt Maggio, why not for Justin Gill. Both players were drafted in their final year of draft eligibility. Both players were sent back to the CHL for their overage seasons. And just like Maggio, Gill has been phenomenal and one of the league’s top players. Switching to Baie-Comeau this year, He has continued to progress as a terrific two-way center. His game is already very pro ready. He’s excellent in all situations and is one of the top defensive forwards in the QMJHL. He’s also a physical presence who plays a high energy game that is predicated on quick touches and middle lane activation. You name it, he can do it. Is he the most individually skilled or creative pivot? No, and that’s why he’s probably best suited to become a solid bottom six player for the Islanders in the future. However, at this point, Gill looks like a terrific selection by New York and someone who could potentially replace Casey Cizikas in the future.

9. Cameron Berg, C, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

After two somewhat stagnant development years with the University of Nebraska Omaha, Berg hit the transfer portal and landed with North Dakota, a decision that has had a profound impact on his play and projection. He set new career highs in every statistical category and finished third in scoring for UND. The power center does his best work near the crease or in transition. He’ll work for touches along the wall or near the net; it’s cliche but he plays a lot bigger than his average size would indicate. He is also a committed two-way and off puck player. For that reason, he projects as the kind of pro who can be used in any situation. Look for Berg to return to UND for his senior year, where he has a chance to be one of the better offensive players. His projection still remains the same as it was when he was drafted; a quality middle six forward. Yet, after a strong junior year, he seems more likely to reach that upside.

10. Isaiah George, D, London Knights (OHL)

Without a doubt, Isaiah George has to be considered one of the better skating defender prospects on the planet. His four-way movement is so fluid thanks to his crisp edgework and explosive first few strides. It’s truly a sight to behold. However, his offensive skill set never really developed in the OHL the way many anticipated it would. He lacks the high-end skill and creativity to truly take advantage of his skating gift. However, he has developed well as a defensive player. Due to his high-end mobility, his gap control and rush defense are excellent. He’s also really found his confidence as a physical player this past year, something that has elevated his defensive game in coverage. What’s in store for George as a pro? At this point, he looks like he could develop into a solid third pairing type who can bring some versatility. However, he may need time to adjust to the pace of the pro game from a decision-making standpoint.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #28

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:30:44 +0000

ELMONT, NY - JANUARY 28: New York Islanders Right Wing Samuel Bolduc (4) skates with the puck during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Islanders on January 28, 2023, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 New York Islander Prospects

1. William Dufour

It was an interesting QMJHL career for Dufour, to say the least. Over his four years in the league, he played with four different teams. That included three before he was even drafted, 152nd overall in 2020. He had a short and strong DY+1 season but his +2 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs was something else altogether. With 116 points and a league-leading 56 goals in 66 games, he was named league MVP and then led the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup title, also being named MVP for the tournament. Oh, and he found time for a World Junior gold medal in between. Dufour made the jump to the AHL last season, sliding in extremely well and impressing with his production. He has a pro frame which has helped him muscle his way into success at the higher level. His skating has improved, he has a great wrist shot, and his hands are looking softer by the game. There’s middle-six potential here.

2. Samuel Bolduc

One of the best young d-men in the AHL last season, it’s been a slow burn for Bolduc since being drafted 57th overall in 2019. He’s had a slow and steady pace of improvement each season throughout his QMJHL career and now into the AHL, other than 2021-22 - his AHL sophomore season. Thankfully, he made up for that down campaign last season, earning a spot on the NHL roster. All signs are pointing to him graduating from prospectdom sooner rather than later. He plays a consistent, two-way game with excellent mobility, he has a knack for getting in the passing lanes in his end, and he’s shown that he can contribute offensively, especially with his big shot. He looks like a viable bottom-four rearguard right now, but should be able to produce more offense as he gets more settled in the NHL.

3. Ruslan Iskhakov

The path taken by Iskhakov is an case study for why you should never give up on your dream. The Islanders drafted the Russian out of the MHL way back in the 2018 NHL Draft. From there, he joined NCAA University of Connecticut, where he spent two seasons. He then went back overseas, spending a season with TPS in the Liiga before playing a year in the DEL with Adler Mannheim. Iskhakov just wrapped up his third-straight rookie season in a pro league, this time with the AHL Bridgeport Islanders. Even better, he had an excellent season and was among the leaders both on the team and among rookies around the league. While he’s on the smaller side at 5- 8”, 165 pounds, he’s extremely elusive, from his quick hands to his light footwork, and his offensive awareness stands out. He has the skill to be a middle-six contributor but give him some more time in the AHL first.

4. Calle Odelius

Selected 65th overall in the 2022 Draft, Odelius is a bit of a polarizing prospect as some believe he can be a game-breaker, while others lean more toward a depth defender. Depending on the game you watch, you can understand either assessment. The Islanders selected him out of the J20 Nationell, where he had a strong season, earning seven games in the SHL. With Djurgardens being demoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan, he didn’t progress as one would hope, struggling to pop offensively or show development in other areas of the game. When he’s on, he’s a good four-way skater, and solid in his own end, breaking up plays and turning the puck up the other way. He may even end up more defensive leaning as he progresses. He could still surprise, but a depth defender is likely where he ends up.

