Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 2-ranked New York Islanders

Everything can change in a year.

The New York Islanders transitioned from competing for a playoff spot to entering a long-awaited rebuild — or reset, depending on one’s perspective. Following their change of course, they moved from 24th in last year’s system rankings to the second slot they now occupy, thanks to the first overall selection and many savvy bets at the 2025 draft.  

Matthew Schaefer, Victor Eklund, and Kashawn Aitcheson could all become Islanders in a year or so, joining Calum Ritchie, one of the top center prospects outside the NHL.

The team also made other high-upside bets in Daniil Prokhorov and Cole Eiserman, last year’s first-round selection. They both possess high-end shots. With some leaps in development, they could become top scorers, pushing the team back up the standin