Kyle Burroughs – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 18:05:11 +0000

Review: In the entirety of NHL history, a defenseman has reached the 100-point milestone just 15 times. Erik Karlsson accomplished that feat in 2022-23, but despite recording 25 goals and 76 assists with San Jose, the Sharks finished near the bottom of the league with a 22-44-16 record. How did a team featuring one of the all-time greatest individual performances out of a defenseman do that bad? For starters, despite having an elite offensive blueliner, the Sharks’ overall defense was terrible, finishing 25th in 5-on-5 expected goals against (191.27). Some teams can mask a poor defense with good goaltending, but not the 2022-23 Sharks. James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen were a truly horrendous netminding duo, combining for a 3.64 GAA and an .886 save percentage. San Jose also had just four forwards breach the 40-point milestone and none reach 70 points, so even with Karlsson’s offensive efforts, the Sharks ranked 25th in goals per game (2.84). Without any help, Karlsson’s efforts ultimately just served to lower the Sharks’ chances of getting elite prospect Connor Bedard in the lottery and keeping them out of the top-three in the 2023 NHL Draft.

What’s Changed? The Sharks clearly need to rebuild and to that end, they dealt Karlsson to Pittsburgh over the summer, receiving a package that primarily included draft picks, but also resulted in San Jose getting veteran forwards Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman as well as defenseman Jan Rutta. The Sharks also acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from New Jersey to replace Reimer, who left as a free agent, and they accepted Anthony Duclair from Florida, who the Panthers moved mostly for cap purposes, but should get a chance to re-establish himself as a top-six forward in San Jose.

What would success look like? Another terrible campaign is probably in their best interests. The Sharks have failed to make the playoffs for the past four years, but they’ve been slow to fully commit to a rebuild, which has arguably only served to extend their period of pain. Even the 2023-24 squad is likely to be in that awkward position of being both bad and full of veterans. At least if they struggle, that’d position them to get another high draft pick and keep their focus squarely on the future. The veterans may be moved for further picks at the trade deadline.

What could go wrong? Things can’t get much worse in San Jose. Arguably, the worst-case scenario would actually be if the veteran cast of Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl, Hoffman, Granlund and Duclair – the youngest of which is Duclair at 28 – do just enough to keep the Sharks out of the top-five in the next draft.

Top Breakout Candidate: Sharks fans looking for some reason to watch the 2023-24 campaign should pay attention to William Eklund. Taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, Eklund has high-end potential and is coming off an encouraging campaign in which he recorded 41 points in 54 AHL contests along with two goals and three points in eight games with the Sharks. He has a chance to make the Sharks out of training camp and serve in a top-six capacity.

Forwards

Tomas Hertl

A power forward with soft hands, 29-year-old Hertl topped 60 points last season for the third time in his career. He is not especially fast but is excellent at using his size to protect the puck and extend plays in the offensive zone. Hertl is strong on faceoffs, winning more than 53.0% for his career and has been an effective play driver for the Sharks even if the supporting cast is suspect. Hertl could use some better goaltending behind him. He had a Corsi percentage of 52.5% and an expected goals percentage of 52.7% and yet the Sharks were outscored 68-53 with him on the ice in those situations. Hertl does not look for his own shot often enough. He had a nine-game stretch from March 4 through March 20 during which he recorded 35 shots on goal, putting four into the net, but that pace of shot generation was atypical and did not last. He followed up that stretch with 20 shots on goal in his next 11 games. Hertl started the season slowly, with four points (1 G, 3 A) in the first 10 games, but followed that up with 31 points (12 G, 19 A) over his next 25 games. Even with a shaky supporting cast, Hertl can be expected to contribute 25 goals and 65 points for the Sharks.

Logan Couture

The 34-year-old who has logged 927 regular-season games for the Sharks just put up 67 points (27 G, 40 A), tying the second highest single-season point total of his career. In November, he had an eight-game stretch during which he produced 11 points (7 G, 4 A). Couture can generate some offensive production, but he has a track record of mediocre possession numbers, and 2016-2017 was the last time that the Sharks outscored the opposition during 5-on-5 play with Couture on the ice. Oddly enough, he has become worse in the faceoff circle, which is unusual. Most players take some time to get accustomed to taking faceoffs in the league and get better as time goes on. In his first five seasons, Couture won 51.7% of his draws. Since then, he has won 46.6% and he took 1,349 faceoffs last season, easily the most of his career. Couture is at the age when age-related decline could start to have an impact, but 25 goals and 55-60 points should be within range for him because he is still going to play a major role in San Jose.

Anthony Duclair

An Achilles injury limited Duclair to just 20 games last season and he managed just two goals, but he contributed 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 20 playoff games and scored a career high 31 goals and 58 points the year before, so there is reason to be hopeful for a rebound in his production in a full season in 2023-2024. When he is on his game, Duclair uses his speed to get out ahead of the play and will cut hard to the net, where he is very comfortable finishing with a deke. While Duclair’s offensive game continues to soar, his play away from the puck has suffered, so that is an area of focus for the 2023-2024 season. Duclair played just 20 games last season and somehow had a 17-game goal-scoring drought, scoring in his second and 20^th games of the season. The Sharks are Duclair’s seventh NHL team, but they also offer a quality opportunity for a bounce-back season and if he could contribute 45 points, that would be a relatively strong bounce-back performance.

Mike Hoffman

A six-time 20-goal scorer, the 33-year-old winger nevertheless scored just 14 goals for Montreal last season, his lowest total since 2013-2014. Hoffman’s shooting percentage dropped in his two seasons with the Canadiens, to 9.6%, after scoring on 12.0% of his shots before that, so there is a chance that he could get a boost in his finishing rate. Even in a modestly productive season, Hoffman had a 14-game stretch during which he tallied 13 points (2 G, 11 A) and that occurred while he scored on just 5.3% of his shots. One thing to watch with Hoffman is how much ice time he gets in San Jose. He is entering the final season of his contract, and if he scores, there might be teams interested in acquiring him before the trade deadline, so the Sharks will have some incentive to put Hoffman in a position to succeed. Of course, success is a relative term at this stage of Hoffman’s career. If he finishes the season with 15 goals and 35 points, that will have to be considered a success.

Mikael Granlund

Although he is a veteran with four 50-point seasons to his credit, Granlund is coming off a miserable season which he finished by scoring five points (1 G, 4 A) in 21 games with the Penguins after he was acquired from Nashville at the trade deadline. He started the season much better, contributing 10 points (1 G, 9 A) in 11 games for the Predators. The 31-year-old playmaker can play center and wing though with the Sharks’ influx of wingers this offseason, Granlund may be needed more in the middle of the ice. His shot generation, which was never his strong suit in the first place, has collapsed to less than 1.50 shots per game in the past three seasons and that really needs to change if he is going to have a positive impact. The move to San Jose will give Granlund a chance at a fresh start, albeit with a team that is likely to be fighting an uphill battle most nights. A 45-point season should still be well within his grasp, with the expectation that he can earn quality ice time on a team that lacks proven forwards.

Alexander Barabanov

The 29-year-old winger has played just three NHL seasons, and barely saw the ice when he played with Toronto in his first season, but Barabanov did record a career high 47 points (15 G, 32 A) in 68 games last season. He may have been the beneficiary of San Jose’s limited depth on the wings, as he ended up playing more than 18 minutes per game, but Barbaranov does not generate a lot of shots and his lofty percentages suggest that he does not have a lot of room to expect an increase in his production. He finished last season strong, tallying 19 points (9 G, 10 A) in his last 23 games, but that production came on just 38 shots on goal, which is not enough to expect those numbers to be sustainable. He should be able to go for 40 points again this season, but if newcomers eat into his ice time, his point totals could dip, too.

