Meet the 2021 NHL Draft Class

For the second-straight year, the NHL Draft was held virtually and after two days of streaming, phone calls and Zoom interviews the Islanders' 2021 Draft class has
officially been selected.
For the first time in franchise history, the Islanders were without a first rounder in back-to-back drafts. As a result, they selected their six newest prospects in Rounds 2-7, which composed of three forwards - two centers and one winger - Aatu Räty (52nd overall), Cameron Berg (125th overall) and Eetu Liukas (157th overall), two defensemen Aleksi Malinen (189th) and Tomas Machu (221st) and goaltender Tristan Lennox (93rd overall).

"Our scouts had a very difficult year as we all know and they couldn't see a lot of players," Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said. "A lot went off of what was seen the previous year and wherever they couldn't see them live, they'd see it on TV. There were constant meetings, constant zoom meetings, our scouts deserve a tremendous amount of credit...The diversity that we have following [Räty] with reference to taking a goaltender, a couple of defensemen and two other forwards beside Räty. In our minds, we had a good day, but every team feels that way when the draft is over and until we see them."
Get to know the newest members of the Islanders organization:

Aatu Räty

Had Räty been back in his home country of Finland, it would have been around 8 p.m. (local time) when he received the news that he had been drafted by the Islanders in the second round on Saturday. But Räty and Team Finland were in Plymouth, Michigan preparing for a 5 p.m. est match against Team Sweden in the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase when he found out the news.
"I'm super happy to go to the Islanders," Räty said via Zoom from Plymouth. "I watched the whole second round today and was just waiting for our game today against Sweden and in the meantime was watching the draft."
The news provided a boost as Räty would go on to score a hat trick, including two first-period goals as Team Finland defeated Team Sweden 4-1.
"We were surprised that he was where he was at," Lamoriello said of Räty. "We're extremely pleased with that pick."
Räty will have a familiar face in Matias Rajaniemi, who the Islanders drafted last year (2020 sixth rounder, 183rd overall), and who Räty was teammates with on the U18 Team Finland squad.

The Islanders drafted Räty, the 18-year-old center out of Oulun Kärpät, which competes in Liiga, Finland's top professional league. The Oulunsalo, Finland native compiled six points (3G, 3A) through 35 games with Kärpät and played in three playoff games, where Kärpät was knocked out in the quarterfinals by HIFK.
While last year the offensive production didn't come as easy for Räty as he'd liked, he acknowledged the benefit of learning from those struggles and thinks it'll better him move morning forward.
"I think the season got better towards the end. I'm happy about it and I learned a lot," Räty said. "For a lot of super talented young players who get drafted high and have always been the guy on the team, it's got to be tough for them to try and go to a NHL team. They may not be the best player on the team and might have to play PK or on the bottom two lines. I'm happy that I had to go through a season like that. I think I'll be more ready."
When asked about what his strengths are, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound left shot highlighted his size and offensive instincts.
"I think my strengths are my hockey sense, playmaking and stick handling," Räty said.

Tristan Lennox

It was a tough year for Lennox and the rest of the OHL, who did not play even an abbreviated season as a result of the ongoing struggles with COVID-19. So, for Lennox to find out he was drafted by the Islanders was welcoming news for the hungry netminder.
"I don't really have words to describe the feelings that I've been feeling," Lennox said via Zoom. "I'm just really excited to get to work and be a New York Islander."
Despite not getting in playing action for over a year, Lennox has been diligent in his training.
"It's definitely been a tough year for me," Lennox said. "Everyone was in the same boat in the OHL, not being able to play. That was the biggest thing that I missed was the games and competing... I've been on the ice probably three times a week and in the gym every day. I was [training] with the Toronto Marlies for a bit as well and learned from them daily. That helped me see what the pro level was like. I've just been trying to train as best as I can and stay ready for an opportunity like this."
The Islanders drafted the 18-year-old goalie out of the Saginaw Spirit where he was teammates with fellow Islanders prospects Blade Jenkins (2018 fifth rounder, 134th overall) and Bode Wilde (2018 second rounder, 41st overall) during the 2019-20 season. During that campaign, the Mississauga, Ontario native posted a 20-8-3 record through 33 games, a 3.63 GAA and a .876 SV%.
Lennox, who stands 6-foot-4, 190-pounds and catches left, is looking forward to improving his development and contributing to a defensively structured style of play that the Islanders preach across the organization.
"The Islanders have been a top of the league defensive team for a long time now and that brings more excitement to me," Lennox said. "That part of the game, I think I can help tremendously as I develop as a young goalie and just play my role."

Cameron Berg

With their fourth-round pick the Islanders selected Berg 125th overall. The 19-year-old left winger spent last season playing with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and will be a freshman this fall at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the NCHC.
Berg, who boasts a 6-foot, 192-pound frame and shoots left, produced 58 points (27G, 31A) through 51 games with the Lumberjacks last season, which was seventh-most in the USHL. Through four games in the Clark Cup Playoffs, where Muskegon received a conference finals exit to Chicago, Berg scored four goals.

Eetu Liukas

In the fifth round, the Islanders drafted Liukas with the 157th overall pick out of TPS of Liiga. Liukas, who is an 18-year-old right winger, was also teammates on TPS with fellow Islanders' prospect Ruslan Iskhakov (2018 second rounder, 43rd overall).
Liukas began the season with TPS' U20 squad where he totaled four points (2G, 2A) through five games. Once being brought up to TPS' top squad, Liukas registered three points (1G, 2A) through 19 games. TPS advanced all the way to the Liiga finals but lost 3-1 to the eventual champions in Lukko. During that run, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound left shot compiled one assist through two games.

#

Aleksi Malinen

With the 189th selection, and their sixth-round pick, the Islanders drafted their first defenseman of the draft in Aleksi Malinen.
The 18-year-old Finn spent last season playing with JYP of Liiga where he tallied three points (2G, 1A) through 30 regular season games. Malinen began the season with JYP's U20 squad and rejoined them for playoffs where he posted on assist in three games.
Malinen, who stands 6-foot, 176-pounds and shoots left, hails from Tuusula, Finland.

Tomas Machu

With their final pick of the 2021 NHL Draft in the seventh round, 221st overall, the Islanders selected their second defenseman of the draft class in Tomas Machu.
Machu, who is an Ostrava, Czech Republic native, began last season with HC Vitkovice U20 where he totaled seven assists through five games. The 18-year-old played one game with HC Vitkovice's top club in Czech Extraliga, which is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic.
Following that brief stint, Machu finished the season on loan between HC Prerov and Draci Sumperk, which are both teams in the third tier of professional hockey in the Czech Republic. Machu was pointless through four games with Prevrov and totaled two points on two goals through 13 games with Sumperk.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound right shot also suited up for his home country as he played two games with the Czech Republic U18 squad and totaled one assist.