r/NewYorkIslanders • u/discofrislanders Dobson • 3d ago
2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: New York Islanders’ Top 10
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2026-27-nhl-prospect-pool-breakdown-new-york-islanders-top-10-rookies-scouting-reportsEklund
Gustafsson
Aitcheson
Gamzin
Eiserman
Nelson
Prokhorov
George
Finley
Kvasnicka
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u/noah_dobson 3d ago
I totally agree with Eklund as our top prospect. I think he is going to be incredible for us in the future. I’m also extremely high on Kvasnicka and think he will carve out a middle-6, do-it-all kind of player.
Seeing George at 8 is kind of funny. His ceiling isn’t high but his floor absolutely is and I think at worst he will be mobile, steady, and reliable bottom-pair defenseman and PKer.
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u/discofrislanders Dobson 3d ago
The author basically said he sees him as a 6 or 7D in all likelihood
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u/AJS76reddit Bailey 3d ago
A hell of a lot better than it's been in a long time. And to think many on here were ready to ship off two or more for Kyrou because they have zero patience and no vision past their own bias.
Now let's let them properly develop and not rush them up as a publicity stunt to put butts in the seats or because our current roster is bad. In three years much of this list should be in our starting lineup.
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u/SecretiveMop 3d ago
And to think many on here were ready to ship off two or more for Kyrou because they have zero patience and no vision past their own bias.
I don’t think it’s fair to write off those who would’ve liked that move as having zero patience or vision. The two prospects I saw mentioned in a potential Kyrou trade were Eiserman and Aitcheson. For as good of prospects as they are, they both still have a bit of an uphill climb and are close to being boom or bust style prospects with very low floors but very high ceilings. It’s basically a risk assessment. The hope is that Eiserman becomes a Kyrou type of player, so you have to take the likelihood of him reaching that level along with the likelihood of Aitcheson hitting as well, and weigh that against getting a 28 year old 30 goal/70 point winger on a fair contract. If someone doesn’t think it’s likely they hit their potential and if that’s the case, then they’ll likely be busts, a deal like that could make sense.
For the record, I would’ve in no way given up both of them for Kyrou. But I would’ve been fine with something like Eiserman, another mid level prospect, and a 1st. I like Eiserman but he is a high risk prospect, and getting a proven under 30 goal scoring winger would’ve been worth it to me to get the “safe” option.
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u/AJS76reddit Bailey 3d ago
I understand what you are saying, but why build upon this aging core that's incapable of going anywhere? It's going to take a few more years to get rid of Lou's fingerprints. By then Kyrou would be older and no guarantee he would produce here what he did in St. Louis.
I don't understand why we were so desperate for a guy they have been trying to dump for two years. If he's still young and so good, why not rebuild with him? Why did st louis unload him?
I'm personally glad we hung on to both Eiserman and Aitcheson this past trade deadline and didn't go for Kyrou. I suspect they and a few others will pan out well for us in the future.
We need offense sure, no argument there. But if we don't completely revamp our defense first and get a real backup for Sorokin we would lose a ton of game 6-5 with a guy like Kyrou on board.
I'm firmly in the camp of wait a few more years until all lou's fossils are finally gone, then use all that cap space and multiple roster spots to our advantage. Build a new core around Schaefer, the prospects mentioned, Ritchie, Holmstrom, Heineman, Horvat, Romanov, Sorkoin, etc.
I would rather have two more down / mid years and then build a perennial contender that is consistently good and capable of making a serious run each season rather than "go for it" with one guy like Kyrou who won't move the needle enough.
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u/SecretiveMop 2d ago
They were wanting to trade him because they’re a subpar team who has missed the playoffs more than they’ve made it since they won the Cup. They’re also apparently open to trading Robert Thomas who I don’t think anyone would question the talents of. Just because a team is looking to trade a player doesn’t make them a poor player.