5. Danny Nelson

For two thirds of the year, Nelson struggled with consistency as his role within the USNTDP team changed repeatedly. After getting his own line with the role of shutdown center in the bottom six and a top penalty killing option, his game and confidence took off. He capped off his draft season with an extremely strong performance at the U18’s in helping the USA take home gold. Nelson is intriguing because of his high floor, strong athletic foundation, and because of his great progression over the course of the season. One of the youngest players eligible in 2023 (with an August birthday), he is already 6- 3”, 200 pounds and his skating ability has already improved considerably. Although his lack of creativity and high-end skill may ultimately make him more of a bottom six player at the NHL level, the opportunity to escape the shadows of Will Smith and Oliver Moore while developing at Notre Dame may bring out the best in him.

6. Matt Maggio

Maggio was one of the many OHLers impacted by the OHL season shutting down due to the pandemic in his draft year. While he already had two seasons of OHL action under his belt, he wanted to get scouts’ eyes on him and headed overseas, playing with Sweden’s SK Lejon in the HockeyEttan. It wasn’t enough though, as he went undrafted. Heading back to the OHL in 2021-22, with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, Maggio took a huge step forward with 85 points. Last season, he took an even bigger jump forward, leading the OHL in goals (54) and points (111). His strength, ability to get into the high-danger areas, and competitiveness have all contributed to this progression. While making it as a pro isn’t a sure thing, these are all aspects that should help him get there as a reliable bottom six player.

7. Otto Koivula

One of the older players still considered a prospect by McKeen’s, Koivula heard his name called back in the 2016 Draft, 120th overall. Islanders’ fans have had to be patient with the forward since then. He was selected out of the U20 SM-liiga, where he helped Ilves to a championship, earning playoff MVP in the process. The next season, he made the jump to the Liiga where he led all rookies in assists (20) and points (30) and was named Rookie of the Year. The 6-5” forward spent one more season in the Liiga before making the jump to North America, where he has stuck ever since, spending most of his time in the AHL. He’s been good in the AHL but just hasn’t been able to stick in the NHL. He’s likely at his ceiling now, bouncing between leagues.

8. Alex Jeffries

Drafted out of the high school prep circuit in the 2020, Jefferies had a strong draft year with The Gunnery and played AAA with the Rochester Coalition. In both leagues, he was named to All-Star teams. He then made the jump to Merrimack College, where he’s been getting better and better each season, playing at over a point per game last season and leading the team in scoring. He plays a fast-paced game, has an excellent shot, and has an improving ability to find space in the offensive zone. Jeffries is an above-average skater with good vision and even brings a decent level of two-way ability. How exactly he translates to the next level remains to be seen, but as a late bloomer, his stock seems to be trending up. He likely peaks as a depth forward who might bounce between the AHL and NHL.

9. Quinn Finley

Drafted by the Islanders in the 2022, 78th overall, the organization has to be happy with Finley’s progression last season. This was after his sophomore season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he was considered a player to watch although he didn’t stand out. Last season, he was back in the USHL and split the season with the Capitols and the Chicago Steel, doubling his production from the previous season. He also participated in the World Junior A Challenge, producing a point per game, and helping Team USA to a gold medal. Finley is very intelligent and processes the game very well. He doesn’t seem to truly drive his line or take over plays, limiting his overall ceiling. While his progression has impressed, at this point he seems likely to be a depth player. However, he will have some time to continue developing and will move to the University of Wisconsin next season, which will be very telling.

10. Jesse Nurmi

A skilled young man with some real jump in his game when motivated, Nurmi was widely seen as a top 100 candidate in the 2023 draft after an unspectacular Hlinka Gretzky Cup performance turned into a tremendous season in Finland’s U20 circuit, where his output over 41 games was good for 6th overall and only six points behind the league leader. As such, the Islanders didn’t hesitate in announcing his name 113th overall with only their second pick of the draft. To be clear, Nurmi has much to do before the pieces of his puzzle are put together. Despite strong performance in the Finnish junior ranks, we have not yet seen much from him internationally and his game without the puck still leaves much to be desired. A coordinated and athletic player, his average height and lack of weight will have to be compensated for in the coming years. If he manages to bulk up accordingly, there’s ample offensive skill and energy for him to become a viable option moving forward. He’s in line for a regular role with his Liiga club this season, the success of which will be very telling with respect to his developmental curve. He is also a strong WJC candidate for Finland.

11. Isaiah George

One of the better skaters in the OHL, George went on a lengthy run with the London Knights last season, playing a crucial role. His mobility can be a major asset in the defensive end, however his offensive development has yet to take that next step.

12. Eetu Liukas

Liukas is a power forward who loves to apply himself physically and who is coming off a breakout offensive season in Liiga action where he finished third in goals for HPK. At the very least, he could be a great replacement for Cal Clutterbuck in a few seasons.

