The New York Islanders finally boast an exciting prospect pool, and it is not just because they made a first-round pick for the first time since 2019 in the most recent NHL Draft. Several of the team’s recent second and third-round selections are making waves in their respective leagues, while a number of late-round picks have also captured the attention of the fanbase.
To be eligible for this list, a prospect must be under the age of 23 and retain Calder Trophy eligibility for the 2025-26 season. The lone exception is Isaiah George, who technically remains Calder-eligible with 25 NHL games played. However, this status would have changed had he not suffered an upper-body injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 2. He is expected to return in the coming weeks and will lose his prospect status in his first game back. If included on this list, he would rank in the top four, potentially as high as second.
Honorable Mentions: Jesse Nurmi, Henrik Tikkanen, Alexander Ljungkrantz, Dennis Good Bogg
15. Justin Gill (C)
Justin Gill was the Islanders’ 145th overall selection in the 2023 Draft and scored 40 goals and 98 points in 65 games for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last season. In 2024-25, he has split time between the American Hockey League (AHL) and the ECHL during his first professional season, but he has already made a strong impression.
Related: New York Islanders Prospect Pyramid – 2024-25 Preseason
Gill, 21, is up to two goals and 10 points in 12 ECHL games with the Worcester Railers, and he has a goal and six points in 14 games in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. At just 21 years old, Gill stands out with his impressive off-the-puck play, but his inconsistency in driving his line’s offense prevents him from ranking higher on this list, at least for now.
14. William Dufour (RW)
William Dufour will be 23 years old by the end of the month and is quickly fading in the Islanders prospect pool. After scoring 21 goals and 48 points in 69 games in his rookie season with Bridgeport in 2022-23, he regressed to just 15 goals and 25 points in 55 games last season, and now just five goals and 10 points through 29 games this season.
Dufour’s development has been hindered by Bridgeport’s struggles to establish chemistry among the forwards, but his offensive production remains a concern. Time is running out for the Québec native to secure an NHL spot, so it is…
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