Kevin Labanc

Coming off an injury-shortened 2021-2022 season, Labanc contributed 33 points (15 G, 18 A) but he found himself on the doghouse, too, despite providing solid defensive play. From January 11 through March 11, a span of 16 games Labanc had one assist and averaged just 11:04 of ice time per game. His ice time and production picked up after that but with the Sharks acquiring a lot of new wingers in the offseason, Labanc is going to be facing a challenge for ice time in 2023-2024, which seems weird for the returning player who led Sharks regulars in Corsi percentage and expected goals percentage last season. At his best, Labanc is a strong passer with a heavy shot, one that he should try to utilize more frequently. Labanc accrued 56 points during the 2018-2019 campaign, but it feels like he is a long way from that now. A more reasonable expectation for this season is in the 35-point range but there is probably more upside for Labanc if he gets traded to a team that could use his skill in their top six.

Filip Zadina

The Red Wings had enough after Zadina managed just seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 30 games, but that frustration had been building for quite some time. He compiled 68 points in 190 games with the Red Wings, scoring 12 of his 28 goals on the power play, so the sixth pick in the 2018 Draft was given chances to produce and the numbers just weren’t there. Can he resurrect his career in San Jose? For Zadina, it’s worth a try and for the Sharks, they might as well buy low on him and see if he can recapture any of the form that made him such a highly touted prospect. Zadina’s most productive season in Detroit saw him produce a modest 24 points (10 G, 14 A) in 74 games in 2021-2022 and exceeding that might be the most reasonable target for his first season in San Jose. There is a world in which he secures a regular spot on a scoring line and possibly doubles that point total, but there is also a world in which the influx of wingers to San Jose leaves Zadina on the lineup bubble and then the point total could collapse.

Fabian Zetterlund

Acquired from the Devils as part of the Timo Meier trade, Zetterlund had a miserable start to his San Jose career, managing zero goals and three assists in 22 games for the Sharks, but doesn’t tell the whole story. Zetterlund had an expected goals percentage of 37.8% and San Jose was outscored 16-7 during 5-on-5 play with Zetterlund on the ice. At the start of the season, Zetterlund had an instant impact for New Jersey, scoring 13 points (5 G, 8 A) in his first 20 games for the Devils, but he could not keep that pace, following it up with zero goals and five assists in his next 20 games. Zetterlund is a sturdy winger who can battle down low to create scoring chances, but it remains to be seen if he has the ability to score enough to stay in the top half of the lineup. With so many players competing for spots on the wing in San Jose, Zetterlund has a wide range of outcomes, which could mean playing in the top six, or falling out of the lineup entirely. Given the uncertainty, expecting 25-30 points seems about right.

Nico Sturm

A reliable checking center, Sturm landed a bigger role in San Jose last season, playing a career high 14:44 per game and finishing the season with career highs of 14 goals and 26 points. Sturm has good size and won 55.8% of his faceoffs last season, so there is a role for him to fill. That role may not be appreciated as much on a team that is likely to be in a lottery position at season’s end. Even if he tends to play in more of a defensive role, Sturm is not shy about crashing the net to score greasy goals. He scored five goals during an eight-game stretch in October, which may have set unrealistic expectations, because he could obviously not continue that pace. With a secure spot in the Sharks lineup, Sturm could be expected to produce 25 to 30 points from his primarily defensive role.

Defense

Mario Ferraro

While he has never produced more than 17 points in an NHL season, Ferraro has played more than 21 minutes per game for each of the past three seasons and has put up more than 120 hits and 120 blocked shots in each of the past two. He is a strong skater whose defensive impact has declined, so he could use a rebound season to get back on track. While Ferraro’s peripheral stats are strong, he could be in the mix for more of an offensive role, mostly because someone has to take on the minutes that used to belong to Erik Karlsson. Although Ferraro’s career high is 17 points, he has been sharing a blueline with the likes of Karlsson and Brent Burns, both of whom are no longer in San Jose. Without any proven options ready to step into a bigger role on the Sharks blueline, Ferraro could take advantage of the opportunity and might have a chance to produce 25 to 30 points. It says something about the state of the Sharks defense that the blueliner who might have the greatest impact had a 24-game stretch last season during which he recorded a single assist.

Matt Benning

The 29-year-old blueliner played a career high 19:40 per game for the Sharks last season, finishing with a career best 24 points (1 G, 23 A). While those are not eye-popping numbers by any means, Benning is a proven commodity on the Sharks blueline and that will give him a chance to play a significant role in 2023-2024. Benning plays a heady game, thriving on smooth skating and good decision making with the puck, but has not been given a big role in his NHL career. Looking at the competition for playing time in San Jose, Benning is as good a bet as any to handle a more significant role. During a 10-game stretch in November and December last season, when he was playing nearly 21 minutes per game, Benning accumulated nine assists, so that small sample does suggest there could be some offensive potential if he gets consistent minutes. While that might be the case, expecting anything more than 25 points could be considered optimistic.

Kyle Burroughs

A 28-year-old who has played a total of 95 games, Burroughs showed enough potential in Vancouver last season to land a three-year contract with San Jose. He is not big, but plays an aggressive game, putting up 165 hits in 48 games for the Canucks. He is also not afraid to drop the gloves, when necessary. On San Jose’s rebuilding blueline, there will be a chance for Burroughs to earn a bigger role than he has ever had before in the NHL. He was effective enough in his limited role with Vancouver and if he continues to play with that edge to his game, that could give him him the inside track to a top-four role with the Sharks. Although Burroughs has just 11 points in 95 career games, he is poised to get what is, for him, an unprecedented opportunity on San Jose’s rebuilding blueline. It might not result in even 20 points, but Burroughs could also deliver 250 hits and 125 blocked shots over the course of a full season.

Goaltending

Mackenzie Blackwood

The San Jose Sharks just haven’t been able to figure out what to do in net lately. The Pacific Division team doggedly refused to move on from a floundering Martin Jones for almost too long, then went through a quick succession of short-term band-aids in James Reimer, Adin Hill, and Kaapo Kahkonen before trading for MacKenzie Blackwood this off-season. The hope, almost certainly, is that Blackwood will be able to reset his game and his mindset after struggling to produce in New Jersey amidst a rash of injuries.

There’s a potential for success there. Blackwood was far from what a playoff-bound New Jersey needed last year – he struggled with even more injuries, and prospect Akira Schmid proved he was more than ready to take over as an NHL regular to tandem with Vitek Vanecek. But his game style, which utilizes his bigger frame to take up space in the net and doesn’t require a lot of aggressive challenging or puck-handling, could be a better fit for San Jose than either Adin Hill or Kaapo Kahkonen’s more movement-reliant game play styles. And since Hill didn’t shine for San Jose (and Kahkonen will be back this season but didn’t do much to inspire confidence last year) it’s worth considering that moving in the other direction stylistically could work out in the team’s favor. Add in the fact that Blackwood performed much closer to his expected output last year than Kahkonen – he was near the middle of the pack across the league in terms of expected goals numbers, while Kahkonen was nearly at the bottom of the league altogether – and there’s reason to hope that this change in scenery will be exactly what Blackwood needs. Now, he just needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Projected starts: 40-45

New York Islanders 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:27:55 +0000

The 2014 draft, while lacking in clear cut superstars, was very strong. Of the 30 players selected in the first round, only one, Conner Bleackley, has yet to appear in an NHL game. (As an aside, he took three years to become an AHL regular, and a depth one at that. He may never complete the circle.) These players are basically still 23 or 24 years old and already 34 players selected that June have played over 100 games in the NHL, with another 10 set to join them in 2019-20. 13 of the players have already accrued 100 points we well. (Another aside – only three netminders from that draft have appeared in the NHL, and none has played more than 10 games yet.)