13. Robin Salo

It’s taken Salo a long time to get there, but the former second round pick finally appears to have turned the corner. The next step is solidifying himself as an NHL regular. Competition will be tight at training camp, but his mobility and improving defensive game may give him an edge.

14. Cameron Berg

After two decent years with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Berg has transferred to North Dakota for the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see what kind of effect that has on his development. A two-way power center, Berg still has middle six upside.

15. Arnaud Durandeau

Durandeau had a breakout offensive season last year for Bridgeport, as he emerged as a scoring leader for the Sound Tigers. Offense isn’t likely to be his game at the NHL level though. He’s a future bottom six, energy guy who can play the penalty kill.

16. Tristan Lennox

After battling injuries and the Covid shutdown in the OHL, Lennox’s development finally got back on track last year with Saginaw. The former highly touted prospect will hope to use a strong OA year as a springboard to a strong first pro season.

17. Jakub Skarek

Skarek is likely reaching a crossroads in the Islanders organization after three mediocre pro seasons. The big Czech netminder will need a big year to stave off competition and to remain in the Islanders’ future plans.

18. Daylan Kueffler

Kueffler is very much a throwback to the power forwards of yesteryear. He throws big hits. He drops the mitts. He’s a net front presence. Skating may ultimately limit his NHL upside, but his first pro season with Bridgeport should provide greater feedback.

19. Travis Mitchell

Signed as a free agent out of Cornell, Mitchell is far from an exciting blueline prospect. He won’t wow you with skill or high-end mobility, but he is a staunch defensive presence with a chance of being a bottom pairing, PK type for New York in the future.

20. Aidan Fulp

Another heavy defender signed out of college (Western Michigan), Fulp will be competing for a role with the aforementioned Mitchell in the future. Of the two, who can adapt to the pace of the pro level the best while maintaining their physical advantage?

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #26 New York Islanders

Josh Bell — Sat, 13 May 2023 15:19:06 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 26^th (30^th last year)

The Islanders under Lou Lamoriello (GM since 2018) remain in ‘win now’ mode, despite missing the playoffs for the last two years. Prior to that they advanced to the Semi-Finals and the Conference Finals (under coach Barry Trotz). Lane Lamber took over as coach for the past season, narrowly missing the postseason. Lamoreillo had traded his first pick for the three past years. This past season he acquired leading free agent Bo Horvat, for his 2023 first, prospect Aatu Raty, and Anthony Beauvillier. Prior to the start of the season, he sent his 2022 1^st for Alexander Romanov from Montreal. The season prior was for Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. This has left the prospect pipeline depleted, with not a lot on the horizon.

Despite the lack of high picks, they have placed five prospects in our top 200 (Dufour, Bolduc, Iskhakov, Odelius, and Maggio). Simon Holmstom, Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson have all graduated for the 2019 and 2018 first rounds. Credit to scouting and development with Dobson emerging as a star. A core built around Horvat, Barzal and Brock Nelson down the middle (Barzal has been on wing at times) with Dobson, Pulock, and Romanov on defense, and one of the best goalies in the league in Sorokin, will keep them looking to add. Past is prologue and expect Lamoriello to follow the same playbook next season.

1. William Dufour

It was an interesting QMJHL career for William Dufour, to say the least. Over his four years in the league, he played with four different teams. That included three before he was even drafted, selected 152nd overall in 2020. He had a short but strong DY+1 season but his +2 season with the Saint John Sea Dogs was something else. With 116 points and a league-leading 56 goals in 66 games, he was named MVP and then lead the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup title, also being named MVP. Oh, and he had a World Junior gold medal in there too. He’s made the jump to the AHL this season, sliding in extremely well and impressing with his production. He has a pro frame which has helped him muscle his way into succeeding at the higher level. His skating has improved, he has a great wrist shot, and his hands are looking softer by the game. There’s middle-six potential here.

2. Samuel Bolduc

One of the best young d-men in the AHL this season, it’s been a slow burn for Samuel Bolduc since being drafted 57th overall in 2019. He’s had a steady pace of slowly getting better and better each season throughout his QMJHL career and now into the AHL, other than 2021-22 - his sophomore season in the AHL. But he’s made up for his slow year this season, earning a spot on the NHL roster. All signs are pointing to him being a graduate sooner rather than later. He plays a consistent, two-way game with excellent mobility, he has a knack for getting in the passing lanes in his end, and he’s shown that he can contribute offensively, especially with his big shot. He should stick where he is, as a bottom-four rearguard, but should be able to produce more offense as he gets more settled in the NHL.

3. Ruslan Iskhakov

The path of Ruslan Iskhakov is an example of why you can never give up on your dream. The Islanders drafted the Russian out of the MHL way back in the 2018 NHL Draft. From there, he joined the University of Connecticut in the NCAA, where he spent two seasons. He then went back overseas, spending a season with TPS in the Liiga before playing a year in the DEL with Adler Mannheim. Iskhakov is now in his third-straight rookie season in a pro league, but in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. Even better, he’s having an excellent season, among the leaders on the team and with rookies around the league. While he’s on the smaller size at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, he’s extremely elusive, from his quick hands to his light footwork and his offensive awareness stands out. He has the skill to be a middle-six contributor but give him some more time in the AHL first.

