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Corey Pronman details what to expect from the New York Islanders’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated throughout the 2024 NHL Draft.
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2024 draft grade: B
The Islanders did solid work at the draft table. Cole Eiserman has been a point of debate all season, but he still projects as a top-six wing. On Day 2, they acquired two talented goalies in the mid-rounds, and in the second round, I could see one of Jesse Pulkkinen or Kamil Bednarik making it to the NHL. This draft has the potential to generate a decent amount of NHL games, and a lot will depend on how Eiserman’s development goes.
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Draft Class
20. Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
August 29, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 196 pounds
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Player comparable: Owen Tippett
Analysis: Eiserman is an excellent goal-scoring winger who has put up huge numbers in junior and scored the most goals ever by a U.S. NTDP player. He isn’t the best playmaker in the world, but he has game-breaking qualities with his one-on-one play and shot when the puck is on his stick. He can beat goalies often with his one-timer and wrist shot from range. He sees the ice well enough and can make tough passes, although he absolutely prefers to shoot and tends to overshoot the puck. He’s a strong skater who can create his own shot and doesn’t shy from going to the net to score as well. His consistency isn’t the best and he can be a frustrating player to watch at times, but I don’t think he’s soft and actually had some physical bite in his game. Despite all his faults, Eiserman is also a goal-per-game player in junior, so you ride the wave with him. He projects as a legit top-six wing in the NHL.
Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: The star has faded on Eiserman after being a projected high lottery pick 12 months ago. At No. 20, it was worth the shot for the Islanders. He is highly skilled and an exceptional goal scorer, even if parts of his game will frustrate you. He still projects as a top-six wing who will score in the NHL even if you don’t always love his game.
54. Jesse Pulkkinen, LHD, JYP (Liiga)
December 27, 2004 | 6′ 6″ | 220 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
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Analysis: After scoring four points in Finland’s junior league in his first draft season, Pulkkinen took massive steps forward in his second draft-eligible season. He scored big numbers at the junior level, and then got brought up to Liiga. He also made Finland’s world junior team as a top-four defenseman. Pulkkinen is very toolsy. He’s a 6-foot-6 defender who skates quite well for his size. His straight-line speed is quite strong, although his first step or two aren’t the quickest. Pulkkinen defends well due to his length and that he’s quite physical. Offensively, he doesn’t stand out as much, but he has hands and can make checkers miss. He fights the puck at times when he needs to make quick decisions, though. If his first pass and decisions get more consistent he could be a legit longtime NHL defender, but for now, I see a third-pair type.
61. Kamil Bednarik, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
May 26, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 185 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Bednarik was the second-line center for the U.S. NTDP this season behind top prospect James Hagens. He’s a steady two-way forward. He has good hands and can score but the pure offensive flash in his game isn’t going to stand out. He gets his chances from playing hard, going to the net and making good decisions with the puck. Bednarik skates well and has enough tempo in his game to be a pro. He has a chance to be a bottom-six forward.
115. Dmitri Gamzin, G, CSKA Moskva (KHL)
April 8, 2003 | 6′ 3″ | 174 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Analysis: Dmitri Gamzin had a strong year in Russia including getting some KHL action, where he excelled in a backup role. He’s a very athletic goaltender with good hockey sense, although he has an average frame by NHL standards. He has a chance to play.
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147. Marcus Gidlöf, G, Leksands IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
September 28, 2005 | 6′ 6″ | 212 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Player comparable: Adin Hill
Analysis: Gidlöf had a very good season in Sweden as a top goalie in their junior league. His pro projection is highly intriguing as a 6-6 goalie who moves well for his size. His pure quickness side to side isn’t explosive, but he can make tough saves and is difficult to beat laterally. Gidlöf tracks the play well and often stays square with the puck. He plays aggressive as well. Some nitpick that his technique breaks down too much, he can scramble too much in the net and he let a few too many long-range shots past him. He has legit starting-goalie tools if he cleans up a few details.
179. Xavier Veilleux, LHD, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
May 23, 2006 | 6′ 0″ | 190 pounds
Analysis: Veilleux is a mobile defenseman who has shown he can have value at both ends of the ice in junior due to his strong skating ability. He moves pucks up ice well enough and has some offense. The question for the Harvard commit is whether, as a 6-foot defender, the pure playmaking in his game is good enough to make for a clear NHL pathway.
Analysis
You’d have had a hard time finding anyone around the league who believed the Islanders would make all three of their picks in the first two rounds this weekend, but that’s exactly what Lou Lamoriello did. He certainly added some intriguing prospects, none more so than Cole Eiserman, the U.S. development program’s all-time leading goal scorer, at No. 20 on Friday night. The Isles swapped first- and second-round picks with the Hawks a month ago to add a pick at No. 61 and the feeling was that Lamoriello, who hadn’t made a first-round pick since 2019, would be wheeling and dealing to create some cap space.
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Instead, the Isles selected 6-foot-6 defenseman Jesse Pulkkinen at No. 54 and then center Kamil Bednarik, a current and future teammate of Eiserman at Boston University, at No. 61. The Islanders’ prospect pool is awful shallow, so these picks will help. But they won’t help now, which is arguably when the Isles need the most assistance. — Arthur Staple
(Photo of Cole Eiserman: Jari Pestelacci / Getty Images)