The Islanders had two picks in that first round. Their own, at fifth overall, and the 28^th overall pick, which they acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for a pair of second rounders. Among the more successful players available when the Islanders made their first pick, include William Nylander, Dylan Larkin, Nick Schmaltz, and David Pastrnak, among others. When the Islanders called out the name of Michael Dal Colle, no one flinched, as he was widely recognized as being among the top half-dozen prospects in the draft class.

At pick 28, the Isles had just missed out on Pastrnak, who lasted until pick 25 before Boston pounced, but played including Adrian Kempe, Ivan Barbashev, Marcus Pettersson and more. But again, no one flinched when Garth Snow and friends called out the name of Josh Ho-Sang. Like Dal Colle, Ho-Sang was a talented, high scoring winger from the Toronto area who played in the OHL who was widely seen as good value that late in the round.

Perhaps you can guess where this is going before you read on to the list below. Dal Colle and Ho-Sang are still here, so neither has ever played up to 35 games in a single season, or 60 games combined. The 28 games Dal Colle played in last year bring him to 32 for his career. Ho-Sang appeared in 10 games for the Islanders last year, a drop off from the previous two seasons, when he played in 21 and then 22 games, respectively.

The two young wingers seem to be moving in opposite directions as far as their careers are concerned. Dal Colle seemed to be in serious danger of flaming out, while Ho-Sang was the more mercurial talent. Scouting is an inexact science at the best of times and the red flags that scouts had identified in both players have been what has held each of them back.

For Dal Colle, blessed with ideal power winger size and an abundance of skill, the concern was that he played a somewhat passive game, rarely asserting himself to the max against his opponents. For Ho-Sang, the opposite was true. He was intelligent, but very head strong and very much a non-conformist, leading to him rubbing many evaluators the wrong way. Dal Colle may have figured it out last season, and he was accordingly rewarded with his best AHL season and a prolonged NHL stint. Ho-Sang, on the other hand, is still the same young man for whom some evaluators said was a “no-draft”. There was little to separate his 2018-19 season from the two previous ones.

Dal Colle may have saved his career, as young as he still is. Ho-Sang seems to need a change of scenery to be evaluated with a fresh set of eyes.

-Ryan Wagman

New York Islanders Defenseman Noah Dobson (45) (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire)

1 Noah Dobson, D (12^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Dobson has everything you love in a defenseman as a prospect – great skater, great hockey sense on both ends, great puckhandler and passer, contributes offensively and defensively, and has the ideal size for the NHL level. He has the potential to make the Islanders as early as this coming season, and he has all the tools to make that happen. His skating, hockey sense and positioning could put him into the NHL right now without skipping a beat, and he has played a lot of hockey in the last two years – two Memorial Cup titles while playing 30-minutes-a-night, two Team Canada summer camps and a holiday season with Team Canada at the world juniors. Dobson only needs to fill out his frame to have a true impact at the NHL level, and he is set to be a top pairing defender for a long time. - MS

2 Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) Two years after selecting Kieffer Bellows in the first round, the Isles tapped a similar well in drafting Wahlstrom, a sniper from the USNTDP who put up great numbers in the Program, but was seemingly conflicted about the college track. Also like Bellows, Wahlstrom had one underwhelming season on campus before he turned pro. To Wahlstrom’s credit, he shows willingness to work in his own zone, but it will always be the quality of his shot, and his ability to get it off cleanly, that will determine his path to the NHL. He has slick mitts that aid in the shot preparation and release, as well as maintaining puck possession. The Isles should be patient with him, letting him round out his game in the AHL, but his upside is still first line. The hope is that he does not develop as a top six or bust player. - RW

3 Simon Holmstrom, RW (23^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Holmstrom is an elite skilled winger who I expect will get a good look at SHL hockey this season. That said, he is a top six or bust forward and plays for a top ranked team so he may need to start with the junior team. He actually is signed by the Islanders but will play in Sweden for at least another season. Holmstrom has an elite skillset and can control the pace of the game. He is a strong technical skater and with more strength in his legs he can see fast improvement. Against his peers you can see separation speed. He possesses both a good wrist shot as well as an elite playmaking potential. Injuries have slowed his development curve a bit. Last summer he couldn’t train properly, and he missed a big portion of the season due to multiple injuries. Holmstrom will be a long-term project for the NY Islanders but one that could be worth the wait. - JH

4 Ilya Sorokin, G (78^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 6) At age 24, Sorokin has gathered a lot of experience in the last few years and he can easily be considered one of the best goaltending prospects in the world. He posted stellar numbers over the past four seasons with CSKA Moscow and he will now play a final year in Russia before crossing the pond. He plays at such a level that should allow him to play in the NHL right away, even if period of adaptation will be needed in any case. Sorokin is a tall, calm goaltender who makes great use of his reach and is very athletic – both qualities that will help him to shine even in North America. It is expected that the Russian netminder will join the NHL lineup right away and the Islanders may even go with a rare Russian duo in net for the 2020-21 season with Sorokin and Varlamov as Greiss has only one more year left on his contract. - ASR

5 Bode Wilde, D (41^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) While there are some areas of his game that are best described as “developing,” Wilde possesses tantalizing potential because of his athleticism. Blessed with size, skill, and power, he blasts his way up ice and is virtually unstoppable when it comes to crossing the blueline on his rushes. He also possesses a terrific shot and scoring instincts for a defender. All of that said, he is a high risk/high reward player who can spend a little too much time in the offensive end and not enough in his own. Furthermore, his positioning in the defensive end will need to improve as he has a tendency to chase the puck or make poor reads. Wilde is an exciting prospect who could easily develop into a top pairing defender if his game settles down and he is able to improve defensively. - BO

6 Michael Dal Colle, LW (5^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 7) Dal Colle is not to be slept on despite his struggles to make an impact at the next level. For a fifth overall pick he has had a tough time adjusting to and reacting to the pace of the play as a professional. He is a highly skilled player, he can skate, shoot and do just about everything at the NHL caliber and he now brings a highly competitive edge to the game. Dal Colle succeeds and does fine at the AHL level and having managed a point a game average with Bridgeport last season he proved his ability to play at the professional level, however he only had 7 points in 28 games during his call up with the Islanders. The Islanders will need Dal Colle to step up his play this coming season to earn his bottom six spot with the chance of moving up the line up. - SC

7 Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4) A strong skater and good passer, Ho-Sang is a power forward that can be relied upon to carry the puck deep and make creative plays. His work below the goal line is explosive and his passing is accurate which helps him stand out when he has the puck. Many of his goals scored may not be the prettiest but his tenacity around the net is admirable, he gets into the dirty spots and drives the net hard to create chances for himself. However, Ho-Sang will need to be more dependable as a two-way player if he wants a shot in the NHL with the Islanders again next season. With his experience in the NHL already, he knows what to expect and this coming season he should do much better with his zone coverage and timing as he continues to grow and develop his game. A quick note that he should also be mindful not to be too overzealous when with the puck to help him remain within team structure. - SC