4. Calle Odelius

Just selected in the recent 2022 NHL Draft, 65th overall, Calle Odelius is a bit of a polarizing prospect where some believe he can be a game-breaker and others lean more toward a depth defender. Depending on the game you watch, you can understand one assessment or the other. The Islanders selected him out of the J20 Nationell, where he had a strong season and earned seven games in the SHL. With Djurgardens being demoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan, he hasn’t progressed as one would hope, struggling to pop offensively or in other areas of the game. When he’s on, he’s a good four-way skater, and is solid in his own end, breaking up plays and turning them up the other way. He may even end up more defensive leaning as he progressed. He could still surprise, but a depth defender likely is where he ends up.

5. Matt Maggio

Matt Maggio was one of the many OHLers impacted by the OHL season shutting down due to the pandemic in his draft year. While he already had two seasons of OHL action under his belt, he wanted to get scout’s eyes on him and headed overseas, playing with Sweden’s SK Lejon in the HockeyEttan. It wasn’t enough though, as he went undrafted. Heading back to the OHL in 2021-22, Maggio had a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, taking a huge step forward with 85 points. This season, he’s taken an even bigger jump forward, leading the OHL in goals (54) and points (111). His strength, ability to get into the high-danger areas, and competitiveness have all contributed to this progression. While making it as a pro isn’t a sure thing, these are all aspects that should help him get there as a reliable bottom-six player.

6. Otto Koivula

One of the older players still considered a prospect by McKeen’s, Otto Koivula heard his name called back in the 2016 NHL Draft, 120th overall. Islander’s fans have had to be patient with the forward since then. They selected him out of the U20 SM-liiga, where he helped Ilves to a championship and was named playoff MVP in the process. The next season, he made the jump to the Liiga where he led all rookies in assists (20) and points (30) and was named Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-5 forward spent one more season in the Liiga before making the jump to North America, where he’s stuck ever since, spending most of his time in the AHL. He’s been good in the AHL but just hasn’t been able to find that success in the NHL. He’s likely at his ceiling now, bouncing between the leagues.

7. Alex Jefferies

Drafted out of the high school prep circuit in the 2020 NHL Draft, Alex Jefferies had a strong draft year with The Gunnery and played AAA with the Rochester Coalition. In both leagues, he was named to All-Star teams. He then made the jump to Merrimack College, where he’s been getting better and better each season, playing at over a point per game this season and leading the team in scoring. He plays a fast-paced game, has an excellent shot and has an improving ability to find space in the offensive zone. He’s an above-average skater with good vision and even brings a level of two-way ability. How exactly he translates to the next level remains to be seen, but as a late bloomer, his stock does seem to be trending up. He likely peaks as a depth forward that might bounce between the AHL and NHL.

8. Quinn Finley

Recently drafted by the Islanders in the 2022 NHL Draft, 78th overall, the Islanders have to be happy with his progression this season. This was after his sophomore season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he was a player to watch but didn’t overly stand out. This season, he’s back in the USHL and split the season with the Capitols and the Chicago Steel, doubling his production from a year ago. He also participated in the World Junior A Challenge, producing a point per game and helping Team USA to a gold medal. Finley is a very intelligent player that processes the game very well. He doesn’t seem to truly drive his line or take over plays, limiting his overall ceiling. While his progression has impressed, at this point he seems likely to be a depth player. However, he will have some time to continue to develop and will move to the University of Wisconsin next season, which will be very telling.

9. Isaiah George

Another 2022 NHL Draft selection, Isaiah George was selected 98th overall from the OHL’s London Knights as a rookie. It would have been his sophomore season had it not been for the cancelled season. George could be an interesting prospect, as he could explode at any minute with the Knights, as soon as he gets bigger minutes. He’s an underrated two-way defender, who plays a very confident, reliable game. He’s good in transition and his awareness in his own end stands out. He’s a versatile defender able to play on either side of the rink. It has to be wondered if playing on the deep Knights has slowed his progression, but he does have some processing issues at times that also need to be factored in. George could still surprise when given the chance, but at this point, he looks like a depth, two-way defender.

10. Eetu Liukas

Playing in the Finnish TPS organization his entire career - until this season - Eetu Liukas has a steady path of progression. The Islanders saw that ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft, calling his name 157th overall. He was just making the jump to the Liiga that season, still playing mainly in the U20 SM-sarja. That pendulum swung in 2021-22, as he spent the majority of his time in the Liiga but still saw some time in the junior ranks. This season, he was full-time in the Liiga and showed a significant step in the right direction. He has a pro frame and plays with a ton of strength. He has a sneaky good shot but does often wait for the play and the puck to come to him rather than taking charge on the ice. If he can reach the NHL, he’s likely to be a call-up option at this point.