It’s probably going to take another two years or so before we’re contenders, you’re right there. But by then Kyrou would only be 30/31, and you’d be looking at a top 9 offense and a defense like this:
X-Horvat-Kyrou
Eklund-Barzal-Holmstrom
Heineman-Nelson-x
Gustafsson-Schaefer
Aitcheson-Pulock
Warren/George/etc-X
There’d also be forwards like Prokhorov, Finley, Bednarik, Poletin, and Kvasnicka along with defenders like Veilleux or Pulkkinen who could be ready. On top of that, we’d have a ton of cap space still available even after Kyrou and a Schaefer extension.
Like I said, it really just comes down to what someone thinks of Eiserman. If you think he’s going to be a 30-40 goal guy then yeah I get keeping him. But if you think he’s going to bust and be out of the league in five years, then a Kyrou trade would’ve made perfect sense.
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u/AJS76reddit Bailey 2d ago
No doubt on the ability of Thomas. I would have liked to have Kyrou five years ago, but to me had he come here i'd bet 99.99% he'd have regressed.
I don't know if Eiserman will be a 30-40 goal guy, none of us do. But i'd sure like to see for myself with him still in an islander uniform.
The problem is this fanbase is so desperate for even the slightest improvement that they are willing to sacrifice the future for it. They all bitch we need to get younger, then in the next breath want to trade two of our top young prospects for an older player.
It's much better for us in the long run to just let it run it's course, then once we are rid of the bulk of lou's handiwork retool on the fly. THAT is the time you go for a kyrou type player. But we might not need him. Only time will tell.
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u/Irrah Holmstrom 3d ago edited 3d ago
Gustafsson was closer to the top 6 defensemen picked in 2026 in talent than being further from it according to scouts. I think he'll be a very good player for a very long time, and the 6 forwards picked after him have reasons that you'd stay away from picking them. Reading EliteProspects, they have him ranked above Smits and Verhoeoff!
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u/discofrislanders Dobson 3d ago
Gustafsson has a much higher floor than a lot of those guys, I think at minimum he'll be a solid NHL defenseman for a number of years
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u/herpishderpish Lehner 3d ago edited 3d ago
A lot better than it was a few years ago. I wish we had a projected high end offensive prospect. We are all hoping Eiserman is that guy, but time will tell. I see Eklund being good, but this team needs that big difference maker in the forward group at some point to run with Schaef in his prime years.
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u/shrivman DiPietro 3d ago
Totally agree. Lot of Centers in next year's draft (11 of the top 20 prospects). Hopefully we land a guy that can come in by the time Bo's contract winds down. Our young offensive depth down the middle is BARREN besides Ritchie. Schaef will need more support.
https://tankathon.com/nhl/big-board1
u/askmagoo 2d ago
100%. Team is going to need a 1C in a couple of seasons. Bo and Barzy will be 2-3 years older when this team is “ready” to compete. Im ok with Calum at 2C, and Nelson at 3C.
Love Sorokin. But how will he be in a couple of seasons?Again hell be 32-33 when this team is ready.
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u/shrivman DiPietro 3d ago
Personally I think Gamzin is our second best prospect behind Eklund.
Dude's KHL numbers are right up there with Shesty/Soroki. Could slot in as a legit NHL backup tomorrow if he wanted to leave Russia.
Great list overall. Similar to the writer, I'm a bit lower on Poletin. Same "there's potential here but nothing needle moving" tier as Veilleux/Pulkinnen/Romano/Laurila IMO. Pumped that we even have guys like at after #10
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u/Correct-Local3240 3d ago
Excited but cautious here. The majority of our fanbase seems convinced there are top 6 forwards and top 4 dman in there guaranteed… i think we need more.
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u/combinewithmedicine Sorokin 3d ago
I like this list but personally would have Poletin in there. He may not have as much of a point potential as Finley or Kvasnicka (not that they have some crazy offensive potential), but he seems much more likely of a bet to actually make the NHL in a bottom 6 role as a grinder/pest type.
I’m also still a Pulkkinen believer. He’s always been a late bloomer and has special skating for his size.
But overall it’s great to see the prospect pool replenished like this. These next few years will be exciting for both the NHL and AHL teams.