8 Kieffer Bellows, LW (19^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He did not see the success he is used to in his first professional season with Bridgeport, managing only 19 points throughout 73 games along with 101 penalty minutes. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level. Bellows has great potential as a strong second liner with the Islanders, but he still has a lot of maturing to do before that can happen. Bellows is an offensive gift to any team, but a player of his skill has to be able to play well at both ends of the ice and his defensive positioning will also need small adjustments before he makes any further jumps. - SC

9 Anatoli Golyshev, LW (95^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) One of the KHL’s top wingers, Golyshev had a career year in 2018-19, with 19 goals and 40 points in 54 regular season games. He has further stepped up and his talent has removed some of the rougher edges, with a more concrete game and less wasted efforts. He is not big, but is very tough on his skates and can play bigger than his size, however he often prefers playing on the perimeter. Golyshev boasts a ton of raw talent, but there are two things that may concern the Isles. First is his adaptability – he recently signed a new four-year deal in Russia, with an out clause, but it is yet to be seen what it will be in two years. Second, he is very injury prone. He has never played all the regular-season games for Avtomobilist, and he is currently out for the first two months of 2019-20 with a lower body injury. - ASR

10 Sebastian Aho, D (139^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11) The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season, as he finished second on Bridgeport with 37 assists. He still needs to work on his physical play and his timing when it comes to pinching and making the decision whether or not to play the puck. He has adapted well to the North American style of play and his progress over two seasons has been very good. Having already played up with the Islanders, Aho has yet to show his true potential and is barely pushing a bottom four ceiling. He will need to work on his composure and avoiding seeming too scrambly, and if he can polish up the positional aspects of his game, he will be on the right path to earning a more permanent NHL spot. - SC

11 Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (43^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Quicker than he is fast, the pint-sized Iskhakov adapted remarkably well to his first exposure to North American hockey and the smaller ice sheet. The number three scorer on a young Connecticut squad, despite missing some time in the first half after suffering a concussion from a massive open ice hit. He is most notable as a prospect for his playmaking ability and vision. His return to the ice after the hit and without a dropoff in production no less, tells us that he remains somewhat fearless and plays without hesitation. As with many players of his stature and ability, his defensive zone work often leaves something to be desired, leaving the fear that he could be top six or bust. Either way, the Islanders can afford to be patient with Iskhakov. - RW

12 Parker Wotherspoon, D (112^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 12) Wotherspoon’s second professional year with Bridgeport was an improvement to his rookie year as he cracked the 20 point margin and saw his confidence grow as a defenseman. He walks the line well and finds ways to creep down the sides to gain offensive ground with ease. He flies under the radar offensively but makes his presence known physically. He would benefit a little more with less time spent fighting and more time focusing on using his skill to prove himself on the ice rather than in the penalty box. For a skilled defenseman with a knack for passing he has the potential to gain a bottom four spot with the Islanders and be a physical force if he can learn to balance both aspects of his game and turn them into assets. Wotherspoon will also need to work on getting more shots to the net this coming season and proving that he is not just a good passer but a good shot as well. - SC

13 Jakub Skarek, G (72^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 17) Skarek really impressed in the first half of the past Liiga season, but the level of his performances dropped off as the campaign progressed. He is a butterfly goalie with very good quickness and plenty of athleticism to boot. He shows great fluidity when moving laterally. He moves quickly and effectively post-to-post. He can make the occasional flashy, athletic save thanks to his quick reflexes and glove. Skarek has good vision as he tracks the puck well through traffic and bodies in front of the net, constantly keeping his eyes on the puck. He knows when to challenge shooters and be more aggressive in order to cut down the angle. The biggest downside in Skarek’s game is that he has a tendency to overcommit at times by dropping into the butterfly too early. He has high upside but must add consistency and prove that he can be a difference maker in big games. - MB

14 Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 18) Vande Sompel is smooth skating, hard shooting, yet undersized defenseman who manages to get the puck to the net and rarely passes up the chance to shoot. He is a good skater and a hard worker, and his transitions are especially smooth which allow him to be quick and outwork opponents in races for the puck. He already has the mindset and the vision to be an NHL defenseman, but he still needs to be winning more boards battles and stay strong when protecting his own net. He will have to be harder on the puck and work on maintaining priority in the defensive zone, as Vande Sompel cannot get caught too deep forechecking or pinching if he wants to cut it as a bottom four defenseman at the next level. He may see the play well but his patience still has to improve and he will need to mature a small bit before he can make the jump any further. - SC

15 Mason Jobst, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 2, 2019. Last Year: IE) In terms of pure upside and dynamic ability, Jobst could rank higher on this list. His main drawbacks as a prospect are his size (5-8”, 185), and his age (25.5). A four year top collegiate scorer at (The) Ohio State, he plays a much bigger game than his listed measurements, willing and able to take big hits in order to complete a play. His stickhandling ability pops on nearly every shift and he is equal parts playmaker and finisher. His style of play gives him a number of avenues to reach and stick in the NHL, with attributes that would fit on any line, but considering his age, his window is limited. - RW

16 Otto Koivula, LW (120^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 9) Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice and his size makes his net positioning is very strong. He is not the greatest skater nor the most agile on the ice but he makes up for it with his hands and his uncanny ability to find open ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player. For a big body, Koivula gets breaks and can move once he gets up to speed, however this takes him four to five strides too many to hit a top speed. He will need to find a way to get faster and gain a jump in his step in order to be considered a potential bottom six forward with the Islanders. - SC

17 Reece Newkirk, C (147^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Newkirk went through quite a transition last season from the one before, as he jumped from 11 points to 59, quickly moving him up the ladder and helping advance into the draft rankings. He is a bit on the smaller side with his size, but plays way beyond that in his type of play. He is a versatile player who is relied upon to play and produce in all situations. He is an energy guy who is confident, drives the net, and plays with an edge both hard and tough. He works extremely hard, competes at both ends of the ice and can contribute in multiple ways. Although he isn't the best skater, he projects as a bottom six forward with a scoring touch. - KO

18 Blade Jenkins, C (134^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 14) Jenkins is a power center who is aggressive and assertive with the puck. He is always in attack mode, looking to drive the net. And with his strength on the puck, he can be very effective below the hash marks, prolonging possession along the wall. The question is, are his hands good enough for him to play an offensive role at the NHL level? That remains to be seen and improving both his vision with the puck and his finishing ability will be areas of focus for him. He should have a good offensive season on a strong Saginaw team, but remains a long term project for the Islanders who could develop into a checking line role player down the road. - BO

19 Kyle Burroughs, D (196^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 19) Burroughs is a good playmaker and a decent all round player. He is not flashy nor one who particularly likes to carry the puck but is instead a stay at home defenseman who does well protecting his end of the ice. He has a mean streak and that streak saw him spending a lot of unnecessary time in the box. The irony is that when Burroughs is not in the penalty box, he serves as a great power play defenseman and can quarterback a play without problem. His ability to take one timers paired with his release make him an ideal blueliner to have on the point. With discipline and a little more urgency, he could be a bottom four defenseman but he will have to impress this season or he could see his chances at getting to the next level come to an end. - SC

20 Jacob Pivonka, C (103^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Son of Washington Capitals legend Michal Pivonka, Jacob will never reach his father’s scoring exploits, but he is still a prospect to pay attention to. A teammate of Wahlstrom and Wilde’s with the USNTDP, Pivonka played a depth forward role, one he reprised last year as a freshman at Notre Dame. Despite his piddly point totals, he has some playmaking ability and a nice enough shot release. What makes him noteworthy though is the maturity of his game and his reliability in his own zone as well as his faceoff ability. He is patient, reads the ice well and uses his stick nicely to break up opposing plays. Pivonka will need to add some extra offense to make it, but if he does, he could be a prototypical fourth line center and penalty killer in the NHL. - RW

New York Islanders Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:02:04 +0000

With the best draft class (technically, tied with Detroit) among all NHL clubs this year in terms of talent acquired, it stands to reason that we take a few moments to discuss it and its significance in the grand scheme of the Islanders’ organization both now and in the near future.