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – SWEDEN

Zack Szweras — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:11:46 +0000

Fabian Lysell of Sweden and Martin Urbanek of Austria during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship group stage game between Austria and Sweden on August 12, 2022 in Edmonton.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

Team Sweden Preview

After settling for bronze in August, Sweden looks for gold in December, with an almost completely new-look roster. Sweden will only have six returning players from August’s team, Fabian Lysell (BOS), Isak Rosen (BUF), Liam Ohgren (MIN), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (VAN), Ludvig Jansson (FLA) and Victor Stjernborg (CHI). Majority of their defence and all of their goaltending has been turned over, including Simon Edvinsson (DET), who declined the invitation to play for Sweden. Sweden will rely heavily on their offence, with six NHL first rounders at forward.

The goaltending duties are expected to be handed to Carl Lindbom (VGK). The seventh-round prospect of the Golden Knights is having a phenomenal season in Sweden’s second league, the HockeyAllsvenskan. Fighting for the back-up spot will be Ian Blomquist and Marcus Brannman. Blomquist, like Lindbom is having a strong season in the HockeyAllsvenskan. Brannman, on the other hand, is holding the fort down in the USHL for Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Uniquely, Sweden will have two 2023 draft eligible players on their World Junior roster in Leo Carlsson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. As of now, Leo Carlsson is expected to be a top five selection in the upcoming draft. He has a combination of a strong frame, great motor and creative puck skills. Sandin-Pelikka has been rising quickly on many draft boards after a strong start to his season. He has shown plenty of offensive promise, producing over a point per game in the J20 league. Both these players will likely have a chance to be pivotal to Sweden’s success this year.

Sweden is a part of Group A which includes, Canada, Czechia, Germany and Austria. They begin their tournament December 26^th against Austria.

Top 10 players to watch:

Fabian Lysell (BOS)

Fabian Lysell is off to a phenomenal start in his first AHL season for the Providence Bears. Lysell has, at times, struggled with physicality in the AHL, but he has adapted his game to still find succeess. He has dominated using his combination of speed and skill, adjusting nicely to playing against men after playing out of the WHL previously. Lysell, one of six returning players for Sweden, was the leading scorer for Swedish forwards with six points in seven games in the summer and will be counted upon for much of the same this time around. One of the fastest players in this tournament, his ability to attack the middle of the ice will be the key to him making a large impact.

Isak Rosen (BUF)

One and two on this list could be interchangeable. Like Lysell, Isak Rosen is also having a strong start in his first year in the AHL. While most of his points have come off of his playmaking ability, Rosen possesses a lethal shot. In August’s World Juniors, Rosen tied with Emil Andre for most goals for team Sweden with four. Rosen’s skating is textbook; he uses his feet to deceive opponents and excels in his east-west movement. Sweden is loaded with offensive talent and Rosen should provide the scoring for Sweden.

Liam Öhgren of Sweden during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN /

Liam Ohgren (MIN)

Ohgren offers Sweden a balance of offensive skills, with both power and finesse. He uses a quick and deceptive release on his wrist shot to beat goaltenders, and also has strong puck protection with his solid frame. Ohgren is one of five Djurgårdens IF players who made Team Sweden, so it will be interesting to see if Sweden keeps Ohgren playing with line mates Lekkerimaki and Ostlund like they have done for many years. Ohgren has been consistent with playmaking and scoring for Djurgårdens in the HockeyAllsvenskan this year producing six goals and five assists in 24 games. Playing against the best in the world, and considering his skating is only average, his ability to minimize the gaps will be a factor in his success this tournament.

Noah Ostlund (BUF)

Noah Ostlund, the second Buffalo Sabres prospect on this list, is mesmerizing to watch on the ice. He’s a gifted playmaker with a smooth skating stride and good agility. Ostlund is also a responsible defensive centre, using his skating ability to be involved in most plays. Ostlund thrives in transition, as he reads the game at a high level and combines it with his nifty hands and strong skating ability. He should help Sweden transition the puck to their star-studded wingers. The biggest caveat in Ostlund’s game is his lack of size and strength; his puck protection is limited, which is why he excels more in open ice. Ostlund is projected to play a top six centre role for Sweden at this tournament.

Leo Carlsson (2023)

There is a lot to like about Leo Carlsson, a projected top five pick in the upcoming 2023 NHL entry draft. Carlsson has size, speed, and immense skill, which he has already showed off in the SHL. Even as a teenager, he uses his large frame at 6’3, 194Ibs to protect the puck against men at the SHL level. Carlsson began this season on a torrid pace scoring 10 points in his first 11 SHL games but has cooled recently. Transitioning from wing to center this year, Carlsson has been provided the opportunity to attack the open ice more using his combination of size, awareness and skills to help him to maneuver from end to end. His aforementioned cold spell in the SHL could impact his play at this tournament, however, hopefully a stint at the World Juniors can re-spark Carlsson’s game.

Calle Odelius (NYI)

With only one returning defenceman, Sweden will rely heavily on Calle Odelius, who played a large role for Sweden in their gold medal win at the under-18s last Spring. Odelius is a two-way defenceman with strong mobility and an eye for playmaking. His four-way mobility stands out; he generates speed with large crossovers and can transition the puck from end to end. He also uses a combination of awareness and puck-moving skills to find open passing lanes and advance play for his team. Odelius is expected to play meaningful top four minutes for Sweden’s inexperienced blueline.

