The Islanders haven’t picked in the first round in four years, so this system is predictably bleak. There are options left that could fill out the bottom half of a roster.
Key addition: Danny Nelson
Key subtraction: Aatu Raty
Key graduates: Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom
2022 ranking: No. 27
2023 NHL Draft Grade: C+
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Full 2023-24 NHL Pipeline Rankings
Player Ranking
1. Danny Nelson, C
08/03/2005 | 6-foot-3 | 212 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 49 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Nelson’s toolkit is undeniably intriguing. He’s 6-foot-3, can skate, has good puck skills and can shoot the puck well. His work ethic is good, he has some physicality even for a big guy but I wish he was even harder. Nelson has shown he can kill penalties and was a go-to guy to kill penalties for the U18 team this season. I thought his actual play this season was inconsistent, and his lack of hockey sense showed at times around better players. Whoever drafts him will be drafting a lot of talent, and will have a unique opportunity to mold him into whatever position they think is best. He could be a third-line center, a second/third-pair defenseman or better at either position. He’s a unique case study, and there’s a case that he has a lot of room to develop, especially given how young he is relative to the draft class and the big jump in competition he made year over year.
2. Samuel Bolduc, D
12/9/2000 | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 57 in 2019
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Bolduc took major step forwards this season in the AHL and earned a lengthy callup to the Islanders where he held his own. He’s an NHL athlete as he’s a huge defenseman who skates well for a big guy. He has enough skill to make basic plays and has a big shot from the point. I don’t think Bolduc stands out at either end of the rink, but the package is good enough to be a legit third-pair defenseman, and a chance to be more.
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3. Simon Holmstrom, RW
5/24/2001 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 23 in 2019
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Holmstrom spent most of the year up with the Islanders in a limited minutes role. You like him because he has NHL skill and creativity. Inside the offensive zone, he makes plays and finds ways to score. He’s an average-sized, compete and footspeed winger though so I don’t know if he can drive play at even strength in the NHL even if he’ll get games in his career.
4. William Dufour, RW
1/28/2002 | 6-foot-2 | 215 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 152 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Dufour had a productive rookie pro season scoring 21 goals and 48 points for Bridgeport. Dufour is a big, highly-skilled winger who can score. His shot is a legit pro weapon, be it blasting a one-timer past a goalie or being able to pick corners. I don’t think his vision is all that amazing, seeing him more as a 1v1 and shoot type of winger. Dufour can stick to the perimeter a bit too much leaning on that shot and his lack of foot speed doesn’t help either. I think he can play NHL games, but will need to round out his game to have a career in the league.
5. Eetu Liukas, LW
9/25/2002 | 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 157 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Liukas scored 14 goals for HPK this season and got games for Finland’s senior team as well. He’s a big, heavy winger who plays hard and has secondary offense. He can beat opponents with skill and is a mid-range shooting threat. His skating is heavy and I’m not sold he will be a big-time offensive contributor, but he has the traits to be a bottom-six NHL wing.
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6. Matthew Maggio, RW
11/25/2002 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 152 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Maggio had a great season in the OHL for Windsor, being named the top player in the league, albeit as an overage. He has excellent offensive skills showing the touch to beat defenders 1v1 often. He can make and finish plays at the pro level. Maggio isn’t that big, but he competes well enough and killed penalties in the OHL although he likely won’t do that as a pro. His skating is the one issue in his game especially at his size. His trajectory and skill are intriguing to where I can see him as a nice depth piece in an NHL organization.
Has a chance to play*
Quinn Finley, LW
8/8/2004 | 5-foot-11 | 168 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 78 in 2022
Analysis: Finley is a good skater with a strong skill level and offensive IQ. He’s not that big and while talented, his compete is just okay and whether the offense in his game is good to compensate is what he will need to prove at higher levels.
Isaiah George, D
2/15/2004 | 6-feet | 195 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 98 in 2022
Analysis: George is a mobile defenseman who can make stops and played a good role on a top OHL team. His offensive touch is just okay, but he can skate pucks up ice and has a good point shot. Whether he stands out enough at either end is debatable, but his pure tools give him enough to be a long shot to make it.
Alex Jefferies, LW
11/8/2001 | 6-feet | 195 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 121 in 2020
Analysis: Jefferies is a talented forward with good speed, skill and offensive IQ. He’s an average-sized perimeter winger though and while he has offense it’s unclear whether it’s good enough to be an NHL player.
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Tristan Lennox, G
10/21/2002 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds | Catches left
Drafted: No. 93 in 2021
Analysis: Lennox is a big, technically sound goalie with good hockey sense. His quickness isn’t amazing but it’s decent enough. His OHL numbers are ugly but I’ve seen good games from him to think the team around him was a possible factor in those stats.
Jesse Nurmi, LW
03/07/2005 | 5-foot-11 | 168 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 113 in 2023
Analysis: Nurmi’s game has a lot of speed and energy in it. He’s a great skater who projects to be able to turn the corner on pro defensemen. He’s not the biggest player, but Nurmi wins a lot of races and forces turnovers. He also has a strong skill level and can generate offense through his puck skills and vision. There’s a lot to like about his game, except for his size at 5-foot-10. He’s talented, but whether he’s talented enough or the compete is elite enough at that size to have an NHL career is something I’m unsure of.
Calle Odelius, D
5/30/2004 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 65 in 2022
Analysis: Odelius is an excellent skater who can transition pucks versus pros and is strong in his own end with his gap and retrievals. He’s an undersized defenseman though who isn’t that physical and is just okay with the puck so I’m unsure what exactly he would be in the NHL.
Zach Schulz, D
6/14/2005 | 6-foot-1 | 197 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 177 in 2023
Analysis: Schulz has a steady, simple game. He’s a strong skater who competes well and kills a lot of plays. He has good physicality in his game and shows up every night. He’ll make stops as a pro, but whether he’ll have any offense is up for debate. I think he can make a good enough outlet pass to have a chance to make it, but as an average-sized player whether he can carve out a legit NHL role is questionable.
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*Listed in alphabetical order
Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2023, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Photo of Danny Nelson: Mike Mullholland / Getty Images)
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