With six of the eight picks made by the Islanders in June featuring on the below list, including each of the top three prospects, one aspect of how this draft class will impact the Islanders going forward is fairly clear. A more subtle aspect to the impact is what the draft class says about the direction the Islanders will be taking under new President of Hockey Operations and GM Lou Lamoriello.

Previously, under the direction of Garth Snow, the Islanders actually did an alright job at the draft, getting a good number of their top picks into the NHL, and often in impactful roles. While not every pick worked out (see Reinhart, Griffin, and Dal Colle, Michael), he otherwise had a remarkably successful run on draft day, both in the first round, and in subsequent rounds. For proof of the latter, see the 2008 and 2009 draft classes, which included Jared Spurgeon, Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Anders Lee, none earlier than the fourth round.

Lamoriello is better known for his long, Hall of Fame stretch at the helm of the New Jersey Devils, but it is perhaps more instructive to look at the two drafts he presided over as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas, his two senior-most executives with a hand in scouting, are not following him to Long Island.

Though those two draft classes in Toronto (2016-2017) have seen only one player, Auston Matthews, play a game in the NHL, they showed a mixture of skill and sandpaper, mobility and size. Seven players in the Toronto top 20 are members of those two draft classes, including their top prospect and three of their top five.

As small a sample size as two draft classes is, Lamoriello’s Long Island sample of one draft is naturally smaller. So what can we see? Of the four forwards drafted, size was not a concern. Two forwards stand 6-1”, and one measures in at 5-8”. The three blueliners he selected all top out bigger, standing between 6-2”, and 6-4”. The one goalie also has good size, but that is a pretty universal benchmark among young goalies as the days of smaller netminders is rapidly disappearing into the mist of history.

In all honesty, we cannot deduce what the next generation of Islanders draft hopefuls will look like based on the eight players selected this year. The fact that they selected the best skilled players they could in the first two rounds bodes well, but it could also be a matter of letting the chips fall where they did, and picking up the pieces, as he had spent barely a month with the team before draft day. There is a very good chance that the picks made were more a reflection of the scouting reports left over from the previous regime’s scouting staff than any input brought forth by Lamoriello, or any other new hires in particular. We should applaud the injection of talent right now, and remain open minded about how things shake out next June in Vancouver.

Oliver Wahlstrom

1 Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (11th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Oliver Wahlstrom's superb puck-handling allowed him to become an internet sensation in his boyhood, and is perhaps still the most dynamic skill the first-round pick has to offer at 18 years old. The Islanders spent their highest 2018 pick on the electric U.S. National Team Development scoring forward (26-22-23-45), wowed by his near elite puck-protection skills and lethal shooting touch. Graded as perhaps the best shooter in the draft class, he has the raw shooting skill to be a goal-scoring phenom at the NHL level. His skating ability is deadly when used at full capacity, as his speed and cutting can leave defenders helpless, but he does tend to coast and not exert full effort from time to time. Physically, Wahlstrom needs to improve on his assertiveness with his sturdy, bulky body, as he could really make an impact in that aisle. A Boston College commit, his time in the NCAA should be very brief.

2 Noah Dobson, D (12th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A major part of the Acadie-Bathurst team that won the QMJHL and the Memorial Cup, Noah Dobson headlines an Islanders prospect core loaded with defensemen. A highly-intelligent, point-producing blueliner (67-17-52-69 last season), he has a diverse set of skills that transcends any defensive scheme and competition level, playing a game that looks like it will easily translate to the pro ranks. The puck-moving 18-year-old makes great reads, always puts the puck in the right place, and has exceptional hockey sense and defensive awareness that rivals even Rasmus Dahlin, the draft's number-one pick. His shot is great (the 17 goals from the blue line speak for themselves), as is his willingness to play a physical brand of hockey. He is not a dynamic skater, but serviceable in his own right; he is mobile and athletic, but does not routinely dazzle onlookers with his speed and cutting. His ceiling may not be as high as his 2018 draft peers, but his floor is as lofty as any.

3 Bode Wilde, D (41st overall, 2018. Last year: IE) If his game comes to fruition and he reaches his All-Star ceiling, Bode Wilde will go down as a certifiable steal in the coming years. Projected as a mid first-rounder in the weeks approaching the 2018 draft, Wilde slipped to the Islanders, to which he brings his graceful skating, heads-up decision making, and versatility. A wondrous straight-line skater, he does everything with such impeccable precision at full speed, retaining the ability to pivot and cut with grace almost effortlessly. His skating pays off defensively, where his gap control and backwards-to-forwards transitions display top-pair potential. A right-shooter, Wilde will be a weapon in all three zones, with a good shot from the point to make him a decent goal-scoring contributor. His defensive-zone efforts need major improvement (physical assertiveness, attentiveness to moving forwards, and more), but when that comes along, he could emerge as a formidable NHLer.

4 Joshua Ho-Sang, RW (28th overall, 2014. Last year: 3rd) It has been four years since Joshua Ho-Sang infamously said he would become the best player from the 2014 draft class. Though he has been treated somewhat unfairly coming up through the ranks with the Islanders, we are still waiting for the former Windsor Spitfire to emerge. He still has the raw skill that made him a first-round pick back in 2014, most notably his skating ability and his exciting, flashy puck-handling capabilities. He is well above average in driving offensive plays, as his passing, creativity, and effectiveness with entering the zone and maintaining possession are unlike nearly any on the Islanders roster. When the 22-year-old was with the NHL club last season, it seemed like he was creating chances every time he stepped on the ice, despite playing with lesser linemates. His defensive deficiencies and off-ice troubles are detrimental to both Ho-Sang and the Isles, but with new management and new coaching entering the fold, he has a fresh start and a chance to impress again.

Kieffer Bellows

5 Kieffer Bellows, LW (19th overall, 2016. Last year: 7th) Much like Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows comes from the U.S. National Development Team and specializes in puck play and a fatal shooting touch. The Edina, MN native tallied 41 goals in just 56 games for WHL Portland with that skillset, and used that offensive firepower to be the most dangerous player on the ice for Team USA's World Junior entry last season with nine goals in seven games. Unlike Wahlstrom, the 20-year-old is more of a trailer than a pacesetter and does not possess blazing skating speed, but uses positioning away from the puck and the smarts to get open to score a bounty of goals at any level. He causes disruption in the neutral zone and on the forecheck, and also plays center frequently enough to perhaps project as an NHL middle-six pivot. As he turns pro this season, he will have to prove that he can score goals at higher competition levels, unlike his underwhelming lone NCAA season.