Filip Bystedt (SJS)

Filip Bystedt, the fourth Swedish player selected in the first round of the 2022 draft, is having a strong season in the SHL. He’s playing approximately 12 minutes a night and has produced 11 points in 24 games. Bystedt’s game relies on his size, which he uses to protect the puck while attacking while attacking with speed thanks to his long, powerful strides. More than just a pure playmaker, when Bystedt gets good positioning in the offensive zone, he has a quick release to beat goaltenders cleanly. Bystedt is expected to play a third line-all situations centre role for Sweden, who will lean on his ability to transition the puck, defend well and provide offence.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki (VAN)

While Jonathan Lekkerimaki has struggled to produce at the start of year in the HockeyAllsvenskan, he has thrived in international tournaments for Sweden recently. Lekkerimaki led Sweden to the gold medal at the U18s last April, scoring 15 points in six games. He followed that up producing three points in a top nine role for Sweden at the August World Juniors as a double underager. Lekkerimaki’s shot is his strongest offensive tool, as he’s able to get it off quickly and accurately. Last season his playmaking ability started to evolve and with the threat of his passing, it opens up more shooting lanes for him. The hope is (at least for Sweden and Vancouver Canucks fans and management), that Lekkerimaki can use a strong WJC performance as a springboard to performing better post tournament in the Allsvenskan.

Ludvig Jansson (FLA)

Ludvig Jansson, the lone returning defenceman for Sweden, will be asked to play a much larger role than the depth one he played in August. Jansson has a high awareness of positioning at both ends and will be relied on heavily defensively for Sweden. He uses his reach and mobility to close gaps and take the puck away from oncoming opponents. Jansson does have some offence as well as an efficient puck mover; he’s already bested last season’s HockeyAllsvenskan point total with six points in 25 games this season.

Carl Lindbom (VGK)

The biggest question of the tournament for Sweden will be if Carl Lindbom can fill the shoes of Jesper Wallstedt. Lindbom will likely be taking over Sweden’s goaltending. He has had a strong start to the season playing for Djurgårdens IF in the HockeyAllsvenskan league, where he has 15 wins for Djurgårdens, while posting a 1.78 GAA and a .936 SV%. He will certainly have some familiarity on this team, playing with four of his Djurgårdens teammates this tournament for Sweden. His play in front of an inexperienced defence core could be the deciding factor for Sweden this tournament.

Surprise Player

Axel Sandin-Pellikka (2023)

While he is definitely not a household name, Axel Sandin-Pellikka should turn heads this tournament. The draft eligible defenceman is a shifty, dynamic puck moving defenceman. On top of his puck-moving ability, Sandin-Pellikka has a wicked shot from the point, which seems to, more often than not, find the net. He has risen up many draft rankings after an impressive start to his draft year, producing in the J20 league this year with 13 goals and 26 points in 20 games. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Sandin-Pellikka sees time quarterbacking Sweden’s powerplay, even if it is the secondary unit. Given the lack of returning defenders, ice time and responsibility are certainly up for grabs and NHL scouts will be watching closely to see if Sandin-Pellikka can secure a consistent role.

EUROPEAN PROSPECT MUSINGS: 2022-23 European Leagues Underway with Notable Performances

Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:24:17 +0000

European Prospect Musings - #1 for the 22-23 Season

The European leagues are all underway and most already played anywhere from six to 20 games this season, meaning a whole lot of names in the prospect world have started shining brightly. Or, well, brighter. A look across the major leagues continues to show continued use of U21 players in regular roles while some second league teams are sporting a bunch of young men worth watching, particularly those already drafted.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable players and situations thus far in this young season.

Sweden

Örebro's Leo Carlsson during the SHL ice hockey match between Örebro and Oskarshamn on September 24, 2022 in Örebro.
Photo: Fredrik Karlsson / BILDBYRÅN

For a league still widely considered the best pro European circuit west of the KHL, SHL teams opened up the season with rosters chock full of interest for NHL teams. One of the most watched teams this winter will be Örebro HK, because forward Leo Carlsson, who already collected nine points in 35 SHL games last season as a 16/17-year-old, is widely regarded as a top 15 prospect in next summer’s draft. He was part of Sweden’s U18 outfit that took gold last spring, but only got into two matches (2-1-3), so the scouting world didn’t get to gush over him in the same manner it did for the team’s big horses. More on that in a second.

For now, rest assured that Carlsson’s star is on the rise. In eight games thus far, he’s already put up seven points, including two goals, while seeing his fair share of top six minutes. That has him tied for 11th in league-wide scoring. That also has him firmly on top of the prospect charts in the SHL and also ahead of the next closest NHL property, Columbus’ Samuel Johannesson, whose six points in eight games isn’t all that shabby either, especially in light of his being a defenseman.

