Eiserman and Eklund Teaming Up At Islanders Rookie Camp

The New York Islanders may have gotten a glimpse into the future, with Cole Eiserman and Victor Eklund skating together on a line at Islanders Rookie Camp.

Eklund and Eiserman are the Islanders’ most recent forward first-round picks. Eklund was drafted 16^th overall in 2025, while Eiserman was selected 20^th in 2024. As two of the top forward prospects in the organization, the duo has forged a relationship on and off the ice.

The wingers created their connection in their short time together last season with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. The forwards were productive in their 21 combined games in Bridgeport, combining for 19 points (5G, 14A).

"I love playing with him," Eiserman said. "We get along off the ice, so it's easy on the ice. [He’s] obviously a really good player, and still getting used to playing with him. Didn't get to play with him too much in Bridgeport, but hoping to play with him a little bit more at this camp."

Eiserman is impressed with what he has seen out of the small, but feisty Eklund, who made his NHL debut last season.

"Just how quick he is," Eiserman said, on what impressed him about Eklund's game. "Super smart. Always plays with his head up, so you can kind of read him a little bit pretty easier than a lot of guys, and kind of let him do his thing. He's like a little buzzsaw player that's pretty cool, and obviously he can score and make passes as well."

While there’s a lot to like about Eiserman’s game from Eklund’s perspective, the Swedish forward highlighted one quality in particular.  

"He's an elite shooter," Eklund said. "He works so hard out there on the ice, it's an easy guy to play with."

This is the first that Hamilton Hammers' Head Coach, Jay McKee, a former NHL veteran, is seeing the duo, but he immediately noticed the chemistry that the two developed when playing in Bridgeport last season.

"Both had success when they were in Bridgeport, obviously, gave a big boost to that team, and for guys like them, it's on their plate to you know where they want to start and where they're going to be," McKee said.

Not only has McKee liked what the two can do together, but he has been impressed with their individual games. McKee has especially enjoyed the maturity that the 20-year-old Eiserman is already showing early in camp.

"In one of my first conversations, he acknowledged the things that he needs to improve on, and that's a step of maturity right there," McKee said on Eiserman. "A lot of young guys won't address those issues; they'll just talk about the things that they're good at and want to work on those things, but he's addressed that, and that's a great start. That's for me things that are easily fixable, but he's a highly skilled forward, good pace to his game, has a fantastic shot. A guy if he's in Hamilton, I'm excited to work with."

Eiserman's shot caught McKee's eye right away.

"You can't teach that. I certainly can't. He's got a great shot," McKee said. "It's a weapon.  He's dangerous when he's in the in the house, we want him shooting. And if you're on his line, you should be getting to the net because you know that he can pull the trigger. It's a unique ability that not a lot of guys have."

McKee has also been impressed with what he has seen so far from Eklund and is excited to watch him unlock his potential at the next level.

"Another highly talented player has a really good brain for the game, very shifty," McKee said when describing Eklund. "Obviously, not overly bigger in stature, but he's very strong in his feet. We could see in some of the compete drills out there. Protects the puck very well. You know, unlimited potential with him as well. He's going to be a very exciting player to watch for a long time."

This is Eklund’s second Rookie Camp and Eiserman’s first – NCAA players don’t report to NHL Rookie or Training Camps, hence his previous absence – and the two top prospects will continue to look to make a strong impression on the Isles organization at Rookie Camp.