6 Ilya Sorokin, G (78th overall, 2014. Last year: 4th) One of the game's top goalies outside of North America, Ilya Sorokin has put up ridiculous numbers as the starter for CSKA Moscow, one of the KHL's top clubs. Putting up goals against averages of 1.06, 1.61, and 1.59 over the past three seasons, the former third-rounder has clear, raw talent. An extremely composed netminder, the 6-2" 23-year-old has excellent reactions, mobility, and lateral quickness to complement a solid, strong upper-body. He is as focused on the job at hand he is as athletic, and his mental toughness in the crease continues to make big strides. Under contract in the KHL for two more seasons, Sorokin is already 23 and if the Islanders want the Russian star to come aboard, they might have to buy him out of his KHL deal. The problem is they need the goaltender more than the goaltender needs the Islanders.

7 Michael Dal Colle, LW (5th overall, 2014. Last year: 5th) As recently as a couple of years ago, Islanders management dreamed of Michael Dal Colle potting 40 goals on John Tavares' wing. Now, the young winger is a symbol of disappointment, and has been anything but an NHL-quality player. His game revolves exclusively around his near-elite shot, a force for accurate, strong snipes from all around the offensive zone, but his game is so concentrated on scoring that when he cannot produce points, he disappears. He lacks the skating speed to generate scoring chances on his own, and his smarts are not enough to contribute regularly. He still has plus size, great hands, and again, an NHL-caliber wrist shot. On the last year of his ELC, it is a make or break year for the former fifth-overall pick.

8 Anatoli Golyshev, RW (95th overall, 2016. Last year: 12th) Drafted as an overager back in 2016, Anatoli Golyshev is like Sorokin in that he is a very intriguing, mysterious Russian with NHL-quality skill playing over in the KHL. The 23-year-old winger is a great shooter with enough speed and agility to create his own shot with his skating, and has playmaking skills that are headlined by a variety of quick, effective passes and nifty offensive vision. His lack of size (5-9", 172 lbs) is masked completely by his creativity with the puck, which rarely puts his body in harm's way. He bounced back from a down season the year prior in his homeland by leading Yekaterinburg in goals and points in 2017-18. Whether he will come to North America after all is still an open question, but judging by raw talent, he is more than ready to make an impact on Long Island.

9 Otto Koivula, LW (120th overall, 2016. Last year: 20th) With a big body, some reliable skill, and the maturity that earned him -- a fourth-rounder playing overseas -- an ELC at just 20 years old, Otto Koivula leaped from 20th to 9th in the Islanders prospect rankings. An ability to stick in the Liiga at such a young age is impressive on its own, but the winger has put up two solid seasons from a production standpoint to earn that pro consideration with the Isles. What the left-hander does well is use his great size (6-3", 220 lbs) to create space for himself to release his heavy, accurate wrist shot, while he is also very tough to play with against around the corners. On the other hand, he is a borderline horrid skater with no straight-line speed, awful technical skating skill, and a clear lack of athleticism; this impacts his upside heavily, and as he debuts in North America with AHL Bridgeport, is something to keep an eye on.

Devon Toews

10 Devon Toews, D (108th overall, 2014. Last year: 8th) An extremely fast, graceful skater since his Quinnipiac days, Devon Toews was an AHL All-Star two seasons ago and has all the makings of an NHLer. However, a shoulder surgery ended his 2017-18 season before he could make a splash on the Islanders' roster. How he can respond is the question, but the answer starts with his unmatched pure skating speed; he might have the fastest high gear of any Isles prospect. He is a strong puck-mover, has good two-way senses, and is very calm and reserved with the puck. On one side, he could be the ideal replacement for the departing Calvin de Haan, and on the other, he is 24 and his offensive numbers are probably a tad inflated by his maturity in a league ripe with 21-year-olds. If his offensive game translates to the NHL, he has top four potential.

11 Sebastian Aho, D (139th overall, 2017. Last year: 17th) Widely known as the “other Sebastian Aho”, the defenseman made a great impression on the Islanders brass as a 21-year-old overager in the 2017 draft and broke the NHL roster for 22 games last season. He put up good numbers in the NHL and below, where he led all Bridgeport defensemen in goals (nine) and points (29). He is an excellent skater by both technical skills and pure speed, and grades as average or above in puck skills and smarts. His undersized body inhibits his physical game tremendously, but he is fast and intelligent enough to mostly make up for his tiny frame in the defensive zone. In reality, Aho should have been drafted sooner than the fifth round in his fourth year of eligibility. He will likely start the season in Bridgeport but has a chance for promotion in short order.

12 Parker Wotherspoon, D (112th overall, 2015. Last year: 10th) A leading offensive force from the blueline on some poor Tri-City teams, Parker Wotherspoon was a prolific defensive scorer in the WHL. The leader in points (10-56-66) among WHL defensemen in his final junior year (2016-17), the former fourth-rounder made the transition to the AHL last season as a member of the Sound Tigers, with which he had cups of coffee in the previous two seasons. At first, it was a disastrous debut, being a healthy scratch in 15 of the first 30 games, but he found his groove with his good skating, two-way discipline, and skills to a spot on both the power play and penalty kill units before the end of the season. The 21-year-old has no special assets, but is around average or above in every attribute that makes for an NHL-caliber player. However, and through no fault of his own, Wotherspoon is a while away from any real NHL impact; the Islanders' top-six seems set up already and he is behind both Aho and Toews on the depth chart.

13 Ruslan Iskhakov, C (43rd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Ruslan Iskhakov is the first true center on this prospect rankings. If you still have John Tavares on your team, that would not be an issue, but the Islanders are thin in that position now without their former franchise cornerstone. No pressure, Ruslan. The undersized forward with absurd numbers in the Slovakian and Russian junior leagues comes to North America to play for UConn of the NCAA this season, looking to build towards an eventual career in the NHL. A creative and visionary playmaker, he is dangerous with the puck on his blade and is very difficult to strip of possession. His passes are crisp and to the tape and his play around the boards, despite a slight 5-8" frame, is pretty solid. Unfortunately, he lacks the quick acceleration and smooth skating of the typical undersized forward, and does not have much of a shot. Maybe with UConn, he can improve his foot speed amid a faster competition level.

14 Blade Jenkins, LW (134th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) If you were to draft players annually based exclusively on their energy levels, high-end motors, and inexhaustable tenacity, Blade Jenkins would be a top ten selection. A tireless and speedy skater, he produced offense at a reasonable clip for OHL Saginaw this year but looks to be more valuable as a blazing, tough forechecker with infectious spark. The 18-year-old is a gift on the defensive side when playing back there, as the left-shooting winger has good enough size to pin forwards up against the boards and steal pucks away with his athleticism. His offensive upside has not been fully explored, as he has pretty decent hands and good vision, but tries to create scoring chances solely with speed and needs to be better at slowing the game down and sustaining possession. Jenkins is lightning, and with some key players graduating from Saginaw, the Spirit staff can catch it in a bottle with the Jackson, Michigan native playing top-six offensive minutes.

15 Linus Soderstrom, G (95th overall, 2014. Last year: 6th) Drafted as a potential goaltender of the future back in 2014, the Islanders will see Linus Soderstrom in the pro ranks for the first time this season as he starts out with Bridgeport. The 22-year-old broke out in 2016-17 with HV71, helping them to an SHL championship with a 1.34 GAA, .943 Sv%, and 18 wins in 22 games. Last season was a struggle though, as he missed most of the season after surgery and came back in March with a SV% under .900 and a GAA more than double that of the season prior. He is an aggressive netminder who minimizes second chances with good rebound control and the ability to cut down angles well. He has plus athleticism and is very technically sound, moving from side to side almost robotically. Though he is behind Sorokin in terms of potential in the crease, he has the Russian beat as far as his timeline for NHL-readiness goes, he just needs to get back to 100% health and take it from there.