But now back to those big horses at the U18 tournament, four of whom are now dressing for Djurgarden of the Hockey Allsvenskan, the nation’s second highest tier of pro hockey. Built to gain quick promotion, each of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Calle Odelius, listed in the order they were drafted this past summer, is a regular thus far and all have gotten at least one point to date. The ever creative Ostlund leads the way with three assists. Vegas prospect Carl Lindbom builds part of the goaltending tandem to boot.

Coming into the season, we were looking to see big things from defenseman Theo Lindstein, who did seem to be likely to kick things off with Brynas of the SHL. Instead, he’s been a 17-year-old on the U20 team and has four points and a +7 in six contests. Also gaining note as a first time draft eligible currently in Sweden’s U20 circuit is forward Noah Dower Nilsson. Ah, that name will look familiar as he is the younger brother of Detroit’s 2021 5th rounder Liam, who is taking a regular shift for Frolunda (two assists in eight games just now). Fascinating here is that Liam had five goals in 16 U20 level games his draft year, but little brother Noah is raising eyebrows with 12 goals, 18 points, and a +7 in just 11 U20 games this season, making him the league’s second most deadly goal scorer. He continues to be one to watch all winter long.

One team that can be happy with its Swedish first rounder from this past summer is the San Jose Sharks. Having just concluded their European tour, the Sharks organization have seen young, hulking forward Filip Bystedt put up four points in eight SHL games. This can be seen as a bit of a relief because the upside of his production was really one of the biggest questions this past summer when assessing where exactly this technically sound forward should be drafted.

On the overager front, we’ll continue to be very interested in seeing what the undrafted Ake Stakkestad does this season. After a very noticeable WJC, the take-no-prisoners Stakkestad is a key part of the attack for Allsvenskan club Karlskoga. He’s put up five points in their first six games, something you love to see from a kid who clearly feels he’s been overlooked for several drafts now.

Finland

Across the Baltic Sea bay in Finland, a number of youngsters found themselves in the opening day line-ups of their respective Liiga teams, and even more for some of the Mestis clubs. Things have evened out as many have since found themselves back on the respective junior teams, but a few draftees have definitely raised an eyebrow or two. Eetu Liukas of the New York Islanders has gone from a successful 4th line role with Finland’s summer WJC club to a first line banger role for HPK. With six points and a +3 in 12 games, Liukas has surpassed expectations while his 37 penalty minutes indicate he’s doing just what’s to be expected from a guy who bangs and gets under opponents’ skin. Some in those parts feel there’s a real Esa Tikkanen aspect to this young man. But he’s bigger!

Seattle can also be happy with the progress of recent 2022 pick Jani Nyman, who started the season with Ilves U20 squad. But five goals and six points in two games quickly had him up and in the line-up for their Liiga team, with which he now has four goals and six points in seven games. At the same time, forwards Patrik Puistola (CAR), Joakim Kemell (NAS), Roni Hirvonen (TOR), Aku Raty (ARI), and Antti Saarela (CHI) are all scoring at just over 0.5 points per game. But to be clear, there’s no Leo Carlsson style prospect making his way through Liiga action at this point. Many hoped it would be 6’3, 207-pound Kasper Halttunen, who has suited up seven times for HIFK, but only has one assist. Of course, he’s got nine points in five games with the team’s U20 team and we’re talking about a big boy who won’t turn 18 until next June.

Of course, all eyes are on defenseman Aron Kiviharju. Yes, yes, we’re talking about a 16-year-old who is only 5’10” and 165 pounds, but after his top four minutes at the U18, including PP time, the scouting community has been waiting anxiously to see if this kid can already hold his own in Liiga play. A real maybe for Finland’s WJC team and an absolute certainty for their U18 team in Switzerland next spring, Kiviharju has six assists and a +7 in eight games for his club’s U20 team. Again, he’s just 16 and has gotten into four Liiga games, seeing 9-14 minutes per match.

Germany

As Germany’s season kicked off, Arizona draft picks Julian Lutz and Maks Szuber were part of the equation for Munich, but just two of many options the returning finalist has in a year where it is a heavy favorite. Each is playing a minimal role for the loaded favorite. More interesting thus far has been the play of former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder Dominik Bokk, now a property of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s lacing up his skates for the newly promoted Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season. But truth be told, his role with the champion last spring was rather minimal, as was his playoff production. His role now is much more critical for Frankfurt as the team needs Bokk to spearhead the offense, something he hasn’t been able to do for any of his clubs in recent years.

Et voila - enter the 22-23 season. No doubts thus far that he understands his expectations and what this season means to him moving forward! After nine games, he’s got eight goals, 12 points, and a +10 rating, making him the most lethal player in the league to date. It’s what you want to see for a guy who has looked as derailed as a prospect as he has.

Also of note in this short season is 5’10, 183-pound Nikita Krymskiy. You shouldn’t know him, but he was a part of Team Germany at last spring’s U18 Worlds, where he got into two games. He was actually coming off an interesting season where he had a half a point per game in Germany’s third pro circuit but was then surprisingly recruited by the Krefeld Penguins of the DEL2, a team widely expected to make its way back into the DEL next spring. Thus far, the still 18-year-old Krymskiy has four goals and six points in seven games, making him the highest scoring U21 player in the league and 4th best on a team filled with players featuring predominantly higher league experience.

Also a part of Team Germany’s U18 team last spring, forward Philipp Krening very quietly collected three assists in four games at that tourney after coming off an injury-plagued winter that only allowed him to get into 16 AlpsHL games for the Red Bull Juniors, in which he still put up 10 points. As such, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that he kicked off the year with Munich of the DEL, collecting two points in six games. Once a few players returned to the line-up, he was sent back to the juniors, where he put up four points in two contests and is now looking to take a regular shift for Red Bull Salzburg of the ICEHL, which is one step down from the DEL. Yes, it can all get a bit confusing, but Krening has debuted there strongly, already getting his first assist in Salzburg’s most recent CHL game. If he can keep this up, the setback during his initial draft year may end up only having been just that - a setback.

A very interesting development is taking place in Nuremberg, where a 21-year old Elis Hede has looked real good in his first two DEL games of the season (one game-winning goal). Of note is that the Finnish national was basically raised in Germany, where his father spent most of his career. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because after spending a good portion of his teens with the Red Bull Academy, he laced up his skates for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for the 19-20 season. After two complete seasons as a solid lower line option for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga, the Ice Tigers’ GM - former Washington Capital Stefan Ustorf - quickly snatched Hede off the market as the youngster believes he’s made for greater things offensively. And now he appears to be in just the right place to make that happen.

Russia

No season has been in progress longer thus far than Russia’s, and we don’t need to get into the clouds hanging heavily over Russia’s ice hockey scene in these worrying times.

One thing of note we’d quickly like to point out is that It took top 2023 draft prospect Mikhail Gulyayev just SIX games to pick up a point in all three major Russian hockey leagues (MHL, VHL, & KHL) this season. The 2023 draft eligible defenseman has spent the bulk of the season with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, for whom he has a single assist in 10 games. That has been notable.

But the KHL isn’t exactly chock full of youngsters playing key roles. Minnesota first rounder Danila Yurov kicked things off well with three points in the first four games, but now only has four total in 17 games. This is something that hasn’t been uncommon for players his age. The most effective young draftees have clearly been last year’s rising star, Winnipeg’s Dmitri Rashevsky (14 points in 18 games), and now Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko (10 points in nine games). These mid-round picks are making noise for their respective teams while Carolina defender Alexander Nikishin is one of the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 10 points in 17 games. A few others like Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI) and Zakhar Bardakov (NJD) are clipping at a pace of 0.5 points per game for the first 18 games of the season.

For the nation’s second tier league, VHL, we’ll be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov. The well-built, high-flying defender has nine points in the first 10 games for St. Petersburg’s farm team and has added another five in four games for the U20 outfit. He’s having the type of season that should have him banging on the door to the KHL by Christmas. In better times, he’d surely be a topflight candidate for a WJC team.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Matvei Michkov #17 skates to the bench after scoring a third period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

In the nation’s MHL, top 2023 draft prospect Matei Michkov does have five points in four games but had been out a good while with an injury after a preseason check at the KHL level. His time to shine will surely come as the season progresses. Third in league scoring right now is 5’7” Yegor Klimovich, who is just 17 and has, well, 17 points in 13 games. It’s impressive at that age for a U21 league, size be damned. But the team that can perhaps be happiest with MHL output thus far is Detroit. We knew that Dmitri Buchelnikov was pretty amazing with his 41 goals and 75 points in 56 MHL contests last season, but the eight points in two games this year has him looking far too good for this league. He has eight KHL contests under his belt this season, with but one goal to show for them. It should be noted that there are dozens of players in this league who are currently above or hovering around a point-per-game pace.

Czech Republic

The most prospect-worthy news from the Czechia was and continues to be up-n-comers Eduard Sale and Jakub Dvorak. The left winger who was clearly one of the best players at last spring’s U18 tourney, Sale looked great again this summer and now has five points in eight top league games for Brno. Meanwhile, the 6’5”, 203-pound Dvorak has been plugging away in lower pairing minutes for Liberec, suiting up for all nine games and collecting an assist and +3 rating. More and more is indicating that we’ll be seeing both at this winter’s WJC and that each could be first rounders in next summer’s draft. That’s a surefire thing for Sale, with the only real question being how much he can make himself a topic for the top 10?

There are plenty out there who see this young man having a very productive NHL career and we’re among them.

PECULIAR::

In one of the odder prospect stories, Seattle Kraken springtime free agent signee Sam Bucek, a 23-year old former member of the USHL’s Chicago Steel and QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes who scored 54 goals in 69 top league games in Slovakia last season, broke off his engagement with Seattle this summer in order to sign with Neftekhimik of the KHL. One can only imagine in today’s heated international climate that this odd move was surely financially motivated. Well, his time in the KHL has already come to an end after six scoreless games. He is once again a free agent for the highest bidder, should there now be such a thing.