Ben Mirageas

16 Ben Mirageas, D (77th overall, 2017. Last year: 11th) One of several fleet-footed, defensive-minded defensemen deep in this prospect ranking, Ben Mirageas had a formidable freshman campaign for Providence, where he displayed his solid stay-at-home skillset and an improved capability to chip in offensively. He can skate the puck out of his zone and into the offensive side with ease or spark breakouts with quick, decisive passing, all while remaining disciplined and never stretching too far one way or another. At 6-1", size is no issue for the left-hander, and he uses it well to control the line and force forwards to the outside. What remains to be seen is what version of Mirageas turns pro, and how his well-rounded though non-dynamic game translates to the next level when the time comes.

17 Jakub Skarek, G (72nd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) One of the top goaltender prospects coming into the 2018 draft, Jakub Skarek had an up and down year and still netted a third-round selection, which really says a lot. He flopped at the World Juniors, a worrisome sign in a best-on-best tournament, but had superb stats in the Czech Extraliga -- a men's league -- at 18 years old. The goaltender has great vision and demonstrates insane reflexes between his athleticism and low-to-the-ice, Jonathan Quick-esque style. He is a smart and composed competitor, capable of massive workloads and facing tons of shots. Skarek has loads of starter potential, but could also be a spectacular bust, and the Islanders will give him plenty of time to sort things out.

18 Mitchell Vande Sompel, D (82nd overall, 2015. Last year: 14th) Mitchell Vande Sompel is exactly what the Islanders need most; a fast, puck-moving defenseman with relentless offensive pressure and skill. He was rewarded for his success in his first AHL season with a trip to the All-Star Game, earning a spot with seven goals and 22 assists in his rookie pro season. A brilliant and gifted skater, he is one of the more underappreciated players in the Islanders system; he has great hockey IQ, is comfortable playing the puck under immense pressure, and packs a physical punch in spite of his 5-10" frame. His defensive awareness away from the puck is what needs the most work; often he looks lost out there if he is not directly defending the puck carrier, and can get beat on cuts and passes. He also has plenty of experience playing on the wing from his days on the OHL, which may be something revisited going forward.

19 Kyle Burroughs, D (196th overall, 2013. Last year: 18th) A seventh-round pick, the fact that Kyle Burroughs is still here is somewhat miraculous, and he is only getting better and tougher with age. A brawny, intelligent blueliner who is always willing to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the club, the right-hander has groomed himself into a top-four role with Bridgeport out of nowhere. He is a long shot to ever make the NHL in a permanent capacity due to limited upside, poor skating, and a lack of skill, but his penalty kill toughness and physical tenacity has wowed AHL coaches. His ceiling is NHL bottom-pair/seventh d-man, but his floor is someone who assists in the development of the numerous young, left-handed defensemen coming up for New York. There is no way to lose for the Isles.

20 David Quenneville, D (200th overall, 2016. Last year: 15th) A historically gifted offensive dynamo from the blueline with WHL Medicine Hat, David Quenneville joins Bridgeport as a 20-year-old right-hander looking to prove the doubters wrong. With 80 points in his final WHL season last year (tops among WHL blueliners), he broke the all-time Medicine Hat defenseman scoring record with 214 points over four seasons. The issue here is that at 5-8" and without breakneck speed, he will have trouble cracking an NHL roster, but his plus stickhandling skills, sensational vision, and natural hockey IQ definitely help his case. His lack of physical stature and foot speed will hinder his NHL chances, but going by statistics, the most comparable CHL players over his age group are Mikhail Sergachev, Samuel Girard, and Ivan Provorov. Clearly, there's upside there.

New York Islanders – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:21:25 +0000

In a series of trades, a Canadian blogger named Kyle MacDonald went from being the proud owner of a single red paperclip to being the owner of a house. In a parallel series of trades, an American NHL General Manager named Garth Snow has gone from entering the draft with next to nothing, to walking away with some of the best young talent the New York Islanders have to offer.

For example, in 2014, Snow was getting angsty towards the end of the first round. A few talented players were still in the board for longer than they likely should have been. Sensing an opportunity, he struck a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Islanders received the number 28 pick from Tampa, in exchange for the two second rounders that they were holding. The two second rounders were used on lower upside blueliners, a reasonable proxy for what Snow could have done with those picks. Instead, he was in a position to select Joshua Ho-Sang, a highlight reel forward who can rub traditionalists the wrong way, but does so while creating reams of offense.

Pleased with the results of this approach, Snow literally doubled down in 2015. Going into the 2015 draft, not only did the Islanders not have a first round pick in hand, they also were without a second rounder. Both picks had been traded to Buffalo 18 months previously as part of the package that sent Thomas Vanek to Long Island for a regrettable stay.

Not one to simply drift, Snow began to roll. First, he decided that 2013 fourth overall pick Griffin Reinhart was not going to pan out as he had hoped two years ago, and shipped him to Edmonton for the 16th overall pick. Still not done piling up, he sent a second and third round pick to Tampa Bay (it pays to know your audience) in exchange for the 28th overall pick.

Wrapping up a two-year plan of audacity, Snow traded Griffin Reinhart and picks that turned into Dominik Masin, Jonathan Macleod, Mitchell Stephens and Anthony Cirelli for three picks that were used on Joshua Ho-Sang, Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. With all due respect to the four young man currently trying to work their respective ways up through the Tampa Bay organization, and Reinhart, who did not pan out in Edmonton and has since been drafted by Vegas in the recent expansion draft, when it comes to draft day trading, Garth Snow has basically been turning paper clips into houses.

The downside to this strategy is that it is not sustainable. In 2016, the Islanders entered draft day without picks in the second or third round due to earlier trades and were not able to acquire any, limiting the organization from growth. The situation was even direr this year, as the team did not have a first rounder, forced to trade it away, along with a solid blueline prospect in Jake Bischoff, to Vegas in order to coerce the expansion team not to select some of their prized young NHL players.

So while Snow has been wily in pulling off two neat tricks to pick up a trio of exciting young forwards, he has also found that entering the draft without his full complement of selections will just as often (if not more often) leave you empty-handed.

New York Islanders prospect Mathew Barzal (13) (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

1 Mathew Barzal – Among the handful of players in the discussion for top prospect, Barzal has been allowed to develop in the WHL after threatening to make the NHL in each of the last two seasons. Instead of sulking, he was among the top scorers in the WHL both seasons by rate and finished his junior career winning a playoff MVP, by guiding Seattle to the Memorial Cup. He is an incredible skater with the best hands of any prospect. He can carry the puck through the neutral zone as if he is in a pylon drill. He should be a top six NHL scorer in short order.

2 Joshua Ho-Sang – Although dogged by off-ice criticism wherever he has gone, from questioning coaching decisions, to his choice of uniform number 66 to an unfortunate sleeping-in incident, Ho-Sang is an incredibly exciting talent offensively. A very skilled skater who oozes puck skills, he can be absolutely electric to watch. Will have a chance to make the NHL roster out of camp on potential alone, but needs to show he can be more calculated with his risk taking.

New York Islanders Defenceman Ryan Pulock (6) (Photo by Your Dennis Schneidler/Icon Sportswire)

3 Ryan Pulock – Although not the fastest skater out there, Pulock has one of the hardest point shots outside of the NHL. When he can step into one, defenders quite literally turn around, hoping it does not hit them in an unpadded area. When he carries the puck over the blueline, he likes to fake a windup and then skate around defenders who flinch. Strong, if not bone-crunchingly physical. Has nothing left to prove in the AHL.

4 Ilya Sorokin - One of the top goalies in the KHL for two years running, Sorokin just signed a three year extension with CSKA and bringing his projections to fruition will have to wait. He is an incredibly athletic netminder who grades out as above average in every category worth scouting a goalie on. Strong technical play allows him to cover the entire net. While he is not perfect (he is, after all, a goalie) there are no easy areas for opponents to exploit.

5 Michael Dal Colle – One of the most frustrating prospects in the game. Blessed with great size and the ability to create offense from nothing with his great hands and nose for the net, he is unfortunately cursed with a complete lack of aggression. All too often is outworked for the puck by smaller, less gifted opponents. It is not even that he coasts in his own zone, as he does show commitment there on occasion. It is that his intensity levels will waver to extremes. Not too late to be a star, but needs to bring it more often.

6 Linus Soderstrom – His SHL numbers explode from the page. No goalie in the SHL had a better GAA and only one netminder stopped a greater percentage of shots faced. An aggressive goalie who is extremely technically competent, he also brings plus athleticism and play reading to the ice, minimizing second chances. Would be the clear goalie of the future in most systems. Although signed to an ELC, the Isles have already loaned him back to HV71 for the season.

June 24, 2016: Keiffer Bellows dons his Islanders sweater after he was selected as the 19th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

7 Kieffer Bellows – At his best, Bellows is an active winger, causing disruption in the neutral zone and a threat to score every time he gets space in the slot to unleash a very hard wrist or snap shot. At his worst, he is hot-headed and selfish, taking himself out of the play due to a gripe of some kind, or being called for unnecessary penalties. He is a solid skater with good puck skills. The type of player who would be best served playing more games, he is leaving Boston University for Portland of the WHL.

8 Devon Toews – A dynamic defenseman, Toews had an excellent rookie pro season with Bridgeport. Although his offensive game is his calling card, he is feisty without the puck, keeps solid gaps and is trustworthy on the penalty kill. He has very quick hands and is a strong skater. The type of blueliner that looks natural when joining or leading a rush. On a team with a shallower pool of defenders in front of him, Toews would already be knocking on the door of the NHL.

9 Scott Mayfield – A big, big defenseman, Mayfield is on this list because he was not called up early enough last year to lose his prospect eligibility. The Isles value him highly enough to use one their protection slots on him, fearful that Vegas would grab him otherwise. Not without a modicum of offensive skill, his game is most notable for the heaviness he brings to the play. He makes life tough on opponents, with and without his gloves.

10 Parker Wotherspoon – A strong offensive defenseman, Wotherspoon has improved his offensive output each year across his four WHL seasons. Often overlooked in a usually uncompetitive Tri-City squad, he lacks any one outstanding tool, but grades as average or better across the board. Solid positionally, he is slightly better when his team has the puck than without, but plays enough of a two-way game to inspire an open-mind when it comes to his future projection.

11 Ben Mirageas – It was easy to ignore Mirageas when he played for a moribund Bloomington team, but upon his trade to eventual Clark Cup champion Chicago, his game took off. A very intelligent defender in the stay-at-home tradition, he has great instincts for when to close the gap and take out the body facing him. A very mobile backwards skater, his offensive upside is limited, but he minimizes mistakes with and without the puck and there are worse ways to use a slot on a third pairing.

12 Anatoli Golyshev – A great shooter with enough speed and agility that allows him to avoid putting his tiny body in harms’ way, Golyshev is either generally showcasing his dynamic offensive capabilities, or completely disappears from the proceedings. Had a down year overall for Yekaterinburg in the KHL, but has already proven that he could be a high-end, if very inconsistent goal scorer. Whether or not he will come to North America (and when) is an open question.

13 Robin Salo – The Islanders top draft pick this year, Salo is a bit plodding, a relative rarity for a modern blueliner, Salo earns praise for a heavy and accurate slapshot as well as above average ability to read the play, both contributing to a notably mature overall game. A decent puck mover, he also plays a more physical game than his measurements would indicate. His upside is not as high as you want from your top draft pick, but only a slight uptick in his skating would allow him to achieve bottom pairing potential.

14 Mitchell Vande Sompel – An offensive catalyst from the blueline for a Memorial Cup winner in his draft year, Vande Sompel has been unable to build upon his early successes in the two subsequent seasons. He was actually showing prolific goal scoring ability in the first half of last season before being traded from Oshawa to London, but he enters pro hockey having made quieter strides in his defensive game. Also showing more patience before taking his shot.

15 David Quenneville – Small by undersized defenseman standards, Quenneville, whose older brother John is a top prospect in the New Jersey system, missed over a third of last season with a broken leg suffered in blocking a shot. When he was on the ice, he was among the most dynamic offensive blueliners in the WHL with well over one point-per-game. Not as fleet of foot as other small defenders, Quenneville’s greatest attribute is easily his plus puck skills.

16 Eamon McAdam – Although McAdam had an up-and-down rookie pro season split between the AHL and ECHL, he still flashed some of the potential that convinced Islanders’ scouts to select him in the third round in 2013. He has quick reflexes and a strong glove hand. Fairly steady in the crease, his movements are controlled and he has the ability to read the shooter and the puck mover. The future Islanders crease is crowded, but McAdam should not be counted out.

17 Sebastian Aho – After being passed over at the draft three times, the Islanders finally put a claim in on “The Other Sebastian Aho.” In truth, he likely should have been drafted years ago. He is certainly very small and slight with a non-existent physical game, but all of the tools are there. He is an excellent skater, who grades out well with his shot and puck skills. With nothing left to prove in the SHL, Aho is going to be in the AHL this year.

18 Kyle Burroughs – A brawny and intelligent blueliner, Burroughs lacks much in the way of upside, but has come a long way and has established himself as at least a top four defenseman in the AHL. Not a great puck carrier, he at least is capable of moving it around in the offensive zone. Likewise, his point shot lacks much zip, so he should not be viewed as a potential power play contributor. That said, he is a willing shot blocker and lane clogger and could be groomed as a third pairing penalty killer.

19 Arnaud Durandeau – A shifty, undersized skills player, Durandeau found himself in the spotlight by spending much of his draft year on a line with first overall pick Nico Hischier. A strong playmaker and plus skater, he plays an agitating game, but to ill effect as he lacks the size to be a physical force. Has the hockey IQ to play in a variety of situations and will be tested this year as his top linemate will likely have moved on to the NHL.

20 Otto Koivula – Despite being a pretty poor skater, Koivula managed to put together a strong rookie season in Liiga, on the back of his heavy and accurate wrist shot in tandem with impressive puck control that allows him to generate offense in tight spaces. While he plays a clean game, he has a very heavy frame and is tough to play against along the boards and in the corners. If he can improve his skating by even half a grade, he has middle six NHL potential. Easier said than done.

In spite of their handful of high end prospects at the top of this list, the Islanders overall prospect pool is disappointingly shallow. For a team that has found success at the NHL level (as measured in postseason success) very hard to come by, they tend to trade away picks and other young assets at an alarmingly high rate. Looking at the big picture, they might realize that those two things are strongly correlated.